Elbow injuries happen a lot to athletes such as golfers, gymnasts, tennis players, baseball players, and softball players. With offices in Cumming and Buford, Georgia, Stephen Fisher, M.D., and his team evaluate and treat elbow injuries with comprehensive orthopedic care. To schedule an appointment, call the office of Stephen Fisher, M.D., or book your evaluation online today.
Elbow pain is a symptom that arises from elbow injuries, whether they’re acute or from overuse. Your elbows allow you to bend your arms, and the joints are quite flexible despite being hinge joints. Your radius, ulna, and humerus bones all meet at the elbow, and cartilage covers them to enable smooth joint movement.
Elbow pain can come from traumatic injuries, overuse of the joint, and even some chronic conditions. Dr. Fisher evaluates painful elbows with a physical examination and may recommend imaging tests such as X-rays and MRI scans.
Once he gets a sense of the extent of the damage, he makes personalized recommendations for orthopedic care.
Dr. Fisher routinely treats elbow injuries and chronic conditions, both of which can reduce elbow mobility and cause pain. Without treatment, conditions of the elbow can lead to long-term joint instability, weakness, or limited mobility.
Dr. Fisher and his team treat these common elbow injuries and conditions:
Depending on their severity, many of these injuries respond remarkably well to non-surgical care. However, more extensive injuries and injuries that do not respond well to non-surgical treatment may require surgery.
Dr. Fisher and his team conduct elbow treatments on a case-by-case basis after a detailed evaluation of the injury. After making a diagnosis, they create a treatment plan based on your injury type and its severity. They also consider if you’re an athlete and need to use your elbow for various related purposes.
Your treatment may involve:
Injections such as steroid medications to reduce inflammation or orthobiologics to encourage natural healing can make a positive difference in your recovery.
Immobilizing an injured joint helps it heal properly, and the elbow is no exception. An elbow splint can stabilize the joint after it sustains a fracture or soft tissue injury.
Physical therapy is a necessary part of recovery and rehabilitation after an elbow injury. You also need physical therapy after elbow surgery.
Various surgeries can treat elbow injuries and conditions that do not heal well enough with non-surgical care. These include arthroscopic elbow surgery, which is a minimally invasive option, along with more complicated reconstruction techniques including Tommy John Surgery when appropriate.
For more information on elbow pain and injuries, call the offices of Stephen Fisher, M.D., or book an appointment online today.