Elbow Pain
About Elbow Pain
While elbow pain is generally not serious, it is quite uncomfortable because you use your elbow to do so many things. The elbow is where three long bones come together in the middle of the forearm to form a “hinge joint” that extends, flexes and rotates. Tendons are attached to this area and a friction reducing sac-or bursa, covers the tip of the elbow. Thus, your elbow helps you to flex and rotate your hands and forearm. These movements are part of so many activities that elbow pain can be troubling for patients throughout most of their daily routines as well as work, athletic activities and sports. Because your elbow is a complex joint and the elbow movements are a combination of extension and flexion, it is sometimes difficult to pinpoint and describe exactly which movement brings on the pain.
Symptoms of Elbow Pain
Elbow pain is often characterized as arm pain, arm muscle cramps, joint swelling and even a “funny bone” sensation from irritation of a nerve in the elbow that causes numbness and tingling in the forearm as well as little and ring fingers. Elbow pain usually increases with activities such as tennis and golf. Weight bearing on the elbow typically increases pain. Pain is often associated with loss of range of motion.
Causes of Elbow Pain
Elbow pain is often caused by overuse as many sports, hobbies and work tasks require repetitive hand, wrist or arm movements. In general elbow pain can be caused by inflammation of the tendons (“tendonitis”) or the bursa, or conditions that affect the bones or joints such as fractures or arthritis.
Non-Surgical Treatment for Elbow Pain
Physical therapy with pain modalities, stretching, and therapeutic exercise is the mainstay of conservative treatment aimed at reducing pain and restoring normal range of motion. Non surgical treatment for elbow pain may include oral non steroidal anti-inflammatory medications. For patients who do not respond to therapy, steroid injections may have some value as well.
To learn more and get help for elbow pain please Schedule an Appointment with Regenerative Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Specialist Daniel Southern, M.D. in Danbury or Wilton in Fairfield County Connecticut by calling 203-456-5717.
Surgical Treatment for Elbow Pain
Arthroscopy – Arthroscopy is a procedure that uses a lighted scope and small surgical instruments to diagnose and repair joint problems through several small incisions instead of opening the entire joint. Arthroscopy may be used in the elbow to smooth roughened cartilage, remove loose or broken-off pieces of cartilage and bone as well as cut away damaged tissue and re-attach torn ligaments. In general, recovery time and rehabilitation from surgical treatment of elbow pain can be somewhat lengthy and uncomfortable requiring careful pain management.
To learn more and get help for elbow pain please Schedule an Appointment with Regenerative Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Specialist Daniel Southern, M.D. in Danbury or Wilton in Fairfield County Connecticut by calling 203-456-5717.
Regenerative Orthopedic Medicine Treatment for Elbow Pain
Regenexx® Procedures provide non-surgical treatment options for those suffering from pain related to osteoarthritis, joint injuries, spine pain, overuse conditions, and common sports injuries. These medical procedures are only performed by highly-skilled doctors and are used to help reduce pain and improve function. Regenexx procedures have helped thousands of patients improve their quality of life, return to the activities they enjoy, and avoid the need for surgery or joint replacement*.
Regenexx Physicians represent a very selective, highly-skilled, interventional orthobiologics network that is 100% focused on orthopedic conditions. All Regenexx physicians are musculoskeletal experts with extensive training and experience in the diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal conditions, as well as complex, image-guided injections of your body's own healing agents to treat orthopedic issues. Regenexx patient outcomes are tracked in a registry and with that information, we provide transparent outcome data (below) for those who may be considering this treatment option.
Want to find out if you are a Regenexx Candidate? Complete the Candidate Form.
