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The elbow is one of the most-used joints in the body. It helps you swing, throw, lift and even move your hand. It is an area prone to injury, particularly in sports.
Elbow problems can disrupt even the simplest tasks. At One Health, we focus on giving you the expertise, treatment, and ongoing support to regain your freedom of movement and reduce your pain. The treatment of elbow pain will depend on the reason for it. Some conditions will be solved by specific exercises, whereas others may require surgery as a long-term solution.
Whether you’re dealing with chronic pain or restricted movement, our experts use advanced techniques and modern treatments to help you regain your quality of life. This page explains more about our elbow treatments, so you’ll understand what to expect.
The elbow is a hinge joint consisting of the humerus, ulnar and radius. The surrounding muscles, tendons and ligaments allow the joint to load.
This joint is responsible for supination and pronation of your hand, and bending and straightening your arm to around 180 degrees.
The elbow is a synovial hinge joint. This means that it has a fluid-filled capsule that prevents friction, nourishes the joint and allows for greater movement.
The muscles around the elbow joint include:
The elbow is a joint that can easily be overused at work or in our hobbies. Overuse can lead to injury. However, it isn’t only overuse that can affect the elbow joint: breaks, sprains, disease, and wear and tear can also cause pain in the elbow.
The elbow joint is complex, consisting of bones, soft tissues, cartilage, ligaments, and fluid. Any one of these can come to harm and cause pain.
To get to the source of the pain, you will need to have an assessment to examine the elbow joint. By combining modern technology with our knowledge, we can diagnose conditions and decide on the most suitable treatment path.
We diagnose, manage, and treat a variety of elbow conditions, including tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow, trauma, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis.
Common elbow complaints:
Osteoarthritis, dislocation, sprains, strains and bursitis can also cause elbow pain.
When pain in the elbow is severe, if hands and arms are numb, or if the range of motion is an issue, surgery could be an option. Elbow surgery can help conditions such as tennis elbow, diseased muscle affecting the elbow, torn UCL and ulnar neuritis relief.
We offer modern surgical procedures so you can return to your regular activities. The treatments we offer include:
You can look after your elbow by stretching before and after exercise, using proper technique in sports, and staying active to reduce stiffness.
Look after your elbow joint by training the muscles surrounding it to keep them strong and well-balanced.
When you have an elbow replacement, you should arrange transport to and from the hospital leading up to the operation, as you won’t be able to drive afterwards. You might also give friends or family notice of the operation so they can book time off, as you may need someone to help with daily tasks.
You should pack any medicines you’re taking, toiletries, nightwear, and comfortable clothing to bring to the hospital. The day before your operation, you can eat and drink as usual. On the day of your operation, you may be able to have an early morning drink, but you must check this with your healthcare team. You must not smoke after midnight on the day of the operation.
As with any surgery, elbow surgery has risks and can lead to complications. You should always discuss the specific risks with your surgeon.
Risks can include:
Elbow treatment recovery times vary. However, the wound should heal, and the swelling subside within two weeks.
Recovery includes post-operative care. Following the surgery, you may have a numb arm. When the local anaesthetic wears off, it’s important to take medication to keep the pain under control. Pain relief will help you move the elbow joint and perform your physiotherapy exercises.
The wound will in a waterproof dressing when you leave the hospital. You’ll be given spare dressings to take home. These are removed around 10-14 days after your operation. Wearing a sling in the first two weeks can help aid recovery and make you more comfortable, though you don’t need to wear this all the time.
How soon can I go home after my surgery?
What activities are safe after surgery?
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What activities can I do while I recover?
Will I need a follow-up after elbow surgery?
One Health waiting times from consultation to treatment are 3 - 7 weeks on average.
