Your elbows are the hinges and pivots that enable you to carry out a wide range of movements essential to your daily functioning—from preparing food and washing your hair to carrying grocery bags and driving. The last thing you want is pain robbing you of that ability and interfering with your everyday life.
While elbow pain cannot always be prevented, knowing what to do when it occurs is key to safeguarding your mobility and quality of life. This blog will guide you through the potential causes of elbow pain, the situations that call for professional intervention, and the effective treatment options available for it.
Potential Causes of Elbow Pain
Elbow pain has various potential causes. It can occur due to trauma, nerve compression, or repeated strain on the joint or its surrounding structures.
Here are the most common culprits behind elbow pain:
Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis)
This is a common injury among people who play tennis and other racket sports and those whose occupations involve repetitive wrist and forearm movements, such as painters, plumbers, and carpenters. Tennis elbow is usually caused by overuse of the tendons that anchor the forearm muscles to the bony prominence on the outer part of the elbow.
Golfer’s Elbow (Medial Epicondylitis)
While common among golfers, this condition can also affect swimmers, baseball pitchers, javelin throwers, and individuals whose work tasks involve repetitive overhead movements, lifting, wrist bending, or finger clenching. Like tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow is a type of tendinitis, but it affects the tendons connecting the forearm muscles to the bony protrusion on the inner area of the elbow.
Cubital Tunnel Syndrome (Ulnar Nerve Entrapment)
This is a common cause of elbow pain, particularly in people whose occupations require them to keep their elbow bent for a long time, like desk jobs. The condition develops when the ulnar nerve, which courses through the tiny space on the inner part of the elbow, gets pinched or squeezed.
Dislocation
Elbow dislocations are quite common, accounting for up to a quarter of all elbow injuries in adults. They are often caused by a fall onto an outstretched hand (i.e., FOOSH injury), resulting in the bones of the joint moving out of place.
Knowing When to Seek Medical Treatment for Elbow Pain
While self-care measures like taking over-the-counter pain relievers and PRICE therapy (protection, rest, ice, compression, and elevation) are often enough to relieve elbow pain, there are cases that warrant a visit to an orthopedic doctor.
If your elbow pain is persistent, severe, or accompanied by any or some of the following symptoms, you should see your orthopedic doctor as soon as possible.
- Tingling sensation, weakness, or numbness affecting your fingers or hand
- Loss of strength in your elbow or hand
- Swelling or redness around the joint that does not improve
- Inability to move the elbow
Your orthopedic doctor will perform a physical exam and order imaging tests, such as X-rays or an MRI, to get to the bottom of your symptoms. If they suspect nerve compression, your doctor may also carry out a nerve conduction study to help confirm the underlying cause. Once they confirm a diagnosis, your doctor will create a treatment plan to tackle the root cause of your symptoms and restore the normal function of your affected elbow.
Effective Treatment Options for Elbow Pain
Thanks to advancements in medical technology, patients now have access to a wider range of effective treatment options for elbow pain.
If noninvasive treatments like bracing/splinting physical therapy fail to address the problem and surgery is not suitable for you, your orthopedic doctor may recommend any of these procedures:
Corticosteroid Injections
In this treatment, your orthopedic doctor administers a mixture of corticosteroid and anesthetic directly into the affected area to reduce inflammation and provide quick relief.
Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy
In this procedure, your doctor injects your own blood into the painful area to kickstart or accelerate the healing process.
Needle Fenestration
Performed under ultrasound guidance, this procedure involves your orthopedic doctor piercing the damaged areas of the tendon to create microtears and stimulate the body’s healing response.
Surgery is often considered a last-resort option, recommended only when symptoms do not improve despite a lengthy course of conservative treatment or when there is severe damage to the tendon or the joint itself. If surgery is necessary, your orthopedic specialist will work with you to determine the most appropriate type for your specific condition.
Elbow Pain Treatment in Springfield, MA
At Advanced Orthopedics New England, our elbow specialists—namely, Dr. Alexander Rondon and Dr. Lili Schindelar—are best known for their expertise, professionalism, and commitment to providing compassionate, patient-centered care. No matter your elbow problem, you can rely on our providers to guide you toward the best possible treatment outcome and get you back to doing the things you love pain-free.
For more information or to schedule a consultation with Dr. Rondon or Dr. Schindelar, contact us today at (860) 728-6740.
We look forward to serving you!
