Elbow Pain

Elbow pain can disrupt everything from carrying groceries to greeting loved ones with a hug. Our exceptional elbow specialists address your pain at the source, so that you can get back to what matters most.

Signs and Symptoms of Elbow Conditions

It might happen to your young one after throwing the winning pitch of the baseball game, or it might happen to you after years of weightlifting. Either way, elbow pain has the potential to disrupt your lifestyle, cause considerable pain, and restrict you from the things you love to do.

If you’ve been experiencing any of the following elbow symptoms, it might be time to connect with our team:

• Swelling and pain
• Stiffness
• Trouble gripping or lifting objects
• "Pins and needles" feeling in your fingers
• Burning or warmth
• Pain when twisting or bending your arm

Types of Elbow Conditions

Whether sudden or over a long period of time, elbow injuries can be painful and cause inflammation, making it tough to carry on with your daily tasks. This makes it important to catch symptoms early and seek treatment.

At Virtua Orthopedics & Spine, our team is equipped to evaluate, diagnose, and treat a wide range of elbow conditions, such as:

• Arthritis (Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis)
• Bursitis
• Bone spurs
• Cubital tunnel syndrome
• Fractures, sprains, or dislocations
• Golfer's elbow (medial epicondylitis)
• Osteochondritis Dissecans
• Repetitive motion disorders
• Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis)

Our Approach to Elbow Pain

During your initial consultation with us, our elbow specialists will thoroughly examine the condition of your elbow. This might include looking for signs of swelling and warmth, testing the range of motion in your elbow joint, and observing any other areas that are causing you pain.

While some elbow conditions can be diagnosed following a simple exam, we might recommend additional screenings to diagnose the root cause of your issues. This could include:

• X-ray: This common test captures images of your bones and joints. We typically use X-rays to confirm fractures and breaks.
• Arthrography: We inject a specialized dye into your arm, which will allow our team to better see your joints.
• CT scan: A little more detailed than a traditional X-ray, this test allows us to capture clear images of bones, muscles, and fat in your elbow.
• Electromyogram (EMG): This test measures the electrical activity of your elbow muscles. Essentially, it will tell us if there's any abnormal activity going on.
• MRI: We use large magnets and radio frequencies to capture images of your tendons, ligaments, vessels, and nerves in the elbow.
• Ultrasound: We might order an ultrasound to see how your blood is flowing through your arm. This is useful in finding issues like cysts.

Elbow Pain Treatment at Virtua

Our elbow specialists understand that elbow pain can make simple, everyday tasks challenging, which is why we are committed to developing customized treatment plans for your individual condition, and getting you back to your active lifestyle quickly and safely.

Depending on your symptoms, here’s how we might approach your treatment:

• Medication, like anti-inflammatory medicine or low-dose oral steroids to help with pain management.
• Injections, like corticosteroids, which can temporarily reduce inflammation and help with pain.
• Physical therapy and rehabilitation featuring a team of therapists who can improve mobility, build strength, and slow the progression of conditions like arthritis.
• Surgery performed by our experienced surgeons, using minimally invasive techniques wherever possible to address serious elbow pain.