Elbow Injury

What is an elbow injury?

Elbow injuries are any type of damage that causes discomfort in the elbow joint. Your elbow is a structure made of muscles, tendons, ligaments, and bones, which work together to help your elbow with bending (flexion) and straightening (extension). When you sustain an injury, it can lead to constant pain. 

Alexander E Weber, MD, treats several types of elbow injuries, including: 

• Ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) injury
• Biceps tendon rupture
• Tennis elbow 
• Elbow contracture (stiff elbow)
• Olecranon stress fracture 
• Osteoarthritis 
• Bursitis
• Elbow instability 
• Loose Bodies

How do I know I have an elbow injury?

Many elbow injuries develop over time from overuse. Symptoms can start out as occasional and mild and then progress to persistent and severe. 

Some common signs that indicate you may have an elbow injury include:

• Elbow weakness and pain
• Decreased range of motion
• Weak hand grip
• Burning sensations in your elbow joint

When over-the-counter medications aren’t helping with your elbow pain, Dr. Weber can help you explore other options for better pain relief. 

How is an elbow injury treated?

Dr. Weber provides sports medicine treatments as well as surgical options to treat an elbow injury. He considers the long-term health of your elbow joint, and initially focuses on relieving your pain. After reviewing your medical history and symptoms and ordering labs, he may recommend one or more of the following: 

Prescribed medications

If over-the-counter medicines aren’t effective for your elbow pain, Dr. Weber may recommend stronger medications to reduce chronic inflammation and alleviate pain. 

Physical therapy

Dr. Weber might also recommend physical therapy to help you strengthen the muscles supporting your elbow joint.

PRP injections

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections can help trigger your body’s natural healing processes by recruiting its own sources to heal your elbow. PRP is created from your own blood and is highly concentrated with growth factors and healing properties. 

Elbow arthroscopy 

Depending on the type of elbow injury you have, you might require elbow surgery to repair the damage. Dr. Weber offers elbow arthroscopy, a minimally-invasive surgical option that uses specialized surgical instruments and smaller incisions. Elbow arthroscopy can help reduce post-surgical pain and scarring compared to traditional (open) surgery. 

Elbow ligament repair

Elbow ligament repair, also known as elbow reconstruction, is a treatment option for patients with ligament rupture or more severe damage. The procedure uses a healthy tendon graft to reattach the injured ligament. The main goal of this surgery is to stabilize the elbow joint and restore range of motion. 

If you have limited function in your elbow joint, call Alexander E Weber, MD, or schedule an appointment online today.