Elbow Pain Specialist

Why might I experience elbow pain?

Your elbow is a joint that connects your upper to your lower arm. The joint contains bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments, and cartilage and allows you to bend your arms. With an injury, age-related wear and tear, or arthritis, you may experience severe or ongoing elbow pain. 

If non-surgical treatments (rest, physical therapy, medications, injections, etc.) haven’t worked, your COSMO specialist may recommend you undergo elbow surgery. 

The expert team offers advanced comprehensive sports medicine elbow care for patients of all ages and activity levels.

What conditions cause elbow pain?

Reasons you might experience elbow pain include:

• Tennis elbow
• Loose cartilage 
• Loose bone fragments
• Scar tissue
• Arthritis
• Fractures
• Golfer’s elbow
• Ligament injuries
• Severe joint damage
• Nerve compression
• Severe or ongoing pain
• Distal biceps tendon ruptures
• Lateral or medial epicondylitis
• Triceps tendon ruptures
• Ulnar collateral ligament tears

Common types of elbow surgery include traditional open surgery, arthroscopic surgery, and robotic surgery. 

Is elbow surgery right for me?

To determine if (or what type of) surgery is right for you, your specialist reviews your symptoms and medical history. They examine your elbow joint and may recommend blood tests, X-rays, MRIs, or other imaging procedures.

How should I prepare for elbow surgery?

Follow all of your surgeon’s instructions before undergoing elbow surgery at COSMO. Stop taking certain medications, arrange for someone to drive you home after the procedure, and avoid food and drinks the morning of surgery if your provider recommends it.

What should I expect during elbow surgery?

Right before surgery, your specialist gives you anesthesia to numb your elbow and help you fall asleep. They make tiny incisions near your elbow joint to repair, remove, or replace targeted tissues. Your surgeon closes the incisions and takes you to a recovery area before you head home.

What happens after elbow surgery?

You might rest in a recovery room for 1-2 hours but can often go home the same day as elbow surgery. In some cases, you may stay in a surgery center overnight. Either way, have a family member or friend drive you home.

Follow all of your post-surgery instructions. Ice the treatment area, wear a splint when needed, take medications as directed by your surgeon, elevate your elbow, and keep the surgical site and bandages clean. Your recovery may take a few weeks or months, depending on the type of surgery you undergo. 

To maximize recovery, complete rehabilitation exercises and stretches as directed by your provider.

If you experience ongoing elbow pain, schedule an appointment with Colorado Sports Medicine and Orthopaedics by phone or request an appointment online today.