Elbow Pain Specialist

What causes elbow pain?

These are some of the top causes of elbow pain:

Tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow

Activities that repeatedly flex, extend, or turn your wrist, like tennis and golf, lead to inflammation and damage in the tendons that connect your forearm muscles to your elbow.

Throwing injuries

Throwing a ball places significant stress on the elbow’s medial collateral ligament, causing inflammation that can lead to a ligament rupture.

Elbow fracture

Sustaining a direct blow to your elbow or falling on an outstretched arm can lead to an elbow fracture.

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis develops when the cartilage that protects the bones in your elbow joint degenerates. This condition typically develops over years of daily wear and tear.

Bursitis

A bursa is a small, fluid-filled sac that cushions movement between the bones in a joint and your skin. These sacs become inflamed, a condition called bursitis, due to injuries, infections, and when you lean on your elbow for an extended time.

Dislocated elbow

A fall or traumatic accident is usually the cause of a complete or partial elbow dislocation.

Biceps tendon tear at the elbow

An acute injury can tear the tendon that attaches your biceps muscle to your elbow.

What other symptoms accompany elbow pain?

The injuries that cause elbow pain also lead to symptoms such as:

• Swelling
• Bruising
• Joint stiffness
• Weak grip
• Joint locking
• Deformed elbow
• Loss of elbow motion
• Loss of arm strength
• Limited movement in your arm or wrist

In some types of injuries, you may be able to bend your elbow but lose the ability to move your forearm or wrist.

How is elbow pain treated?

The best treatment for your elbow depends on the cause of your pain and the severity of your symptoms. The New Braunfels Orthopaedic Surgery & Sports Medicine team starts your treatment with the most conservative options possible.

Your initial treatment may include rest, immobilization, activity modification, and physical therapy. Your provider may also recommend nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or a steroid injection to relieve severe inflammation and pain.

Your New Braunfels Orthopaedic Surgery & Sports Medicine provider may recommend a platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection to accelerate tissue regeneration and healing. If you develop elbow osteoarthritis, cartilage restoration may be a treatment option. Patients who suffer a severe injury or who have advanced arthritis in their elbow may qualify for an elbow joint replacement.

Elbow dislocations and fractures are immediately realigned, with or without surgery, then immobilized for a short time before starting rehabilitation. In cases where a tendon tears away from the bone or you suffer a ligament rupture, you may need surgery to ensure you regain optimal strength. When surgery is necessary, your provider may offer the option of minimally invasive arthroscopy. 

If you develop elbow pain, call New Braunfels Orthopaedic Surgery & Sports Medicine or book an appointment online today.