Your elbow, together with your shoulder and your wrist, gives your arm its structure, ability to move and bend, and versatility. Your elbows don’t bear the brunt of your weight, unlike your knees and hips; however, they are still susceptible to conditions and injuries that can cause pain and make certain activities difficult for you.
If you have elbow pain, particularly one that is persistent or has kept you from doing basic movements, your best bet is to see an elbow doctor for proper evaluation. Elbow pain has various potential causes. An elbow doctor will thoroughly assess your symptoms and order imaging tests to confirm a diagnosis.
In this blog post, we will discuss some of the common conditions our elbow doctors here at Baylis and Brown Orthopedics in Plantation, Florida see patients for as well as the treatments we offer.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis of the elbow develops when the cartilage – which is the connective tissue that cushions the ends of the bones that make up your elbow (humerus, radius, and ulna) – wears down. Cartilage deterioration or breakdown results in pain, stiffness, and swelling in your elbow.
Treatments for osteoarthritis include platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy, physical therapy, and pain relievers. Our elbow doctor may recommend surgery if you have extensive damage to your elbow or when nonoperative treatments are no longer helpful.
Elbow Dislocation
Elbow dislocation occurs when the bones in your elbow get forced out of alignment. This type of injury is often a result of direct impact from a car crash or landing on an outstretched hand during a fall. Aside from pain, elbow dislocation causes instability, numbness, difficulty moving the forearm and elbow, and deformity.
Treatments for elbow dislocation include immobilization using a splint or sling; ice; and pain relievers. In cases of complete or complex elbow dislocation, surgery may be necessary to realign the bones in the joint.
Elbow Bursitis
Elbow bursitis is inflammation of the fluid-filled sac at the boney tip of the elbow (olecranon bursa). Elbow bursitis can occur for a number of reasons, with trauma and prolonged pressure or overuse being the most common.
When you have elbow bursitis, you experience swelling; pain, which worsens when you bend your elbow; and difficulty moving your elbow, which occurs when the swelling worsens.
Treatment for elbow bursitis includes rest, ice, physical therapy, and corticosteroid injections. Our elbow doctor may recommend surgery if your symptoms don’t respond to nonoperative treatment or if the bursa is infected.
Elbow Fracture
An elbow fracture occurs when one or more of the bones of your elbow break. Elbow fractures are usually the result of direct impact, such as when you fall on an outstretched arm; or blunt force trauma.
The type of treatment you need will depend on what type of elbow fracture you have: whether nondisplaced or displaced. The former responds well to rest, ice, immobilization with a cast or sling, and physical therapy; while the latter requires surgery to reconstruct the elbow.
Elbow Tendonitis
Elbow tendonitis is inflammation of the tendons around the elbow joint. There are two types of elbow tendonitis: golfer’s elbow (medial epicondylitis), when inflammation involves the tendons in your inner elbow; and tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis), when the condition affects the tendons in your outer elbow.
Symptoms of elbow tendonitis include pain (inner or outer elbow), which can radiate into the forearm; stiffness or reduced range of motion; weakness; and tingling sensation.
Treatment for elbow tendonitis includes rest, ice, physical therapy, and corticosteroid injections.
Our elbow doctor may recommend surgery if your tendonitis is severe or doesn’t respond to a lengthy (six months to a year) course of nonoperative intervention.
Trusted Elbow Doctor in Plantation, FL
At Baylis and Brown Orthopedics, our board-certified orthopedic surgeons deliver the best possible treatment outcomes for the entire range of musculoskeletal problems, including those that cause elbow pain. What’s more, we offer a wide range of on-site services, so you can have your orthopedic needs conveniently taken care of.
Book an appointment with one of our elbow doctors today. Contact our office at (954) 476-8800, or submit a request by simply filling out this form.
