ELBOW PAIN

Sports injuries and overuse are common causes of elbow pain. If you can’t find a solution to your elbow pain, visit board-certified orthopedic surgeons at AZ Ortho in Scottsdale, Arizona. The team can help get to the source of your pain and deliver pain-relieving treatments to ease your specific symptoms. Call AZ Ortho or book an appointment online today. 

What causes elbow pain?

The leading causes of elbow pain are conditions that develop slowly because of overuse or repetitive movements over a prolonged period. You might also have pain in your elbow as a result of acute injuries from accidents or playing sports. Some of the more common elbow conditions include:

• Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis)
• Golfer’s elbow (medial epicondylitis)
• Triceps tendonitis
• Bursitis
• Fractures
• Cubital tunnel syndrome
• Radial head fractures
• Joint effusions (fluid buildup)
• Loose bodies
• Arthritis
• Bone erosions
• Ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) tears
• Distal biceps tendon rupture

Tennis and golfer’s elbow are given their names because of the repetitive movements involved when hitting a tennis or golf ball.  These movements can cause chronic tendonitis, but tennis and golfer’s elbow frequently affect people who don’t play golf or tennis.

How is elbow pain diagnosed?

To diagnose your elbow pain, your provider at AZ Ortho performs a thorough physical examination, reviews your medical history, and discusses your symptoms with you. This can give them a good idea of the cause of your elbow pain, but they may order diagnostic imaging tests to confirm or rule out a condition. 

X-rays are a standard approach to diagnosing damage to bones and joints, but they have their limitations. 

Ultrasounds have significant advantages over X-rays and other forms of diagnostic imaging technologies. An ultrasound is a non-invasive, safe, and straightforward procedure. It uses sound waves to produce moving pictures of your elbow, which can be invaluable for locating soft tissue damage that isn’t clearly seen when you’re at rest.

An accurate diagnosis is vital for your provider to determine the most effective kinds of treatment for your elbow condition.

How is elbow pain treated?

AZ Ortho develops a customized treatment plan for your elbow pain. After reviewing your medical history and discussing your symptoms and lifestyle, your provider can discuss the best treatment options that suit your condition and its severity. 

They may recommend conservative methods at first, such as physical therapy and activity modification. But if these treatments fail to provide you with elbow pain relief, you might need more invasive procedures.

Minimally invasive treatments may be a part of your elbow care, including corticosteroid injections and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections, to minimize inflammation and promote your body’s natural healing process. 

If your condition is severe, you might need elbow surgery. The team is experienced in elbow replacement surgery, which removes damaged parts of the elbow joint. They can also use arthroscopic techniques to reduce post-operative pain and provide you lasting pain relief without extensive downtime.

To learn more about your treatment options for elbow pain, call AZ Ortho or book an appointment online today.