Pain at the back of the elbow after lifting or a fall is not automatically tendinopathy. A triceps tendon tear can cause pain, swelling, bruising and weakness when straightening the arm. Some tears are subtle. If the injury was sudden or your pushing strength has changed, seek a clinical assessment rather than booking an injection on the assumption that PRP will repair it. [1]
Ask The London PRP Clinic about an assessment. Explain when the injury happened and whether you can straighten the elbow. An enquiry is not a diagnosis or confirmation that PRP is suitable.
Why a triceps tear is different from tennis elbow
The triceps muscle lies at the back of the upper arm. Its tendon attaches to the olecranon, the bony point at the back of the elbow, and helps straighten the arm. Tennis elbow involves a different tendon attachment on the outer elbow. Evidence or treatment advice for one problem should not be transferred to the other simply because both hurt near the elbow. [1]
A partial triceps tear leaves some tendon attached. A complete tear detaches it from the bone. Heavy pushing during weight training and a fall onto an outstretched hand are recognised injury mechanisms. The distinction matters because a complete tear in an active person may need surgical repair rather than a course of injections. [1]
Which symptoms should change your plan?
A sudden sharp pain, swelling or bruising over the back of the elbow deserves attention, particularly when accompanied by new difficulty pushing or straightening the arm. A gap above the elbow tip can occur, but its absence does not rule out a tear. AAOS notes that the diagnosis can be difficult because symptoms may be vague and weakness is not always obvious. [1]
Do not repeatedly load the arm to prove whether it is intact. Pause heavy pressing, dips and other movements that reproduce the injury until you have advice. Marked weakness after a sudden injury is a reason for prompt assessment, not a reason to wait for a routine PRP appointment. A visibly deformed elbow or a major injury needs an urgent injury service rather than a marketing-led treatment choice.
What an examination and scan need to establish
Bring the injury date, the exercise or accident involved, and a description of what changed immediately afterwards. Tell the clinician about previous elbow problems, medicines, steroid exposure and relevant health conditions. These details help interpret the injury; they should not be used to diagnose yourself. [1]
Examination may include checking the tendon attachment, elbow extension strength and the nerves supplying the wrist and hand. X-rays can sometimes show a small fragment of bone pulled away with the tendon. Ultrasound or MRI may help confirm the diagnosis and the extent of tearing. The aim is to answer a specific question about tendon continuity and function, not simply obtain a scan containing the word "degeneration". [1]
If you already have imaging, bring both the report and access to the images where available. Ask whether the findings explain your weakness and whether an elbow surgeon should review them before any injection is considered.
Partial tear does not mean one standard treatment
Treatment depends on the amount of tendon involved, remaining strength, symptoms, activity needs and the person's health. AAOS describes non-surgical management for selected partial tears and some people whose remaining function meets their needs or who cannot safely undergo surgery. This can involve protection in a splint followed by a supervised return to movement and strength. [1]
That is not permission to choose a brace or rehabilitation schedule from an article. Protection and loading need to match the injury. Significant weakness, persistent pain affecting function or a complete tear in an active person may lead to a surgical discussion. A consultation should explain what would make the plan change, not sell the same pathway to every elbow. [1]
Where does PRP fit in this conversation?
The AAOS guidance cited here describes assessment, selected non-surgical care and surgical repair. It does not establish PRP as a treatment that reattaches a torn triceps tendon. This article therefore does not recommend PRP for a triceps rupture or present it as an alternative to indicated surgical assessment. [1]
If PRP is proposed for a separate chronic tendon problem, ask for evidence relevant to that exact diagnosis. Findings from another tendon, a laboratory study or an individual success story cannot establish that an injection will restore this tendon attachment. Ask what the proposed treatment is intended to achieve, what remains uncertain, what rehabilitation is required and what happens if function does not improve. Do not delay an injury assessment while comparing injection packages.
Questions to take to your appointment
Ask whether the tendon is intact, partially torn or completely detached; how the examination and imaging support that conclusion; and whether specialist surgical advice is needed. Discuss work, caring responsibilities and training, because the strength required for everyday life differs between people. Ask which activities are safe now and when the next review should happen.
Review the clinic's services and enquire about the right assessment. State that a tear is suspected rather than requesting PRP as a predetermined treatment. The useful outcome may be rehabilitation advice or referral, not an injection.
For information only. This guide cannot assess an acute injury or replace individual medical advice.
Reference
[1] American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, OrthoInfo: Triceps Tendon Tear at the Elbow. Written and/or reviewed by a member of American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons. Source checked November 2026.