Elbow Pain and Conditions in Durban

Specialist treatment for elbow pain and injury in Durban.

This is an overuse injury on the outside of the elbow, where the tendons attaching to the forearm muscles become irritated from repetitive gripping and wrist movement. It might come from racquet sport, DIY work, or simply a lot of typing and lifting at work, and the pain sits right over the bony bump on the outside of your elbow, often spreading down the forearm with gripping. It's one of the most common reasons people see Dr Ryan about elbow pain, affecting manual workers and desk-based patients alike. Most cases improve with rest, a brace, and targeted stretching and strengthening exercises before anything more invasive is needed. Persistent cases that don't settle after several months of physiotherapy occasionally need a closer look.

Same mechanism as tennis elbow, but on the opposite side of the joint: the tendons on the inside of the elbow take the strain instead, usually from repetitive gripping, throwing, or wrist-flexing activity. It's often confused with a nerve problem lower down the arm, since both can cause inner-elbow discomfort, so a proper examination matters here to tell them apart. Golfers, but also tradespeople and gym-goers who do a lot of wrist curls, are commonly affected. Treatment usually starts the same way as tennis elbow: rest, activity changes, and focused physiotherapy aimed at gradually loading the tendon again. Most people recover fully with this approach, though it can take a few months given how slowly tendons heal.

A nerve, the ulnar nerve, gets compressed as it passes through a narrow tunnel at the elbow. You'll feel it as numbness or tingling in your ring and little fingers, sometimes with weakness in the hand for fine tasks like buttoning a shirt. It gets worse when you bend the elbow for a while, such as sleeping with your arm folded up, talking on the phone, or resting on your elbow at a desk. A brace worn at night, or simply changing your sleeping position, often eases the symptoms before anything more is needed. When symptoms are severe or don't improve, a small procedure to free up space around the nerve can relieve the pressure.

This usually follows a fall onto an outstretched hand or a direct blow to the joint during sport or an accident, and it can range from a partial slip to the joint fully coming out of place. A first-time dislocation needs prompt attention to put the joint back and is treated differently to an elbow that keeps slipping out repeatedly, since recurrent instability usually means the supporting ligaments have been stretched or torn. Tell Dr Ryan if this has happened before, as it changes the treatment plan. Most first-time dislocations do well with a period of protection and physiotherapy to restore strength and movement. Ongoing instability that doesn't settle may need surgery to repair the damaged ligaments.

Wear in the joint's cartilage is less common here than in the shoulder, hip or knee, but it happens, particularly after an old fracture, a previous dislocation, or years of heavy manual work or repetitive strain. It causes pain, stiffness and sometimes a grinding sensation, and can gradually limit how far you can bend or straighten your arm. Treatment usually starts with activity changes, anti-inflammatory medication and pain relief, alongside physiotherapy to maintain as much movement as possible. Surgery is reserved for more advanced cases where pain and stiffness are significantly affecting daily life, and Dr Ryan will explain the options, from joint clean-up procedures to replacement, before any decision is made.