Find a Doctor
If this is a medical emergency, dial 911 immediately or visit one of OAK’s OrthoAccess Immediate Care locations.
The best physician to consult for an elbow injury or persistent pain is an orthopedic specialist who focuses on elbow care. They have extensive experience with conditions affecting the upper limbs, such as the hand, wrist, elbow, and shoulder, and can provide the most accurate diagnosis and effective treatment plan.
Comprehensive Care for Elbow Pain
While simple elbow problems can sometimes be addressed with home remedies, we recommend coming to see an elbow doctor if:
- Your elbow condition prevents you from carrying out everyday tasks
- Your elbow pain worsens despite the use of home remedies
- Your pain has traveled into your shoulder or wrist
- Your symptoms persist for more than a week
Diagnosis and Evaluation
The first thing that will happen at your appointment is a basic evaluation, which may involve X-rays and other imaging. Our elbow specialists will provide you with an accurate diagnosis of your elbow pain. We treat patients with a wide range of elbow conditions, including tennis elbow. Tennis elbow happens when you damage the tendons that connect the muscles on your forearm to the elbow. It manifests as pain on the outside of your elbow and is common among athletes.
Some of the most common conditions that cause elbow pain include:
- Arthritis
- Broken bones
- Bursitis
- Cubital tunnel syndrome
- Dislocation
- Dupuytren's contracture
- Fractures
- Golfer's elbow
- Sports-related injuries
- Tendonitis
- Torn ligament
Treatment Recommendation
Following your evaluation and diagnosis, your elbow doctor will provide you with some treatment options to consider. In many cases, elbow pain can be resolved through nonsurgical methods, which might include heat, ice, or the use of a brace or splint. Additionally, physical therapy and stretching can be effective forms of pain relief, especially for athletes.
For more severe injuries, elbow surgery may be needed. The surgeons at our practice are experienced in a wide range of surgical procedures, including elbow treatments as well as shoulder replacement, Tommy John surgery, and various elbow surgeries. The goal of any surgery is to offer pain relief and get the patient back to their normal life as quickly as possible.
Those who have a procedure done by one of our elbow surgeons will need to allow some time for their body to recover. It can take a few months to get back to 100 percent, but most patients find that the bulk of the pain and discomfort is over after a few days. Pain medication can be used to minimize the discomfort, while the application of ice can reduce swelling.
For most patients who have arthroscopic surgery, physical therapy is required. This ensures that your body heals as quickly as possible and in the way it's supposed to. Often, physical therapy begins the day after your elbow surgery. Your surgeon will provide you with more details about physical therapy prior to your procedure.
The bottom line for patients with elbow pain is that whether due to overuse, injury, or a chronic condition, your elbow joint can cause you pain and limit your movements. But you don't have to live with those limitations forever; you can get the right diagnosis and start down the road to total recovery.
Specializing in What Moves You at OAK Orthopedics
At OAK Orthopedics, our world-class team of orthopedic experts is devoted to providing customized treatment plans focused on each patient's individual needs and goals.
Our specialty-trained elbow doctors have extensive experience in treating a variety of elbow conditions and injuries. Nonsurgical methods will always be recommended first before considering surgery. However, there are situations in which conservative treatments will not provide adequate relief, and elbow surgery is the best option to fix the problem. Our elbow surgeons are skilled in performing many surgical procedures for the elbow and utilize state-of-the-art technology in doing do. Rest assured that when you see one of our specialists, you're in the care of the region's most preferred orthopedic providers.
If you have elbow pain that you'd like to have evaluated, we encourage you to contact our team of orthopedic doctors today at one of our convenient locations or schedule online with one of our experienced elbow surgeons.
Related Resources
Check out this collection of videos for more information about some of the most common problems diagnosed and treated by OAK’s elbow care specialists.
