Elbow injuries and pain are common among athletes, from pitchers to swimmers. At MedStar Health, our experienced surgeons provide high-quality care for elbow pain and injuries, using physical therapy and other conservative treatment options as well as advanced surgeries, when necessary. Our team performs thousands of surgeries each year, and we pride ourselves on offering the least invasive options to allow our patients to recover quickly from surgery and return to their active lives faster. Our specialists will always encourage non-surgical options when possible and recommend surgery only when needed.
What are the causes?
Elbow pain is a symptom of a number of different injuries, many of which occur as the result of playing a sport. Some of the most common injuries include:
How are injuries diagnosed?
If you experience elbow pain that is severe or does not go away, it is important to speak with a specialist. MedStar Health is home to experts in a wide range of elbow conditions who have years of experience diagnosing and treating sports injuries. Your initial exam with one of our physicians will likely include the following:
- Medical history evaluation – Your physician will discuss your medical history with you and any relevant prior elbow problems
- Physical exam – Your doctor will evaluate the affected elbow and may ask you questions about where you are feeling pain or discomfort or how the injury first occurred
- Imaging tests – Your orthopedist will also likely conduct imaging studies to rule out bone fractures and accurately diagnose your condition
Treatment
If you are experiencing a sports-related elbow joint injury or pain that is mild, one or more of the following conservative treatment options may be recommended:
- Ice to decrease swelling
- Pain medications
- Avoiding activities that cause pain in the elbow
- Anti-inflammatory medications to reduce swelling
- Physical therapy
If conservative treatments for elbow pain are unsuccessful, or if your condition is severe or recurring, our physicians at MedStar Health may recommend one of the following treatment options:
Our providers
Location: Change location Enter your location
Orthopedic Sports Medicine
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Emmanuel Asare O Atiemo, MD
Orthopedic Sports Medicine
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Vestinia Madonna Bridges, MD
Orthopedic Sports Medicine
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Emily T. Cha, MD
Orthopedic Sports Medicine
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Wiemi Abell Douoguih, MD
Orthopedic Sports Medicine
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James C. Dreese, MD
Sports Medicine & Orthopedic Sports Medicine
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Allison Liefeld Fillar, MD
Sports Medicine, Orthopedic Sports Medicine & Orthopedic Surgery
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Jason Wilson Hammond, MD
Sports Medicine, Orthopedic Sports Medicine & Orthopedic Surgery
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Daniel Mark Hampton, MD
Sports Medicine & Orthopedic Sports Medicine
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Richard Yarborough Hinton, MD
Pediatric Sports Medicine, Shoulder Orthopedic Surgery, Knee Orthopedic Surgery, Sports Medicine & Orthopedic Sports Medicine
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Richard Gary Levine, MD
Knee Orthopedic Surgery, Shoulder Orthopedic Surgery, Sports Medicine & Orthopedic Sports Medicine
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Christopher Alan Looze, MBBS
Sports Medicine & Orthopedic Sports Medicine
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Milford Howarth Marchant, MD
Orthopedic Surgery, Orthopedic Sports Medicine & Sports Medicine
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Carter Wallace Mitchell, MD
Orthopedic Sports Medicine
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Ryan Stephen Murray, MD
Sports Medicine, Orthopedic Sports Medicine, Pediatric Sports Medicine & Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery
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William Postma, MD
Orthopedic Sports Medicine
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Kenneth Benjamin Tepper, MD
Orthopedic Sports Medicine & Sports Medicine
Hand Surgery
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William Hugh Baugher, MD
Hand Surgery
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John S Foley, MD
Hand Surgery
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Aviram Moshe Giladi, MD
Reconstructive Plastic Surgery & Hand Surgery
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Ryan M Jander, MD
Shoulder And Elbow Orthopedic Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery & Hand Surgery
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Michael William Kessler, MD
Hand Surgery
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Kenneth Robert Means, MD
Hand Surgery
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Michael Sean Murphy, MD
Hand Surgery
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Kevin O'Malley, MD
Hand Surgery
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Kelsey Anne Rebehn, MD
Hand Surgery
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Jessica M. Figueroa, MD
Hand Surgery
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Christopher Lee Forthman, MD
Shoulder And Elbow Orthopedic Surgery & Hand Surgery
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Peter Innis, MD
Hand Surgery
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Keith Alan Segalman, MD
Hand Surgery
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George Yeh, MBBS
Hand Surgery
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Neal Brian Zimmerman, MD
Hand Surgery
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Ryan Michael Zimmerman, MD
Hand Surgery
Shoulder and Elbow Orthopedic Surgery
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Ryan A Hoffman, MD
Shoulder And Elbow Orthopedic Surgery
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Ryan M Jander, MD
Shoulder And Elbow Orthopedic Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery & Hand Surgery
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Anand Murugan Murthi, MD
Shoulder And Elbow Orthopedic Surgery
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Jason Andrew Stein, MD
Shoulder And Elbow Orthopedic Surgery
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Brent Bowie Wiesel, MD
Shoulder And Elbow Orthopedic Surgery
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Christopher Lee Forthman, MD
Shoulder And Elbow Orthopedic Surgery & Hand Surgery