Urgent care doctors can stabilize your shoulder or elbow, then refer you to an orthopedic doctor for follow-up care, including physical therapy, non-surgical treatments like cortisone injections, or surgery if required. Call or go to the emergency room for an elbow or shoulder injury with severe bleeding, or broken bones that have broken through the skin. Shoulder pain could also be a sign of a heart attack. Call or go to the emergency room immediately if your shoulder pain:.
Sometimes you may experience mild pain or tweak your shoulder or elbow while working out, playing sports, or doing chores around the house. These circumstances mean you can treat your shoulder or elbow at home before going to see a doctor. The best home remedies for elbow and shoulder pain are. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication NSAIDs can reduce swelling and inflammation in the shoulder and elbow.
They are available over-the-counter without a prescription. The most common are ibuprofen, aspirin, and naproxen. You can take these medications over the course of several days as long as you follow dosing instructions on the package. If the pain does not resolve after taking these for a few days, contact a doctor.
After an initial injury, an ice pack or cold compress can reduce swelling and pain. Wrap the ice pack in a towel and apply it to the affected area for 15 minutes at a time, up to four times a day.
If your shoulder or elbow hurts when you move it, immobilize it by putting your arm in a sling or wrapping your arm close to your body with an ACE bandage. Immobilizing your arm for too long could put you at risk for other conditions, such as frozen shoulder. You can also wrap your shoulder or elbow to reduce swelling and pain. Evaluation of elbow pain in adults. American Family Physician. Anderson BC, et al. Accessed Jan.
Pitzer ME, et al. Elbow tendinopathy. Medical Clinics of North America. Sprains, strains and other soft tissue injuries. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Most of the time, a minor elbow injury requires rest and ice therapy.
This is often enough to heal the internal damage and make your elbow feel good as new. It is advisable to seek a diagnosis and treatment from an orthopedic doctor if:. Some symptoms can indicate a serious condition, such as a fracture or dislocated elbow, which requires urgent treatment. You should seek immediate medical treatment if you:. Treatment for elbow pain depends on the cause.
Many injuries and conditions respond to non-surgical treatments including activity restriction, rest, ice therapy, physical therapy, and medication. Simple fractures often only require casting or splinting.
To get prompt treatment for your elbow pain, call the Elite office or book an appointment online today. Another frequent cause of elbow pain and weakness is cubital tunnel syndrome, which occurs when the ulnar nerve in your elbow comes under pressure.
Osteoarthritis is the primary cause of arthritic elbow pain. It sets in after years of activity, leading to the wearing away of the protective articular cartilage on the bones in your joints, causing inflammation, stiffness, and pain. Acute injuries are the likeliest cause of sudden elbow pain. It's not uncommon to bang your elbow or overstress the joint when you're working or playing sports. A UCL ulnar collateral ligament tear is a type of acute elbow injury. Elbow pain that comes on more slowly could be due to repetitive strain or overuse.
This strain triggers inflammation in your soft tissues, causing tendinitis, tennis elbow lateral epicondylitis , and golfer's elbow medial epicondylitis. There are several common elbow conditions both athletes and non-athletes can experience, such as:. Sometimes, elbow pain will go away on its own with rest and home remedies like ice therapy. However, there are some situations, such as if the pain is interfering with your daily life or is getting worse, where you'll want to schedule a visit with an elbow specialist near you.
Orthopedic physicians can treat elbow conditions. Orthopedists who subspecialize in upper extremity or sports medicine may be your best option when searching for an elbow doctor. These doctors have specialized knowledge and training in the musculoskeletal system, which includes the elbow, as well as the many different conditions that could affect it.
Diagnosing the cause of your elbow pain is important to ensure you receive the right treatment. A serious injury like a fracture might require urgent surgery to repair the broken bones, followed by immobilization. For non-emergency causes of elbow pain, your provider prepares a suitable treatment plan based on conservative measures such as:.
In many instances, these methods work well in relieving elbow pain, but certain elbow problems might require surgical intervention. During your appointment, we'll also go over your symptoms and review your medical history.
Our elbow doctors use state-of-the-art medical imaging to get a closer, more detailed look at your elbow. An X-ray allows us to see if there are any bone or joint abnormalities, such as fractures. An MRI will let us see soft tissues, ranging from tendons to ligaments in your elbow.
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