Elbow Pain

The elbow is a complex joint that allows you to pick up a laundry basket, throw a ball, twist a doorknob and even give a hug. When you have elbow pain, doing any of those everyday tasks becomes hard. The St. Elizabeth Orthopaedic team has the expertise to diagnose the cause of elbow pain and recommend treatment to help you get back to doing those everyday tasks with less pain.

Causes of Elbow Pain

The elbow joint is made up of the two bones of the forearm—the radius on the thumb side of the arm and the ulna on the small finger side—and the upper arm bone, the humerus. Like all joints, it’s surrounded by ligaments, tendons and muscles that work with the bones to allow you to lift and twist your lower arm.

The causes of elbow pain are due to one-time injuries, overuse injuries and diseases. Some of the most common causes of elbow pain include:

• Fracture — Occurs when one of your arm bones breaks due to sudden impact, such as with a fall or auto accident. It is recommended that you see an orthopaedic surgeon for any elbow fracture. 
• Dislocation — Can happen with a fall on an outstretched hand.
• Tendinitis — The most common cause of elbow pain results in overuse, such as tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow.
• Bursitis — Another overuse condition, when the protective sacs in the joint become inflamed.
• Arthritis — Inflammation caused by wear and tear (osteoarthritis), autoimmune disease (rheumatoid arthritis), or injury (avascular necrosis).
• Ligament injuries — Strains or tears that often occur with athletes.
• Nerve conditions — Numbness, tingling or pain caused when nerves become pinched or entrapped, such as in carpal tunnel syndrome.
• Osteochondritis dissecans — Caused when the bone under the cartilage dies and sometimes breaks loose.

Contact Us

You don’t have to live with elbow pain. Most elbow pain is treatable with non-surgical options, such as rest and icing. If pain persists, the right diagnosis is important. The team at St. Elizabeth Sports Medicine can help by pinpointing the cause and recommending the best treatment option.

Call (859) 212-5600 to make an appointment. 

If surgery is necessary, our physicians can provide a referral to one of our affiliated orthopaedic surgeons. For more information on surgical options, please contact us at askortho@stelizabeth.com.