If you have pain, weakness or numbness in your back, neck or hands, measuring the speed and degree of electrical activity in your muscles and nerves can help your doctor make a proper diagnosis. This process is called electrodiagnostic testing.| orthoinfo.aaos.org
During elbow arthroscopy, your surgeon inserts a small camera, called an arthroscope, into your elbow joint. The camera displays pictures on a video monitor, and your surgeon uses these images to guide miniature surgical instruments.| orthoinfo.aaos.org
Stretching can help your body get ready for exercise. It is also an essential part of recovering from aerobic activity. The stretching and flexibility exercises included in this guide will help improve your ability to move easily and can reduce your risk for injury.| orthoinfo.aaos.org
Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) and golfer’s elbow (medial epicondylitis) are painful conditions caused by overuse of the muscles and tendons in your forearm. Specific exercises will help with the healing process and improve resistance to repetitive stress.| orthoinfo.aaos.org
Cubital tunnel syndrome can cause an aching pain on the inside of your elbow. Most symptoms, however, occur in the hand. Numbness and tingling in the ring and little fingers are common symptoms of ulnar nerve entrapment. These symptoms may come and go.| orthoinfo.aaos.org
Osteoarthritis of the elbow can happen because of a previous injury such as elbow dislocation or fracture. Most commonly, however, it is the result of a normal wearing away of the joint cartilage from age and activity.| orthoinfo.aaos.org
Cervical spondylosis, commonly called arthritis of the neck, is the medical term for the wear-and-tear changes that occur in the cervical spine (neck) over time. The condition is common—but many people with cervical spondylosis experience no noticeable symptoms| orthoinfo.aaos.org
A cortisone shot is a simple in-office procedure in which a steroid is injected into a joint in combination with an anesthetic. Cortisone shots help to reduce the pain associated with many joint conditions, such as arthritis and bursitis, as well as carpal tunnel syndrome and back pain.| orthoinfo.aaos.org
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disease that attacks multiple joints throughout the body. Although there is no cure for rheumatoid arthritis, there are a number of treatments that can help relieve joint pain and improve functioning.| orthoinfo.aaos.org
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs (pronounced en-saids), are the most prescribed medications for treating conditions such as arthritis, bursitis, and tendinitis. Over-the-counter, nonprescription NSAIDs include aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen.| orthoinfo.aaos.org
During the past several years, much has been written about platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and its potential effectiveness in the treatment of some injuries. Although it is not exactly clear how PRP works, laboratory studies have shown that it can potentially speed up the healing process in some injuries.| orthoinfo.aaos.org