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Elbow pain treatment What is causing the pain, what helps at home, and when to see a specialist
Elbow pain treatment depends on the cause. Most elbow pain comes from overloaded tendons, such as tennis elbow on the outside or golfer’s elbow on the inside, and settles with a few weeks of lighter use, a forearm strap and a graded strengthening program. Bursitis at the tip of the elbow usually calms with padding and rest, while tingling into the ring and little fingers points to the ulnar nerve. If the pain lasts more than six weeks, wakes you at night or comes with numbness or weakness, have it examined so treatment matches the cause.
The elbow is a simple hinge, but the muscles that grip, lift and twist all anchor around it. That is why a new tool at work, a weekend of painting or a change in your tennis stroke can leave the elbow sore for weeks. The video shows the most common culprit, an irritated tendon, and the kind of grip work used to fix it.
Common causes of elbow pain
- Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis): pain on the outside of the elbow when gripping, lifting a cup or turning a doorknob; see our guide to tennis elbow treatment
- Golfer’s elbow (medial epicondylitis): pain on the inside of the elbow with gripping and wrist bending; golfer’s elbow treatment follows the same steps
- Elbow bursitis: a soft, sometimes painless swelling at the tip of the elbow after leaning on it or a knock
- Ulnar nerve irritation (cubital tunnel): tingling or numbness in the ring and little fingers, often worse with the elbow bent; see numbness and tingling in hands
- Arthritis or an old injury: stiffness, clicking and loss of full straightening
Our elbow, wrist and hand pain page lists the other conditions we evaluate.
Elbow pain treatment you can start at home
- Change the load, not stop moving: lift with the palm up, use a thicker grip and take breaks from repetitive tasks
- Use a forearm strap: a counterforce strap just below the elbow takes strain off the tendon; elastic tape is another option (see how does kinesio tape work?)
- Ice or heat: ice after activity for a flare, gentle heat before stretching for stiffness
- Pad the elbow: for bursitis, stop leaning on it and protect it while it settles
- Keep the elbow straighter at night: a loosely wrapped towel helps if your fingers tingle in bed
Therapy, shockwave and injections
When home care is not enough, tendon pain responds best to a graded program of slow, heavy grip and wrist exercises, like the grip work in the video. Hand therapy with an occupational therapist is offered at our Brooklyn office only; see occupational hand therapy. Physical therapy for the elbow and forearm is offered at our Brooklyn and Staten Island offices. For tendon pain that has lasted months, focused shockwave therapy is another option, offered in Brooklyn only.
If pain blocks your rehab, a physician may suggest an ultrasound-guided joint or tendon-sheath injection; diagnostic musculoskeletal ultrasound shows the tendon and guides the needle. Pain procedures are performed at all three offices, and your physician explains where and when yours will be scheduled. For numbness or weakness, an EMG/NCV test shows whether the ulnar nerve is pinched at the elbow or further up in the neck.
Watch: an ultrasound-guided elbow injection
When tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow or elbow bursitis keeps flaring despite exercise and a strap, a physician may suggest an ultrasound-guided elbow injection. The clip shows how ultrasound lets the needle reach the irritated tissue precisely. An injection calms pain so the strengthening work can continue; it is not a stand-alone fix. Pain procedures are performed at all three offices, and your physician explains where and when yours will be scheduled. Our tennis elbow and elbow, wrist and hand pain pages explain the other options, and focused shockwave therapy (Brooklyn only) is another choice for long-standing tendon pain.
When to get elbow pain checked
- Pain that has not improved after six weeks of sensible changes
- Numbness, tingling or weakness in the hand
- A hot, red, swollen elbow, especially with a fever, which needs same-day care
- An elbow that will not fully straighten or bend after a fall
- Pain that wakes you at night
Wrist and hand pain often travels with elbow problems; see chronic wrist pain treatment.
Related care at Precision Care Medical & Sports Performance
Elbow pain treatment near you
Looking for an elbow or hand pain doctor near me? Precision Care Medical & Sports Performance evaluates elbow pain at all three offices, where our pain physicians, Ashley Marcus, MD in Brooklyn, Jake Stephen, DO on Staten Island and Yuri Gordin, MD in Manhattan examine the elbow and explain the options. In Brooklyn, our Brooklyn pain management office on Shell Rd is close to Bensonhurst, Gravesend and Sheepshead Bay, and hand therapy and shockwave are offered there.
For elbow pain on Staten Island, our Staten Island pain management office on Richmond Rd is near Dongan Hills, New Dorp and Great Kills. In Manhattan, the Precision Care Spine & Pain Center in Midtown Manhattan is easy to reach from Harlem, Washington Heights and Spanish Harlem. Physical therapy is offered in Brooklyn and Staten Island only. Request an appointment or call the office closest to you.
150 E 55th St, Suite 401, New York, NY 10022
(212) 840-0135
Questions patients ask
What is the fastest elbow pain treatment?
For most tendon pain, the fastest route is lowering the load right away, a forearm strap and starting graded grip and wrist strengthening within a week or two. Rest alone tends to drag recovery out.
How long does elbow pain take to heal?
Mild tendon pain often settles in four to eight weeks. Tennis or golfer’s elbow that has lasted months can take three to six months of consistent exercise.
Should I wear a brace for elbow pain?
A counterforce strap just below the elbow helps many people with tennis or golfer’s elbow during activity. It works best alongside exercise, not instead of it.
When is elbow pain a nerve problem?
Tingling or numbness in the ring and little fingers, a weak grip or symptoms worse with the elbow bent suggest the ulnar nerve. An EMG/NCV test can confirm it.
Do injections help elbow pain?
An injection can calm a flare so you can do your exercises, but repeated cortisone shots into a tendon are avoided. Your physician explains whether one fits your case.
Where can I get elbow pain treatment near me?
Precision Care Medical & Sports Performance evaluates and treats elbow pain at all three offices:
- Brooklyn2781 Shell Rd, Suite 101, Brooklyn, NY 11223(718) 648-1234 · Get directions
- Staten Island1630 Richmond Rd, Suite 101, Staten Island, NY 10304(718) 339-7100 · Get directions
- Midtown Manhattan150 E 55th St, Suite 401, New York, NY 10022(212) 840-0135 · Get directions
Physical therapy is offered at the Brooklyn and Staten Island offices only, and hand therapy and shockwave at the Brooklyn office only.
Educational only, not medical advice. These videos and this article explain common problems and treatments in general terms. They are not a diagnosis or a treatment plan for you. Results vary from person to person. See a qualified clinician about your own symptoms, and call 911 or go to an emergency room for an emergency.
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