Elbow Pain Treatment in Sulphur Springs, TX

Elbow pain can make simple things hard, like gripping a coffee cup, turning a doorknob, or swinging a hammer. Most elbow pain comes from overworked tendons and muscles, and most of it improves with a clear plan and some patience.

Common causes

• Tennis elbow. Pain on the outside of the elbow with gripping and lifting. You do not have to play tennis to get it.

• Golfer's elbow. The same kind of tendon pain on the inside of the elbow.

• Ulnar nerve irritation. Tingling or numbness into the ring and little fingers, often worse with the elbow bent for a long time.

• Overuse strain. Sore forearm muscles after a big week of work, yard work, or training.

• Pain from the neck. The neck can send pain down the arm that feels like an elbow problem.

What helps

A hands-on technique called mobilization with movement, paired with exercise, beat "wait and see" in the first six weeks and held up better over time than a steroid shot (Bisset et al., 2006). Adding adjustments and dry needling to standard physical therapy for tennis elbow led to bigger gains in pain and function at three months (Dunning et al., 2024). For the ulnar nerve, gentle nerve "sliders" move the nerve at the elbow with much less strain than stretching it hard (Coppieters & Butler, 2008).

How we can help

Like a team pulling a rope together, each part of our care adds its own strength, and together they move the problem further than any one could alone. Your plan may include:

• Soft tissue release and joint mobilization for the elbow and forearm

• Chiropractic adjustments for the neck, upper back, and elbow

• Dry needling for tight, tender forearm muscles

• Rehab and sport performance exercise for the forearm, shoulder, and shoulder blade

When a nerve is involved, we use neurodynamics, gentle movements based on the work of Michael Shacklock, to help the nerve glide and stretch normally again (Shacklock, 2005).

Common questions

Do I need a brace or a shot? Many people get better without either. A shot may ease pain for a short time, but a plan built on hands-on care and exercise tends to hold up better.

How long does tennis elbow take to heal? Tendons heal slowly. Many people feel better in a few weeks, but full strength can take a few months.

Should I stop working out? Usually not. We help you change how you lift and grip so you can stay active while the tendon heals.

What if my fingers tingle? We test the nerve as part of your exam. If more testing is needed, your medical doctor can order a nerve test.

When to seek emergency care

Most elbow pain is not an emergency. Please seek emergency care if your elbow looks deformed or you cannot bend or straighten it after a fall, if it is hot, red, and swollen or you have a fever, if hand weakness or numbness keeps getting worse, if you see a sudden bulge or bruise in the front of the upper arm after lifting, or if arm pain comes with chest pain, shortness of breath, or sweating.

Book a visit

If elbow pain is getting in the way of work or play, we would be glad to help you get your grip back. Book Online or call 903-629-5126.

Pacheco Spine and Sport, 1067 Gilmer Street, Suite C, Sulphur Springs, TX 75482.

This page is for general education and is not a substitute for a personal medical exam.

Sources

Bisset, L., Beller, E., Jull, G., Brooks, P., Darnell, R., & Vicenzino, B. (2006). Mobilisation with movement and exercise, corticosteroid injection, or wait and see for tennis elbow: Randomised trial. BMJ, 333(7575), 939. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.38961.584653.AE

Coppieters, M. W., & Butler, D. S. (2008). Do 'sliders' slide and 'tensioners' tension? An analysis of neurodynamic techniques and considerations regarding their application. Manual Therapy, 13(3), 213-221. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.math.2006.12.008

Dunning, J., Mourad, F., Bliton, P., Charlebois, C., Gorby, P., Zacharko, N., Layson, B., Maselli, F., Young, I., & Fernández-de-las-Peñas, C. (2024). Percutaneous tendon dry needling and thrust manipulation as an adjunct to multimodal physical therapy in patients with lateral elbow tendinopathy: A multicenter randomized clinical trial. Clinical Rehabilitation, 38(8), 1063-1079. https://doi.org/10.1177/02692155241249968

Shacklock, M. (2005). Clinical neurodynamics: A new system of neuromusculoskeletal treatment. Elsevier Butterworth-Heinemann.