Chiropractor for Elbow Pain in Milwaukee, WI

Elbow pain when you grip a tool, swing a paddle, or lift a bag? Let’s look for what’s behind it.

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Understanding elbow pain

What is elbow pain?

Elbow pain is pain in or around your elbow, where your upper arm meets your forearm. The muscles that grip and move your wrist attach to small bony bumps on each side of the elbow. When those tendons get overworked, the elbow can ache.4,5

Pain on the outside of the elbow is called tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis). Cleveland Clinic calls it one of the most common causes of elbow pain.2 Pain on the inside is called golfer’s elbow (medial epicondylitis).5

Despite the names, you don’t need a racquet or a golf club to get either one. Gripping tools, lifting, and repeated wrist motions at work are common triggers.2,4,5

1.3%

of adults ages 30 to 64 had tennis elbow in a Finnish population study (2000–2001). Golfer’s elbow affected 0.4%.1

9 in 10+

tennis elbow cases come from causes other than tennis, experts estimate2

6.1%

of 683 workers at 12 plants in Wisconsin and Utah had tennis elbow in the right elbow (study reported in 2004)3

Symptoms

Elbow pain symptoms: what you may notice

Elbow pain can start suddenly or build up over weeks. Where it hurts, and what makes it worse, helps point to the cause.5

  • Outside

    Pain on the outer elbow

    Pain or burning on the outside of the elbow that can spread into the forearm and wrist.2,4

  • Inside

    Pain on the inner elbow

    Pain and tenderness on the inside of the elbow that can spread down the forearm.5

  • Grip

    Weak or painful grip

    It’s hard to hold a coffee cup, shake hands, or turn a doorknob.2,4

  • Lifting

    Pain when lifting or gripping

    Gripping or lifting makes it worse, especially when the wrist is involved.5

  • Stiffness

    Stiffness

    Your elbow feels stiff, or it hurts to make a fist.2,5

  • Tingling

    Tingling in the ring and little fingers

    Numbness or tingling in these fingers can come from the inner elbow.5,6

  • Swelling

    Swelling at the back of the elbow

    A soft, puffy swelling at the tip of the elbow may be bursitis.7

  • Night

    Pain at night

    Tennis elbow pain may get worse at night.2

Numbness or tingling that starts in your neck and runs down your arm may be a pinched nerve in the neck. Tingling in your thumb and first fingers? See wrist pain and carpal tunnel.

When to seek medical care first

Most elbow pain isn’t an emergency. But some signs point to a broken or dislocated elbow, or an infection. Those need medical care before chiropractic care.5,8

Get medical care right away if:

  • Your elbow looks deformed or out of place after a fall or hard hit5,8
  • You have severe pain, or you think a bone is broken5,8
  • You can’t bend or move your elbow5
  • Your hand is numb, or feels cold and looks pale, white, or purple after an injury8
  • Your elbow is swollen, warm, and red, and you have a fever. The fluid sac at the tip of the elbow (bursa) may be infected.5,7

See a provider soon if:

  • Elbow pain doesn’t ease with rest, ice, and home care4,5
  • Tingling in your fingers lasts more than six weeks or is severe6
Causes

What causes elbow pain?

Most elbow pain comes from repeating the same motion many times, on many days. Common causes include:4,5

Tennis elbow Golfer’s elbow Elbow tendinitis Elbow bursitis Cubital tunnel syndrome Falls and sprains

Repeated gripping and forceful work go together. In one population study, people who did both had much higher odds of tennis elbow.1

Pain in your shoulder too? See shoulder pain. Wrist pain or carpal tunnel? See wrist pain.

Who gets elbow pain

The trades and physical jobs

Plumbers, painters, carpenters, butchers, and cooks use the same wrist and arm motions all day. Regularly lifting more than 45 pounds also raises the risk. Tennis elbow was fairly common among plant workers in a study that included Wisconsin.2,3,4 See care for physical jobs.

Office work

Heavy computer mouse use can trigger tennis elbow.4 See care for office workers.

Racquet sports and pickleball

Tennis, pickleball, throwing sports, and weight training can strain the elbow. Poor form or poorly fitted gear adds to the risk.4,5 See care for athletes and weekend warriors.

Age, smoking, and weight

Tennis elbow is most common between ages 30 and 60. Smoking and obesity also raise the risk.1,4

Hurt your elbow on the job? We accept workers’ compensation.

Where it hurts

Elbow pain by where it hurts

Where you feel elbow pain is one of the best clues to what’s behind it. Use this guide as a starting point, not a diagnosis.

Tingling in your thumb, index, and middle fingers points more to the wrist (carpal tunnel).6 Tingling that starts in the neck points to a pinched nerve in the neck.

