Overview

Many patients come to us for pain relief. Treatments such as heat, ice, electric stimulation and ultrasound (modalities) can be helpful in the treatment of acutely inflamed and irritated tissues, but we believe it is more important to identify and treat the reasons why your tissues have become inflamed and irritated to begin with. For this reason, we examine the entire body to identify and treat not just the pain, but also the source of the pain.

Elbow & Wrist:

The primary function of the elbow is to aid in the positioning of the wrist and hand for optimal hand function. The wrist and hand are the most active part of the entire arm and are extremely vulnerable to injury. These joints function together as a unit to provide optimal movements for daily function. Listed below are a few of the most common injuries to the elbow and wrist joints:

1. Lateral Epicondylitis or “Tennis Elbow” : Inflammation of the a muscle tendon located on the outside of the elbow leading to pain and decreased strength. This injury is typically caused by repetitive motion at the elbow and is commonly known as “tennis elbow.”
2. Medial Epicondylitis or “Golfers Elbow” : Inflammation of the muscle tendon located on the inside of the elbow leading to pain and decreased strength. This type of injury is typically caused by repetitive motion at the elbow and is commonly known as “golfers elbow.”
3. Carpal Tunnel: Pain, tingling, and/or numbness in the wrist and hand typically involving the thumb, index, middle and ring fingers. Typically, repetitive movement, edema associated with pregnancy, or trauma to the wrist cause this injury.
4. DeQuervian’s tenosynovitis: Inflammation of the muscles controlling particular thumb motions. This injury presents pain, swelling, and tenderness at the wrist and outside of the thumb.
5. Bursitis: Inflammation of a fluid filled sac in the elbow that is typically caused by trauma or rheumatoid arthritis
6. Ulnar nerve entrapment: Impingement of the nerve at the elbow producing pain and/or numbness in the ring and pinky fingers. Trauma, compression or prolonged bed rest typically causes this problem.

Treatment

1. Administer pain relief through bracing, ice, heat, electric stimulation, and ultrasound
   
   
2. Administer pain relieving resources
   
   
3. Treat the underlying cause:
   1. Stretch tight muscles of the elbow and wrist
   2. Strengthen weak muscles of the elbow and wrist
   3. Correct abnormal movement patterns specific to the patient’s needs
      
      
4. Prevention: Provide the patient with a personalized home exercise program to reduce the risk of the problem recurring.