The Truth About Treatment for Elbow Pain in New Jersey

Elbow pain is common for adults over forty years old. As a result, there are many misconceptions about it since information is often passed on through word of mouth. Gain a better understanding of this condition by trying out this short true or false quiz.

• True or False: The arm has 2 bones. The upper arm bone and the lower arm bone.

False: Your arm consists of three bones. There is one upper arm bone from your elbow to the shoulder. And there are two arm bones from the elbow to the wrist.

• True or False: Tennis and golfer’s elbow injuries are the same condition.

False: Both conditions result in pain and possibly restricted movement of your elbow, but the pain is generated in a different area of the elbow. Tennis elbow generates pain in the outer part of your elbow. It is technically called lateral epicondylitis. Golfer’s elbow has pain on the inside of the elbow. Different arm muscles or tendons attached to your elbow are compromised for the two conditions.

• True or False: You need to stop doing the activity that is causing your pain.

True and False:  Yes, you need to rest from the activity that is causing the issue for a short time, but you do not need to stop that activity for all time. Through a careful analysis of the motions you are performing that increase your pain, you can determine what needs to change. Generally, the pain develops from an overuse injury of the muscle. Sometimes the answer is a new technique for a golf or tennis swing. At other times it may mean a brace for the activity. There are a variety of options to suit your lifestyle. Indeed, restarting an active lifestyle is needed to build muscle strength.  With expert help, you will be able to perform specific exercises for your condition.

• True or False: RICE – Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevate is the recommended home treatment for elbow pain in New Jersey.

True:  The RICE method is beneficial in treating elbow pain. Remember that the rest will be followed up with specific exercises later. For icing, you need to ice for 20 minutes and then wait for 20 minutes before icing again. Compression can be effective. There are elbow bands available in many drug stores. Keeping the area elevated will reduce the possibility of swelling.

Several other approaches can also help reduce your pain. Over the counter pain medication and anti-inflammatories are effective as they will allow you to get back to mild activity sooner. Some people experience relief from medicated rubs.

• True or False: Home remedies need to be tried for 2 weeks before professional help should be considered.

False: Home remedies may take as much as 4 to 6  weeks to accomplish a pain-free condition. If your pain is increasing, despite your attempts to reduce it, you need to seek medical treatment for elbow pain in New Jersey immediately, as you may have a fracture or broken bone and not just a soft tissue problem. Your expert pain doctor at a pain treatment clinic can order some imaging techniques such as an X-ray or MRI to rule out bone damage.

• True or False: With chronic tennis elbow or golfer’s elbow, you will require surgery to repair the damaged soft tissues.

False: The pain doctor in New York or the pain doctor in New Jersey will first assess your condition carefully and then suggest minimally invasive methods to alleviate your pain. Surgery is suggested only after many other methods have been tried first.

• True or False: Biceps tendonitis can be the cause of pain in your elbow.

True: Your bicep muscle connects your shoulder to the outer part of your elbow. If there is a tear in the tendon that is attached to the elbow, you will experience pain at that point.

• True or False: Rheumatoid arthritis or as it is commonly known as inflammatory arthritis can cause tennis elbow.

False: Rheumatoid arthritis will cause pain in your joints because this disease attacks the membrane lining the joints (synovial membrane). It may mimic the pain you feel from tennis elbow, but the underlying cause is different. Often with this disease, if one elbow is painful so will the other be painful. Treatment for rheumatoid arthritis consists of corticosteroids, NSAIDs, (Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) and disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs. Some of these drugs can also be effective for tennis elbow as well.

If you experience pain from tennis elbow, despite your best efforts to continue home remedies, it is important that you seek medical help. What might first seem like tennis elbow may be a different cause altogether.

What are some of the Professional Treatments for Elbow Pain in New Jersey?

• Physical Therapy: Your physiotherapist will design a set of exercises to strengthen the muscles that are causing your pain. You will be able to continue these exercises at home.
• Prescription Medications: Your pain doctor in NY or pain doctor in NJ is able to provide you with stronger pain medications and anti-inflammatories to enhance the healing process.
• Injections: To better target relief for your pain, your physician can administer pain medication and anti-inflammatories into the site of the problem.
• Surgery: Only when all other methods have not been successful will your expert physician suggest surgery. Depending on your condition and state of health, surgery can be performed by the traditional way or through arthroscopy.

Key Concepts

• Elbow pain is usually a result of soft tissue damage, involving muscles or tendons.
• Home remedies may take as much as 4 to 6 weeks to alleviate your pain completely.
• Professional medical help should be sought if your pain increases during your home treatment or if the pain continues for longer than 4 to 6 weeks.
• Accurate diagnosis at a pain treatment clinic is critical for successful recovery.
• Tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow have similar symptoms, but the location of the pain is different as the soft tissue that is damaged is in different areas.
• Non-intrusive methods to alleviate your pain will be suggested before surgery.