Elbow Pain Treatment in Louisville, KY

Elbow pain is common and can often be traced to repetitive arm, wrist, or hand movements, such as swinging a tennis racquet or golf club. Over time, these movements can irritate and inflame the tendons that connect the bone and muscles in the forearm. In addition to overuse injuries such as tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) and golfer’s elbow (medial epicondylitis), elbow pain can also result from sudden trauma, such as a fall onto an outstretched arm.

If you have elbow pain that is interfering with your daily activities, you can consult with an orthopedic specialist at Louisville Orthopaedic Clinic in Louisville, Kentucky, where we have open MRI and digital X-ray technology on site. After we identify the cause of your elbow pain, we can suggest a treatment plan to address it.

How Is Elbow Pain Treated?

At Louisville Orthopaedic Clinic, we emphasize conservative treatment for elbow pain. Many of our patients begin with PRICE therapy, which involves:

• Protecting the elbow to prevent further damage
• Resting and avoiding activities that cause pain
• Icing the injury to alleviate painful inflammation
• Compressing the elbow with an elastic bandage to reduce swelling
• Elevating the affected arm above heart level to drain excess fluid away from the injury site and promote healing

If further relief is needed, an over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) can be taken as directed. For severe elbow pain, we may suggest steroid injections or surgery to relieve pressure in the inflamed area or repair a damaged tendon.

As elbow pain improves, a gradual return to activity is best. Some patients find it helpful to practice the arm movements involved in their sport before they return to play.

If you’d like to discuss your elbow pain with a specialist at Louisville Orthopaedic Clinic, contact us today to schedule an appointment at our location in Louisville, KY.