What Might be Causing my Elbow Pain?
Elbow pain is likely to result from either an injury or a deterioration in the joint’s tissues. Another frequent cause of elbow pain and weakness is cubital tunnel syndrome, which occurs when the ulnar nerve in your elbow comes under pressure.
Osteoarthritis is the primary cause of arthritic elbow pain. It sets in after years of activity, leading to the wearing away of the protective articular cartilage on the bones in your joints, causing inflammation, stiffness, and pain.
Acute injuries are the likeliest cause of sudden elbow pain. It's not uncommon to bang your elbow or overstress the joint when you're working or playing sports. A UCL (ulnar collateral ligament) tear is a type of acute elbow injury.
Elbow pain that comes on more slowly could be due to repetitive strain or overuse. This strain triggers inflammation in your soft tissues, causing tendinitis, tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis), and golfer's elbow (medial epicondylitis).
What are Some Common Elbow Conditions?
There are several common elbow conditions both athletes and non-athletes can experience, such as:
- UCL tears
- Tennis elbow
- Golfer's elbow
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Ganglion cysts
- Tendonitis
- Bursitis
- Fractures and dislocations
Should I Visit an Elbow Specialist?
Sometimes, elbow pain will go away on its own with rest and home remedies like ice therapy. However, there are some situations, such as if the pain is interfering with your daily life or is getting worse, where you'll want to schedule a visit with an elbow specialist near you.
Additional signs you should schedule an appointment with a specialist include:
- Difficulty completing simple, everyday tasks.
- Reduced range of motion.
- Swelling or lumps around the elbow.
- Pain even when you aren't using your arm.
- Discomfort that isn't responding to any treatment or is getting worse over time.
What Kind of Doctor Treats Elbow Pain?
Orthopedic physicians can treat elbow conditions. Orthopedists who subspecialize in upper extremity or sports medicine may be your best option when searching for an elbow doctor. These doctors have specialized knowledge and training in the musculoskeletal system, which includes the elbow, as well as the many different conditions that could affect it.
Here at Elite Sports Medicine + Orthopedics, we employ a team of elbow specialists who have the knowledge and the equipment to diagnose and treat your acute or chronic elbow pain.
How do Orthopedic Elbow Specialists Treat Elbow Pain?
Diagnosing the cause of your elbow pain is important to ensure you receive the right treatment. Elite Sports Medicine + Orthopedics has state-of-the-art onsite diagnostic testing facilities to aid in assessing your elbow pain.
A serious injury like a fracture might require urgent surgery to repair the broken bones, followed by immobilization. For non-emergency causes of elbow pain, your provider prepares a suitable treatment plan based on conservative measures such as:
- Rest and activity modification
- Physical therapy
- Bracing
- Anti-inflammatory medication
- Joint injections
- Regenerative medicine
In many instances, these methods work well in relieving elbow pain, but certain elbow problems might require surgical intervention.
How Are Elbow Issues Diagnosed?
When you visit Elite Sports Medicine + Orthopedics, our specialists will perform a thorough physical exam, determining your range of motion and feeling for any swelling or lumps. During your appointment, we'll also go over your symptoms and review your medical history.
Our elbow doctors use state-of-the-art medical imaging to get a closer, more detailed look at your elbow. An X-ray allows us to see if there are any bone or joint abnormalities, such as fractures. An MRI will let us see soft tissues, ranging from tendons to ligaments in your elbow.
Both types of imaging can be an indispensable tool in diagnosing elbow issues and developing a treatment plan.
How Can I Prevent Elbow Pain?
If you are currently experiencing elbow pain, resting and reducing arm motions, especially repetitive movements, will help you heal more quickly. Icing the area for around 20 minutes a couple of times a day can also help reduce swelling and alleviate pain. To prevent future elbow pain:
- Stretch before and after you exercise or play a sport.
- Do range-of-motion exercises that focus on your upper body — specifically your back, shoulder, arm, and wrist.
- Avoid repetitive motions.
- Maintain good form when lifting heavy objects, sitting at a desk, exercising, and doing other activities.
- Avoid leaning or placing a lot of pressure on your elbow.
- Switch between using your dominant and non-dominant hand whenever possible.
What Type of Surgery Will an Elbow Doctor Recommend?
Surgery will vary by condition and its severity. Examples of the types of surgery you might need for elbow pain include:
Elite's Nashville elbow specialists team might be able to make a direct repair of an acute UCL tear where the ligament has come away from the bone.
Tommy John surgery (ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction)
If your UCL tear is more complicated or the result of a gradual deterioration in the ligament, direct repair may be impossible. In this case, your elbow doctor selects a tendon from somewhere else in your body or uses donor tissue to make a graft that replaces the damaged UCL.
Ulnar nerve transposition
If you have cubital tunnel syndrome, the team can reposition your ulnar nerve to relieve the compression causing your elbow pain.
To find out more and get the treatment that's right for you, schedule your appointment with one of our Franklin or Nashville elbow doctors today.
Can Physical Therapy Help my Elbow Pain?
If you are experiencing elbow pain, our orthopedic surgeons may recommend physical therapy to relieve your pain, prepare you for surgery, or help you heal after surgery.
Physical therapy can help to improve strength in your elbow, increase range-of-motion, relieve your symptoms, and prevent future symptoms.
At Elite Sports Medicine, we offer in-house physical therapy. This means that your elbow specialist and physical therapist can have communication at anytime.
Book An Appointment at Elite Sports Medicine + Orthopedics
At Elite Sports Medicine + Orthopedics, our elbow specialists are committed to helping you live a healthy, pain-free life. From fractures to tennis elbow, our doctors are equipped with the experience and medical imaging required to diagnose and treat a wide range of elbow conditions.
We have four different locations in Nashville, Tennessee, and one in Franklin, Tennessee, making it easier than ever for you to get the best orthopedic care. No matter what discomfort you are experiencing, our specialists will deliver patient-centered care so you can regain your quality of life.
Find the location nearest you and schedule an appointment with one of our board-certified orthopedic specialists today.
Our Elbow Pain Specialists
