The elbow is a hinge joint that connects where the humerus in the upper arm connects to the radius and ulna within the forearm. Elbow conditions/injuries are diagnosed through a physical exam, EMG’s, MRI’s, X-rays, or with an ultrasound.
Conditions and injury types:
- Tendonitis
- Bursitis
- Tennis Elbow – caused by overuse of the forearm, hand, and other arm muscles. Common in Tennis players or those who have repetitive arm and wrist motions.
- Golfer’s Elbow – caused by overusing the forearm muscles through repetitive motions such as gripping, swinging, or flexing, which causes damage to the tendons near the elbow.
- Little League (Pitchers) Elbow – injury that occurs in mainly children and adolescents involved in sports that require a repetitive throwing motion, such as pitching in baseball or softball.
- Disslocation
- Arthritis
- Fractures
- Cubital Tunnel Syndrome
SYMPTOMS
- Pain and Tenderness
- Swelling
- Decreased Range of Motion
- Loss of Function in Arm, Wrist, or Hand
- Numbness
- Muscle Weakness
TREATMENT
- Splinting / Braces
- Rest and Icing
- Activity Modifications
- Medication
- Therapy
- Steroid Injections
- Surgery (in some cases or when conservative treatments have failed).
Lateral Epicondylitis (aka Tennis Elbow) and Medical Epicondylitis (aka Golfer’s Elbow) are injuries to the tendons that attach your forearm to the bone of your elbow. Lateral epicondylitis affects the outer or lateral side of your elbow and medical epicondylitis affects the inner or medial side of your elbow. Both injuries are usually the result of repetitive strain on the tendons. While patients do not have to play either sport to suffer from either condition, those who do play often see these types of injuries. Both injuries are due to overuse of the arm/elbow that results in inflammation of a tendon. Excessive, repetitive force can progress from inflammation to tears
Symptoms:
- Pain and tenderness on the inside of the elbow
- Pain and weakness during gripping, twisting, or flexing of the wrist
- Numbness of the hand or wrist
- Radiating pain between your wrist and the elbow
Treatment Options:
- Ice to reduce pain and inflammation
- Anti-inflammatory medications
- Occupational Therapy (splinting, stretching, and strengthening exercises).
- Imagining (EMG, MRI, CT scan, or Ultrasound).
- Steroid Injections
- Surgery (in the event conservative treatment options aren’t successful).
Dr. Watkins will conduct a comprehensive exam along, review of previous medical history, and may order imaging of both extremities for comparison. Possible surgical treatments are varied depending on the specific, underlying injury.
