Elbow Pain Relief

Elbow pain can make everyday activities such as lifting, gripping, typing, exercising or playing sports uncomfortable. Because the elbow is a complex joint involving bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments and nerves, determining which structure is causing the pain is an important first step toward effective treatment.

Elite Sports Medicine chiropractors evaluate elbow pain and the surrounding musculoskeletal system to determine whether conservative treatment is appropriate. Depending on the cause, treatment may focus on reducing pain, restoring joint mobility, addressing soft tissue restrictions and improving the strength and movement patterns that place stress on the elbow.

What Causes Elbow Pain?

Elbow pain can result from overuse, repetitive movement, sports injuries, falls, direct trauma, arthritis, tendon problems, bursitis or nerve irritation. The location of the pain and the movements that aggravate it can provide important clues about the underlying cause.

Common causes include:

Tennis elbow. Also called lateral epicondylitis, tennis elbow causes pain around the outside of the elbow where forearm tendons attach to the bone. Despite its name, you don’t have to play tennis to develop it. Repetitive gripping, lifting and wrist movements can contribute.

Golfer’s elbow. Medial epicondylitis affects tendons on the inside of the elbow. It can occur with golf, but repetitive gripping, throwing, lifting and other activities can also contribute.

Elbow bursitis. The olecranon bursa is a small fluid-filled sac located near the point of the elbow. Irritation, prolonged pressure, trauma, infection or certain medical conditions can cause it to become swollen and painful.

Elbow sprains and strains. Falls, sports injuries and sudden forces can damage or overstretch ligaments, muscles and other soft tissues surrounding the elbow.

Arthritis. Osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and other joint conditions can cause elbow pain, stiffness and loss of motion.

Ulnar nerve entrapment. The ulnar nerve passes through a narrow area near the inside of the elbow commonly associated with the “funny bone.” Irritation or compression of this nerve can cause pain, numbness or tingling that may extend into the forearm, hand, ring finger and little finger.

Elbow pain can occasionally originate from a problem elsewhere, including the neck or shoulder, which is another reason an accurate evaluation matters. Mayo Clinic identifies tendon disorders, bursitis, arthritis, sprains, fractures and trapped nerves among the potential causes of elbow pain.

Where Is Your Elbow Pain?

The location of elbow pain can help narrow down its possible cause.

Pain on the outside of the elbow is commonly associated with tennis elbow.

Pain on the inside of the elbow may occur with golfer’s elbow or ulnar nerve irritation.

Pain or swelling at the back of the elbow may indicate olecranon bursitis or an injury involving the joint.

Pain accompanied by numbness or tingling in the hand can suggest nerve involvement and deserves further evaluation.

Because different elbow conditions can produce similar symptoms, the location of pain alone isn’t enough to make a diagnosis.

Can a Chiropractor Help with Elbow Pain?

Yes, chiropractic care may be appropriate for certain types of musculoskeletal elbow pain, particularly when joint mobility, soft tissue restrictions or movement mechanics are contributing to the problem.

Treatment begins by determining what appears to be causing the symptoms. Your chiropractor may evaluate the elbow as well as the wrist, shoulder and neck when appropriate because movement or nerve problems in surrounding areas can sometimes contribute to arm and elbow symptoms.

Depending on the diagnosis and examination findings, conservative treatment may include joint mobilization, soft tissue techniques, stretching, strengthening exercises and other chiropractic treatments.

How Does Elite Sports Medicine Treat Elbow Pain?

There is no single treatment for elbow pain because treatment depends on what’s causing it.

For overuse and soft tissue conditions, the initial goal may be to reduce activities that aggravate the elbow while maintaining appropriate movement. Chiropractic and rehabilitative treatment can then focus on restoring mobility, addressing soft tissue restrictions and progressively strengthening the muscles and tendons involved.

Depending on your condition, treatment may include:

• Joint mobilization
• Soft tissue therapy
• Stretching and mobility exercises
• Progressive strengthening
• Activity and ergonomic modifications
• Ice or other therapeutic modalities when appropriate
• Rehabilitation designed around work, exercise or sports activities

If the examination suggests a fracture, significant ligament injury, severe nerve involvement, infection or another condition that isn’t appropriate for chiropractic treatment, additional medical evaluation may be necessary.

Is Elbow Pain Always Caused by the Elbow?

No. Sometimes pain felt around the elbow can be influenced by problems elsewhere in the arm, shoulder or neck.

Nerves supplying the arm originate in the neck and travel through the shoulder, arm and elbow before reaching the hand. Irritation at different points along that pathway can produce pain, numbness, tingling or weakness.

This doesn’t mean that elbow pain is automatically caused by a spinal “misalignment.” Rather, evaluating the surrounding joints, muscles and nervous system can help distinguish a local elbow problem from symptoms originating elsewhere.

What’s the Difference Between Tennis Elbow and Golfer’s Elbow?

Both conditions involve tendons connecting the forearm muscles to the elbow, but the location is different.

Tennis elbow primarily affects the tendons on the outside of the elbow and commonly causes pain during gripping or wrist extension.

Golfer’s elbow affects the tendons on the inside of the elbow and may hurt during gripping, wrist flexion or other repetitive forearm movements.

You don’t have to play either sport to develop these conditions. Work, exercise, hobbies and repetitive hand and wrist activities can produce similar stresses.

When Should You See a Doctor for Elbow Pain?

Many mild overuse injuries improve with activity modification and conservative care, but some elbow symptoms require prompt medical evaluation.

Seek medical attention promptly following a significant injury if you experience severe pain, swelling or bruising, hear a snap or cracking sound, notice an obvious deformity or have difficulty moving or using the arm normally.

Elbow pain that doesn’t improve, occurs even when you’re not using the arm, or is accompanied by increasing redness or swelling should also be evaluated.

Persistent numbness, tingling or weakness also warrants evaluation because nerve involvement may require a different treatment approach.

Why Choose Elite Sports Medicine for Elbow Pain?

Elbow pain is a symptom, not a diagnosis. Effective treatment begins with determining whether the problem involves a tendon, joint, ligament, bursa, muscle, nerve or another structure.

Elite Sports Medicine takes an individualized approach to elbow pain rather than using the same treatment for every patient. Our chiropractors evaluate how the elbow and surrounding areas are functioning and develop treatment based on your symptoms, examination findings, activities and recovery goals.

When elbow pain requires additional care, Elite’s multidisciplinary practice also provides physical therapy, pain management and orthopedic services. The current Elite site confirms these disciplines are available within the practice.

Elite Sports Medicine provides chiropractic and multidisciplinary musculoskeletal care in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles (LAX), Montebello, West LA, Orange, and South Central LA.

Schedule an Evaluation for Elbow Pain

If elbow pain is interfering with work, exercise, sports or everyday activities, determining the cause is the first step toward choosing the right treatment.

Request an appointment with Elite Sports Medicine at one of our six Southern California locations.