Where it hurtsCommon causesWhat you may notice
Outside of the elbowTennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis)4Pain or burning that can spread to the forearm and wrist. Worse when you grip, twist, or shake hands.2,4
Inside of the elbowGolfer’s elbow (medial epicondylitis)5Pain when you grip, lift, or make a fist. It can spread down the forearm.5
Inside of the elbow, with tinglingCubital tunnel syndrome, when the “funny bone” nerve (ulnar nerve) is squeezed6Numbness or tingling in the ring and little fingers, often when the elbow stays bent.6
Back of the elbowElbow bursitis7Swelling at the tip of the elbow. Leaning on it hurts. Warmth and redness may mean infection.7
Whole elbow, after a fallA sprain, a broken bone, or a dislocated elbow8Severe pain, swelling, or a joint that looks out of place. Get medical care first.8
Your care

How chiropractic care helps elbow pain

Your chiropractor for elbow pain starts by listening: when it started, what you do at work and for fun, and what makes it worse. Then your doctor checks your elbow, wrist, shoulder, and neck. X-rays are taken only if your exam calls for them.

If anything needs medical care first, your doctor will tell you and help you get it. Your doctor then explains what they found and talks through care options with you. You decide what’s right for you.

Care is natural and drug-free, designed around your elbow, your medical history, your daily life, and your goals.

What the research says about exercise

Physical therapy guidelines for tennis elbow recommend strengthening exercises for the forearm muscles. They suggest pairing exercise with other care, including hands-on care.9

What the research says about hands-on care and shots

Gentle joint movement of the elbow may ease pain and improve grip in the short term.9 Longer-term evidence is limited and mixed. In one trial, a steroid shot led to worse results at one year than a placebo shot. Pain also came back more often (54% vs. 12%).10

What your care may include

Good to know

If you don’t want an adjustment

Say so, and your doctor won’t adjust you. Gentle joint movement, muscle work, and exercise are other options. You choose your care.

Hands-on

Elbow and wrist adjustments

Gentle, targeted adjustments help restore motion to a stiff elbow or wrist joint.

Gentle option

Gentle joint movement

Slow, controlled movements of the elbow joint may ease pain and help your grip in the short term.

Rehab

Forearm strengthening

Guided exercises slowly load the forearm tendons, so lifting and gripping get easier over time.

Above the elbow

Neck and upper back check

Your doctor checks your neck, upper back, and shoulder, since they work with your elbow.

Work and play

Grip, tool, and racquet setup

Your doctor talks through your grip, your tools, your desk, or your racquet or paddle, and simple changes that may ease the strain.

Select clinics

Physical therapy

Available at our Menomonee Falls, Waukesha, and West Allis North clinics.

Select clinics

Massage therapy

Available at our Hales Corners and Oconomowoc clinics.

Recovery

How long does elbow pain take to heal?

Tendons heal slowly. Tennis elbow recovery usually takes about six months, and some people need up to 18 months. Cleveland Clinic notes that people almost always make a full recovery.2

Pushing through pain can make golfer’s elbow worse, so ease off when it flares.5 Using the elbow hard before the tendon heals can also lead to a tear.2 Your doctor can help you build back up step by step.

6–18 mo.

Tennis elbow usually takes about six months to heal, and up to 18 months for some people.2

Insurance and your first visit

Care that fits your coverage

We’re in-network with most insurance plans, including Medicare, and our team can check your benefits before you come in. No insurance? New patients can start with the $29 first visit.

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In-network with most insurance companies
  • Most commercial plans
  • Medicare
  • Auto accident claims
  • Workers’ compensation
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Your first visit

What to expect at your first visit

  1. Share your story

    Your doctor asks when the pain started, what makes it better or worse, your daily activities, and your goals.

  2. Get a thorough exam

    Your doctor checks how your elbow, wrist, shoulder, and neck move, where it’s tender, and the strength, reflexes, and sensation in your arms and hands. X-rays are taken if needed.

  3. Talk through your options

    Your doctor explains what they found and walks you through care options. You decide what's right for you.

  4. Begin care at your next visit

    Treatment begins at visit two. In acute cases, your doctor may decide same-day treatment is appropriate.

You'll see the same doctor as your care continues, so the person treating you knows your history and your progress.

Your care team

Meet Milwaukee chiropractors who treat elbow pain

Our chiropractors care for elbow pain every week. These doctors bring backgrounds that fit patients with elbow pain.

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[One or two sentences on this doctor’s background with elbow pain.]

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[Doctor name], DC

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Why Milwaukee trusts us

Trusted by Greater Milwaukee since 1982

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Common questions

Frequently asked questions about elbow pain

Many patients find chiropractic care helps them move and grip more comfortably. Your doctor checks your elbow, wrist, shoulder, and neck to look for what’s behind your pain. Care often pairs gentle joint movement with forearm strengthening, which guidelines recommend.

Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) hurts on the outside of the elbow. Golfer’s elbow (medial epicondylitis) hurts on the inside. Both come from overworked forearm tendons, and both can make gripping painful.

Yes. Experts estimate more than 9 in 10 cases come from other causes. Jobs and hobbies with repeated wrist and arm motions, like painting, plumbing, carpentry, and cooking, are common triggers.

Gripping and lifting pull on the forearm tendons that attach at the elbow. When those tendons are overworked, gripping a cup, a tool, or a bag can hurt. Regularly lifting more than 45 pounds also raises the risk of tennis elbow.

It can. Racquet sports like tennis and pickleball can lead to golfer’s elbow, and poor form or poorly fitted gear adds to the risk. A good warm-up and the right grip size may help.

They may ease pain for a short time. But in one trial, people who got a steroid shot had worse results at one year than those who got a placebo shot. Their pain also came back more often. Talk with your medical doctor about your options.

Tingling in those fingers can come from the ulnar nerve, your “funny bone,” at the inside of the elbow. This is called cubital tunnel syndrome. It often flares when the elbow stays bent, like when you sleep or hold a phone.

Elbow bursitis is swelling of the small fluid sac at the tip of the elbow. Swelling at the back of the elbow is often the first sign, and leaning on it can hurt. If the skin is warm and red, or you have a fever, get medical care right away.

Recovery usually takes about six months, and some people need up to 18 months. People almost always make a full recovery. Easing off activities that flare it and building strength step by step can help.

Get medical care right away if your elbow looks out of place, you can’t move it, or you think a bone is broken. A numb, cold, or pale hand after an injury is also an emergency. So is a swollen, warm, red elbow with a fever.

Tell your doctor and they won’t adjust you. Gentle joint movement, muscle work, and forearm strengthening are other ways to care for elbow pain. Your doctor explains the options, and you decide what’s right for you.

Often, yes. Same-day appointments are available at many of our clinics, depending on the day and each clinic’s hours. Call your nearest clinic or request an appointment online to check today’s openings. Your first visit is for your consultation and exam, and treatment typically begins at your next visit.

Usually not. Your first visit is for listening, a full exam, and X-rays if needed. Treatment begins at visit two. In acute cases, your doctor may decide same-day treatment is appropriate.

No referral is needed. Some insurance plans may require one for full benefits. Our team checks your plan when you verify your insurance and lets you know before your visit.

Eligible new patients can request a first visit for $29, including a consultation, an exam, and X-rays if needed. The offer requires requesting an appointment online and a visit within five business days. Medicare and Medicaid patients aren’t eligible.

Chiropractic Company has 20+ neighborhood clinics across Greater Milwaukee, and every one offers chiropractic care for elbow pain. Find a location close to your home or work.
Milwaukee-area chiropractic clinics near you

Find elbow pain care near you: 20+ locations

Every clinic offers chiropractic care for elbow pain, close to home or work.

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Keep reading
Article

Golfer’s Elbow: Inner Elbow Pain Explained

Golfer’s elbow causes pain on the inside of the elbow from overworked forearm tendons.

Article

Tennis Elbow: Symptoms, Causes, and How Long It Lasts

Tennis elbow causes pain on the outside of the elbow, often from gripping and lifting, not tennis.

Related conditions

Wrist pain and carpal tunnelShoulder painPinched nerve in the neckNeck pain

Care for your lifestyle

Services and resources

Sources

  1. Shiri R, Viikari-Juntura E, Varonen H, Heliövaara M. Prevalence and determinants of lateral and medial epicondylitis: a population study. American Journal of Epidemiology. 2006;164(11):1065–1074.
  2. Cleveland Clinic. Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis).
  3. Deckow-Schaefer G, Garg A, Groth G, et al. Lateral epicondylitis in a working population [abstract]. American Journal of Epidemiology. 2004;159(11 Suppl):S79.
  4. Mayo Clinic. Tennis elbow: Symptoms and causes.
  5. Mayo Clinic. Golfer’s elbow: Symptoms and causes.
  6. Cleveland Clinic. Cubital tunnel syndrome.
  7. Mayo Clinic Orthopedics & Sports Medicine. Elbow bursitis: Symptoms.
  8. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, OrthoInfo. Elbow dislocation.
  9. Lucado AM, Day JM, Vincent JI, et al. Lateral elbow pain and muscle function impairments: clinical practice guidelines. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy. 2022;52(12):CPG1–CPG111.
  10. Coombes BK, Bisset L, Brooks P, Khan A, Vicenzino B. Effect of corticosteroid injection, physiotherapy, or both on clinical outcomes in patients with unilateral lateral epicondylalgia: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 2013;309(5):461–469.
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