Elbow Pain Specialist
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Blake Fenkell, D.O.
Orthopedic Surgeon & Arthroscopy & Sports Medicine located in Troy, MI
Elbow pain can make it nearly impossible to hold a pen, drive a car, brush your hair, or play the sport you love. At the private practice of Blake Fenkell, skilled orthopedic surgeon Blake Fenkell, DO, offers the most advanced treatments for elbow pain, including nonoperative options and minimally invasive arthroscopic surgery. Call the Troy, Michigan, office, or use the online appointment tool to arrange your visit with Dr. Fenkell now.
Elbow Pain Q&A
What causes elbow pain?
Elbow pain can happen for many reasons, including injuries, trauma, and wear-and-tear. Some of the most common elbow injuries include:
- Biceps tendon rupture
- Tricep tendon rupture
- Ulnar collateral ligament injury (Tommy John injury)
- Lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow)
- Medial epicondylitis (golfer’s elbow)
- Flexor tendonitis
- Ulnar neuritis (nerve compression)
Many professional and amateur athletes who use their arms for forceful or tight gripping movements, including baseball players, golfers, and tennis players, experience elbow pain at some point during their life.
Anyone can experience elbow pain, however, even if they never pick up a tennis racket or step onto a baseball diamond. For example, arthritis or bursitis (joint inflammation) can cause pain in any joint, including your elbow.
How is elbow pain diagnosed?
Dr. Fenkell performs a complete medical history review and discusses your symptoms with you. He gently examines your elbow, carefully manipulating the joint to check for your specific points of pain while also searching for issues like stiffness, bruising, and impaired movement.
Imaging tests are usually an important aspect of your diagnosis. X-rays, computed tomography (CT) scans, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasounds, and other tests can reveal ligament, tendon, muscle, and joint damage.
How is elbow pain treated?
Elbow pain treatment depends on several factors, including the specific injury and your personal recovery goals. The main treatment options include:
Nonsurgical treatments
Whenever possible, Dr. Fenkell uses a more conservative nonsurgical approach to elbow pain management. Some common nonoperative approaches include physical therapy, bracing or splinting, oral anti-inflammatory medication, and corticosteroid and anesthetic injections.
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and other precision medicine treatments may be a good option for soft tissue injuries in the elbow because they stimulate your body’s own healing mechanisms.
Elbow surgery
In some cases, elbow surgery is the best option for complete healing and recovery. As a fellowship-trained sports medicine specialist, Dr. Fenkell knows that surgical precision plays a major role in achieving a complete recovery.
He uses the most up-to-date minimally invasive arthroscopic surgery techniques to repair and reconstruct damaged tendons, ligaments, and other parts in your elbow.
With the arthroscopic approach, Dr. Fenkell performs elbow surgery through dime-sized cuts instead of large incisions. This leads to smoother healing and a faster return to your normal activities.
Elbow pain is a frustrating problem, but it’s one you can successfully overcome with help from Blake Fenkell. Call the office, or click on the provided appointment scheduler now.
