Elbow Pain

While anyone can injure their elbows, baseball players, tennis players, and golfers have an increased risk of painful elbow injuries. Sometimes referred to as tennis elbow. If you experience an elbow injury, the skilled orthopedic team at Sports Medicine Oregon in Tigard and Wilsonville, Oregon, can help. Call the practice today or schedule a consultation online for state-of-the-art diagnosis and highly personalized tennis elbow and elbow pain treatment plans.

What is Tennis Elbow?

Tennis elbow, also known as lateral epicondylitis, is a condition characterized by pain and tenderness on the outer part of the elbow. This common injury is often caused by overuse and repetitive motion, particularly involving the wrist and arm. Despite its name, tennis elbow doesn't only affect tennis players; it can impact anyone who engages in activities that strain the forearm muscles, such as painting, typing, or playing musical instruments.

Managing tennis elbow typically involves a combination of rest, physical therapy, and exercises to strengthen the forearm muscles. Applying ice to the affected area can help reduce inflammation and alleviate pain. In some cases, wearing a brace or taking anti-inflammatory medications may be recommended to support recovery. For chronic cases, more advanced treatments like corticosteroid injections or even surgery might be considered.

Prevention is key, so it's important to maintain good posture and technique during activities, take regular breaks, and ensure that any equipment used is ergonomically designed. By taking these precautions, individuals can reduce their risk of developing tennis elbow and continue enjoying their favorite activities without discomfort.

What are common elbow injuries?

You can injure your elbow in acute accidents or through repetitive use. The Sports Medicine Oregon team diagnoses and treats several elbow injuries, including:

Ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) injuries

UCL injuries are common throwing injuries. The repetitive motion of throwing can irritate your UCL and lead to partial and full tears.

Nerve entrapment

Your radial and ulnar nerves extend down your arm, into your wrist and hand. Elbow injuries that cause inflammation in the soft tissue of your forearm can compress these nerves causing painful radial tunnel and cubital tunnel syndrome.

Fractures

You can fracture any of the bones in your elbow, including your humerus, ulna, radius, and olecranon (the bony point on the back of your elbow). Most elbow fractures are caused by falls or automobile collisions.

Dislocations

You can also dislocate your elbow by falling onto the joint or an outstretched arm. The force pushes one of the bones out of alignment, causing instability and pain.

Repetitive use injuries

Golfer’s elbow (medial epicondylitis) and tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) are common overuse injuries that cause inflammation in the tendons in your elbow. While the colloquial names for these injuries refer to sports, anyone who makes repetitive arm movements is vulnerable to them.

Cubital tunnel syndrome

The tunnel that the ulnar nerve runs through is quite narrow, so something as simple as keeping your elbow locked in position can irritate the nerve. That often causes individuals with cubital tunnel syndrome to wake up with tingling hands and fingers.

Radial tunnel syndrome

The radial nerve stretches from the neck down the back of the upper arm. Compression of the nerve may result in chronic pain and discomfort, commonly known as radial tunnel syndrome.

When should I talk to a doctor about elbow pain?

As with other injuries, getting a diagnosis and starting treatment for elbow injuries as early as possible can minimize your pain and the overall disruption to your life.

If you have an acute or traumatic elbow injury, call Sports Medicine Oregon right away. The team offers same-day appointments whenever possible to diagnose and treat severe orthopedic injuries such as fractures and dislocations.

Repetitive use injuries develop gradually, and you may be able to manage your symptoms with rest, ice, and over-the-counter pain relievers. However, an expert should evaluate persistent or increasing pain.

How are elbow injuries treated?

Following your exam, your provider at Sports Medicine Oregon creates a customized treatment plan to address your elbow injuries. Your program could include a combination of:

Immobilization
Oral anti-inflammatory medicine
Steroid injections
Regenerative medicine
Integrated physical therapy
Minimally invasive corrective surgery
Total joint replacement

Call Sports Medicine Oregon today or make an appointment online if you have a painful elbow injury that interferes with your life.