Elbow Pain
ELBOW PAIN PHYSICIAN IN CHARLESTON, SC
Elbow pain is common in individuals who engage in sports, hobbies, and occupations that involve repetitive movement in the hand, wrist, or arm. Pain in your elbow can be caused by your ligaments, bones, joints, muscles, or tendons.
Elbow pain is typically caused by overuse of the joint. The most common types of elbow pain are “tennis elbow” and “golfer’s elbow.” Tennis elbow is an irritation of the tissue connecting the muscle in the forearm to the elbow, and golfer’s elbow is pain on the inside of the elbow where your tendons connect to your forearm muscle.
In general, your elbow joint doesn’t endure as much wear and tear as your body’s other joints, but pain in your elbow can interrupt your daily activities. If elbow pain is disrupting your quality of life, let Pain Specialists of Charleston help you out.
SIGNS & SYMPTOMS
Symptoms of elbow pain can include:
- Pain in one or both elbows
- Pain on the inside or the outside of the elbow joint
- Pain that feels like deep in the elbow joint
- Sharp pain
- Dull pain
- Tingling or numbness in your arm or hand
- Stiffness
- Swelling
- Reduced grip strength
- Limited range of motion or inability to move elbow
- Bruising
WHEN TO SEE A DOCTOR
While elbow pain isn’t always serious, it is important to see a doctor if you’re experiencing:
- Elbow pain that does not subside with rest and ice
- Intense pain, swelling, and bruising around your elbow
- Pain, swelling, or redness that worsens, especially if accompanied by a fever.
- Difficulty using the elbow joint, like bending your arm for example.
If you suspect your elbow is dislocated or fractured, go to the emergency room.
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CAUSES
Elbow pain can be caused by a number of things, from overuse to injury to even arthritis. The type of pain you are experiencing, and the level of your pain will vary based on the cause of your pain, and those two details will help our elbow pain physicians in Charleston, SC determine the source of your pain. Some common causes of elbow pain are:
Tendinitis
Tendinitis is the inflammation of the tendons that connect your muscles to your bones. It is typically caused by overuse. Tennis elbow is tendinitis of the elbow and can be caused by repetitive swinging or twisting motions of the arm.
Arthritis
Your elbow can be affected by different types of arthritis in many different ways. With arthritis, your pain can be accompanied by stiffness or loss of range of motion, swelling, and inflammation.
Bursitis
Bursae are small, fluid-filled sacs located at the tip of your elbow joint to provide cushion. Bursitis occurs when the bursa becomes inflamed, resulting in pain, swelling, redness, and sometimes warmth to the touch.
Injuries
Your elbow can become injured in many different ways, including sprains, strains, dislocations, torn tendons, or fractures.
DIAGNOSIS
- Physical exam
At Pain Specialists of Charleston, your first visit will include a thorough evaluation, including your medical history and a physical examination pertinent to your pain problem. This comprehensive visit with your pain specialist will last approximately 30 minutes.
TREATMENT
At Pain Specialists of Charleston, our board-certified team offers pain management treatment in the form of:
- Injections
- Injured Nerve Block
- Radiofrequency Ablation (Rhizotomy)
- Discography
- Neurostimulation, also known as Spinal Cord Stimulation
- Medical Massage Therapy
- Clinical Trials
- …and MORE!
HOW TO MANAGE DAILY ACTIVITIES WITH ELBOW PAIN
If you’re experiencing elbow pain, it’s best to speak with a board-certified pain management physician. Our team at Pain Specialists of Charleston can help you figure out how to manage your pain on a daily basis. To get a better understanding of your pain, we’ll conduct a full medical exam to determine what is best for you. Here are some common activities or movements that may affect your elbow pain and how you can address it:
STRETCHING, REACHING, OR BENDING WITH ELBOW PAIN
Many sports, jobs, and hobbies require repetitive arm, wrist, and hand movements where stretching, bending, or reaching can cause pain. Pain when reaching, stretching, or bending can be caused by problems with your bones, ligaments, tendons, or joints. Relieving this elbow pain may involve rest, ice, or taking some time off from your sport or hobby. Talk to your pain management physician to determine the best route for managing your pain.
AT-WORK WITH ELBOW PAIN
When your elbow pain interferes with your work, our doctors will work endlessly to keep you on the job. You may want to look into a compact keyboard, a vertical mouse, or other ergonomic adaptations to help reduce your elbow pain. If you work with heavy machinery, your pain may benefit from tool or machinery adaptations or light duty while you treat your pain.
EXERCISING WITH ELBOW PAIN
If you’re experiencing pain from exercise, stop working out for a short time and recover with rest, ice, and anti-inflammatory pain medications like ibuprofen or acetaminophen. Typically, making changes to the repetitive movements in your exercise routine or taking some time off will help reduce your elbow pain. Reach out to your pain management physician if your pain doesn’t subside.
SLEEPING WITH ELBOW PAIN
Elbow pain can disrupt your sleep – no one wants to deal with that. For sleeping with elbow pain, lay on your back and support your arm with a pillow. This keeps your arm in a more neutral position while you sleep and decreases the amount of strain on the joint. A tennis elbow brace may also provide comfort and support while sleeping, as it can help reduce the pressure on the painful tendons.
If your elbow pain is disrupting your sleep, your job, or your everyday life, contact Pain Specialists of Charleston to receive the pain relief you deserve.
