At Tahoe Forest Orthopedics & Sports Medicine, we are focused on a better you. Our specialty-trained elbow doctors and staff are dedicated to providing specialized elbow care to patients in Truckee, Incline Village, and the surrounding communities.

When someone is dealing with elbow pain or an injury, like tennis elbow, even basic things can be hard to do, such as raising your arm or opening a door. An elbow surgeon or doctor is specialty-trained to address injuries and disorders that affect the elbow and can help.

Conditions these doctors often treat include tennis elbow, cubital tunnel syndrome, and arthritis. Treating these issues could involve surgery, a minimally invasive procedure, or another type of elbow treatment, such as physical therapy.

From diagnosing and managing arthritis to treating fractures or golfer's elbow and performing elbow surgery, these specialists are the experts to seek out when dealing with an elbow-specific injury or condition. Their knowledge, clinical skills, and insights are invaluable when it comes to these issues, and with their help, patients can not only return to their daily activities but get more out of life and live with less pain.

What your Doctor needs to know

When you have an appointment with an elbow doctor, you’ll have an opportunity to describe your pain. Doing so can help your specialist better understand your condition and how to effectively treat you. Here are some issues you may be noticing that you’ll want to share with your doctor:

  • Difficulty straightening, rotating, or bending the joint
  • Pain in the entire upper extremity and arm, including the shoulder, wrist, and hand
  • Pain when grasping an object
  • Pinching sensation
  • Swelling
  • Tenderness
  • Tingling
  • Weakness

Common elbow issues

Your doctor may diagnose you with one of the following elbow disorders:

  • Biceps tendon tear: The biceps tendon helps the elbow bend and is located in the front of the shoulder. When it is completely torn, surgery is usually recommended, typically, arthroscopic surgery. During arthroscopy, the surgeon inserts a tiny camera called an arthroscope into the joint.
  • Bicipital tendonitis: An overuse injury which causes tendon inflammation. Symptoms can include shoulder, elbow, and forearm pain.
  • Bursitis: Inflammation of one or more bursae (small sacs) of synovial fluid in the elbow. 
  • Cubital tunnel syndrome: Caused by a compressed nerve, this tunnel syndrome causes tingling and pain. Another type of tunnel syndrome is carpal tunnel syndrome. While the pain is primarily in the hand and wrist, it can also extend up into the elbow.
  • Fracture: Fracture care may or may not require surgery.
  • Gout: A form of arthritis that causes swelling, pain, and redness over the joint. This typically does not require elbow surgery.
  • Golfer's elbow (medial epicondylitis): An overuse injury that causes pain on the inside of the elbow.
  • Osteochondritis dissecans: A disease of the cartilage.
  • Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis): An overuse injury that affects the outer part of the elbow, causing soreness.

Once you are diagnosed, your doctor will first consider all nonsurgical treatment options, such as physical therapy or a type of medicine, before recommending surgery. However, if nonoperative treatments are ineffective, they will explain why and then offer patient education, telling you about the type of surgery they believe will be best for you. If surgery is required, our surgeons have extensive training in the latest elbow surgical procedures.

When you have elbow pain, it can take a toll on your whole life. Our elbow specialists and orthopedic surgeons are not only medical experts, but they’re also knowledgeable professionals who want to do more than just treat your elbow; they want to help you get back to what you love. To schedule an appointment, call (530) 587-7461 or make an appointment request.

Exceptional care begins at Tahoe Forest Orthopedics & Sports Medicine

At Tahoe Forest Orthopedics & Sports Medicine, our team of dedicated orthopedic experts is here for you. As specialty-trained and knowledgeable elbow doctors and surgeons, Dr. Jeffrey Dodd, Dr. Jonathan Hagen, Dr. Michael Jernick, Dr. Andrew Ringnes, and Dr. Nina Winans are backed by the latest state-of-the-art technology and have extensive experience to bring you the very best in orthopedic care. Our elbow doctors have the surgical and nonsurgical expertise you need to reach your goals.

If you have an elbow injury or condition, call (530) 587-7461 to schedule an appointment with one of our expert elbow doctors or surgeons or make an appointment request. We offer three convenient locations in Truckee, California, and Incline Village, Nevada: Tahoe Forest Orthopedics & Sports Medicine, Tahoe Forest Sports Medicine & Therapy Services, and the Incline Village Community Hospital.