MEET DOCTOR EDWARD M. TAVEL, JR., MD
- Over 20+ Years of Specialty Training
- Double-Board Certified in Anesthesiology and Pain Management
AWARDS & ASSOCIATIONS
AS SEEN ON
CONDITIONS WE MANAGE
- Knee Pain
- Chest Pain
- Shoulder Pain
- Back Pain
- Hip Pain
- Neck Pain
- & More
TREATMENTS WE OFFER
- Acupuncture
- Biofeedback
- Cognitive behavioral therapy
- Massage
- Meditation
- & More
WHY CHOOSE US
At Pain Specialists of Charleston, we strive to provide an unmatched healthcare experience – one focused on finding relief. With this goal guiding our pain management physicians, we prioritize the following:
Compassionate and Comprehensive Care
Our practice takes a multidisciplinary approach to pain care that puts patients first. We’re proud to offer a full range of pain management procedures and treatments, including physical therapy, medical massage therapy, pain psychology, medication management, and more.
Timely Treatment
Because many of our patients suffer from severe pain, we’re committed to scheduling appointments as quickly as possible. This ensures the speedy start of a treatment plan to relieve and/or manage their pain.
Access to Safe Pain Management
Pain Specialists of Charleston offers a higher level of healthcare, performing all interventional procedures to meet strict, sterile standards and rigorously comply with all FDA, CDC, state, and federal medical safety guidelines.
Quality Care
Our providers are not only prominent leaders in the field of pain management, but advocates for the Charleston, SC patients we so proudly serve. It’s our exceptional care that sets us apart and earns our patients’ trust.
FAQs
COULD MY ELBOW PAIN BE CALLED TENNIS ELBOW BUT ACTUALLY BE SOMETHING ELSE?
Tennis elbow is a common diagnosis for elbow pain, but other conditions can mimic tennis elbow, leading to a misdiagnosis. Your elbow pain could potentially be radial tunnel syndrome or bursitis. This is why it’s important to speak with a pain management physician to determine the root cause of your elbow pain.
WHAT HAPPENS IF I LEAVE MY ELBOW ACHES UNTREATED?
If left untreated, your elbow can become chronic and potentially more severe, especially if you continue the activity that is causing your pain. The pain could also be caused by nerve entrapment in your forearm, which will require an accurate diagnosis and the right treatment.
WHAT IS THE NON-INJURY RELATED CAUSES MY ELBOW HURTS?
There are many non-injury-related reasons for elbow pain. For example, different types of arthritis, gout, or an infection can result in elbow pain.
HOW DO I KNOW IF THE PAIN IN MY ELBOW IS SERIOUS?
Oftentimes, elbow pain can resolve itself after some rest and a break from the pain-causing activity. If elbow pain persists, you lose range of motion, experience numbness or tingling, or the pain becomes more severe, you’ll need to seek the help of a pain management physician.
WHAT IS THE MAIN REASON FOR PAIN IN MY ELBOW WHEN I STRAIGHTEN MY ARM?
Feeling pain in your elbow when you straighten it out can be caused by a number of issues, like tendinitis, osteoarthritis, or the result of an injury.
WHY DOES MY ELBOW ACHE AT NIGHT?
Your elbow may ache at night due to a poor sleeping position. If you sleep on your side with your arm bent or over your head, you might be causing problems for your elbow and putting additional strain on the outside of your elbow.
WHAT IS THE MOST COMMON ELBOW ISSUE?
The most common elbow pain condition is “tennis elbow.” Tennis elbow is medically known as lateral epicondylitis and is a result of the overuse of the elbow’s muscles and tendons.
WHAT IS THE MOST COMMON SIGN OF TENNIS ELBOW?
The most common symptom of tennis elbow is pain felt on the outside of your elbow. This type of elbow pain can range from simple mild discomfort when using your elbow to constant pain that disrupts your daily life and your sleep.
WILL TENNIS ELBOW GO AWAY ON ITS OWN?
Tennis elbow often responds to ice, rest, rehab, pain medication like ibuprofen, and elbow braces. On average, tennis elbow takes six to 12 months to heal, so have patience with your body and its healing process. Talk to your pain management physician to learn more about managing your tennis elbow.
WILL A COMPRESSION SLEEVE OFFER AID FOR TENNIS ELBOW?
While compression sleeves can generally provide support, they’re not ideal for tennis elbow. These sleeves do not target the specific area affected by tennis elbow. If you’re working to manage your tennis elbow pain, talk to our pain management physicians to get the right support equipment for your pain.
CAN ELBOW PAIN BE RELATED TO THE HEART?
In some cases, elbow pain can be related to the heart. If your elbow pain seems to come on for no reason or suddenly and is accompanied by tightness in the chest and radiating pain, it may be a symptom of a heart attack. Elbow pain can be related to a variety of medical concerns, so contact your doctor if the pain persists or is unexplained.
WHAT HAPPENS DURING YOUR FIRST APPOINTMENT AT PAIN SPECIALISTS OF CHARLESTON?
At Pain Specialists of Charleston, we’re focused on getting to the source of your pain and helping you get back to your regular daily life. At your appointment, we perform a thorough evaluation of your condition and determine the best treatment plan to help manage your pain. What Should I Bring?
ARE YOU ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS?
Yes, we are! Our pain management center is accepting new patients. Give us a call today to schedule or request an online appointment now!
DOES PAIN SPECIALISTS OF CHARLESTON REQUIRE A REFERRAL?
No referral is needed! We accept self-made appointments and referral appointments to help you get started on managing your pain. We’re open five days a week, so reach out to us to schedule your appointment. Schedule your first appointment today!
DOES PAIN SPECIALISTS OF CHARLESTON OFFER SAME-DAY APPOINTMENTS?
Yes, we do! We’re open five days a week, and we can help you get an appointment within the same day of contacting us if times are available. Reach out to us today to see our availability and meet with one of our board-certified pain management physicians!
HOW LONG IS A PAIN MANAGEMENT APPOINTMENT?
Your comprehensive visit at our pain management clinic typically lasts about 30 minutes. We’ll discuss your condition and treatment options, including procedures or therapies to help you achieve the results you deserve. What else should new patients expect?