Expert treatment for problems and injuries of the elbow.
However, if the pain does not go away after a few weeks, does not respond to non-surgical treatments and is preventing you from going about your day-to-day life, it may be time to investigate further.
If you need more personalised treatment from an elbow specialist, you may be referred to an elbow surgeon. At Circle Health Group’s Shirley Oaks Hospital, we offer elbow surgery for a range of different conditions.
Located in Shirley Oaks Village on the outskirts of Croydon, our private hospital sees patients from South West London, East Surrey and beyond. People come to use from local areas such as Sutton, Banstead, Coulsdon, Purley and Wallington, as well as Warlingham, Kenley and Chipstead. We also see many patients from further afield. People travel to us to seek the expertise of our experienced consultants and to make the most of our great facilities and compassionate team of healthcare professionals.
Please note that some of the information on this treatment page is specific to elbow surgery at Shirley Oaks Hospital. For quick and easy access to elbow surgery elsewhere in the UK, please visit this page to find the Circle Health Group hospital closest to you.
He says, “The elbow problems [seen here at Shirley Oaks Hospital] are commonly soft tissue problems and joint problems.”
Soft tissue conditions include issues relating to the tendon, says Mr Mohan, such as tennis elbow.
“These tendon-related problems are more of a middle-aged problem.” he continues, “For example, they are quite common in people who are carpenters and builders, but they can happen to anybody and across the age groups.”
Pain, discomfort, and limited movement are amongst the symptoms experienced by all groups of people — and most, if not all, of these patients will have already visited their GP and tried physiotherapy. They may find that the pain is simply not getting better though.
“Usually at that point, we will suggest a scan, as fractures are not very easily picked up on X-rays”, says Mr Mohan. “For tendon-related problems, we can offer physiotherapy [if the patient is yet to try physio] — we have lots of physiotherapists onsite.
“Once the physio is done, if the patient is still in pain and the scan has confirmed something specific, we can offer several other treatments.”
Offering a wealth of advice for those struggling with chronic pain, Mr Mohan performs elbow surgery and can offer many less invasive medical interventions too.
Causing pain, stiffness, swelling and difficulty moving your elbow, tendonitis is one of the main causes of elbow pain.
Known clinically as lateral epicondylitis, tennis elbow occurs following overuse of the forearm, near the elbow joint. Pain may be felt on the outside of the elbow, which will likely travel down the forearm. This will happen when lifting or bending your arm, gripping small objects (for example, a pen), or when turning a door handle.
A condition that gives rise to pain and weakness in the tendons of the elbow, golfer’s elbow is, like tennis elbow, a relatively common problem experienced by patients who visit Shirley Oaks Hospital.
Pain, tenderness, bruising and swelling are the main symptoms of sprains and strains in the elbow area. These symptoms are usually a result of a sporting injury or due to overuse of the elbow.
A frozen shoulder can result in pain and stiffness in the elbow. Modifying your movements due to this pain could be the reason why pain is felt in your elbow and arms.
A more chronic and potentially debilitating cause of elbow pain is arthritis. Patients with arthritis in the elbow may experience pain and stiffness in the joints.
Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis. With this condition, gradual wear and tear of a joint — in this case, the elbow joint — is observed, which can mean the patient suffers extreme pain as a result.
The first sign of bursitis is swelling in the elbow. You will also feel a dull, achy pain, which may be more painful when you move or press on the area. You may also have a temperature of 38C or above, while some people feel shivery with bursitis.
A broken elbow is usually caused by a fall or other injury, with symptoms including swelling, deformity of the elbow, and pain. Your elbow specialist will likely suggest you have a scan, which can determine if you have fractured your elbow.
If you have tennis elbow specifically (also known as lateral epicondylitis), you will experience pain on the outside (lateral side) of the elbow. The pain may radiate down the back of your forearm too, and you will likely feel pain when you fully extend your arm.
If the pain is accompanied by a fever, you should call 111 for advice.
Many of the conditions listed above may cause pain, restrict movement and loss of function of the elbow. These conditions may result from degenerative conditions, such as arthritis, or trauma, such as sports-related injuries.
Often, the underlying cause of elbow pain can be resolved with non-surgical treatment options.
If after a few days your pain has not improved, our elbow specialist may recommend stronger painkillers, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
Physiotherapy may also be an option, whereby you will try specific movements and exercises tailored to your specific condition or injury.
Other pain relief includes steroid injections.
However, sometimes these treatments aren’t enough to manage elbow pain or the underlying condition.
This is because elbow surgery is a major surgery, with recovery taking several weeks.
The elbow clinic will do its best to manage elbow conditions non-operatively, where possible.
Mr Mohan explains — “For arthritis of the elbow, different treatments are offered. An elbow replacement, for example, is a complex operation, which puts a lot of restrictions on a person’s ability to use their arm in terms of the amount of weight they can carry [following surgery]. The idea, then, is to keep the native elbow for as long as possible [before a replacement is needed]”.
He goes on to say, “An elbow replacement isn’t like a hip replacement; there are a lot of restrictions in terms of what you can do [following surgery], so you really have to go down that route once you have exhausted other options.”
Often, patients say they feel they can manage the discomfort they are experiencing, choosing to forego a major operation.
At Shirley Oaks Hospital in Croydon, we recommend elbow surgery as a last resort, suggesting less invasive medical options to improve your pain in the first instance.
When surgery is required, arthroscopic (keyhole surgery) is generally offered, where our elbow surgeon uses a miniature camera — inserted by making small cuts — to take a closer look at your elbow. Keyhole surgery is much less invasive than traditional forms of surgery.
If you are wondering about the benefits of elbow arthroscopic surgery, they include a significant improvement in the symptoms and function of your elbow, less pain, swelling and stiffness. This is due to the surgery involving making smaller cuts in the soft tissue.
Faster recovery is another benefit of elbow surgery. Arthroscopic elbow surgery like this can help you get back to your day-to-day activities — including sports — much sooner.
Our dedicated team of elbow consultants, surgeons, nurses, and physiotherapists offer a tailored service, from the day you visit us for your consultation, to the surgery itself, and post-operative recovery.
“We will consider surgery once patients have tried the simpler things [like physiotherapy]” suggests our elbow consultant, Mr Mohan.
“Surgery is a day case procedure, especially with tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow. The patient will then work with the physiotherapists. The beauty of Shirley Oaks is we have a large car park, nice facilities and the surgery can often be done within a day.”
If you are experiencing pain in the elbow, your doctor or elbow specialist will be able to diagnose elbow disorders in several ways.
They may first take a full medical history, before asking you about your elbow symptoms and examining you. Your elbow specialist will also want to know your age and anything which may have contributed to or caused the pain, such as a fall or other injury.
We offer rapid access to appointments to discuss your elbow pain. Don’t wait for answers — make an appointment online and get to the bottom of what is causing your symptoms.
Elbow revision replacement surgery is required when an elbow replacement becomes loose or worn out. If you have undergone an elbow replacement operation, your elbow surgeon will have informed you that the procedure only lasts around 10 years.
You may suffer dislodgement or damage to your replaced elbow, with elbow revision replacement surgery aiming to fix this.
The surgery involves your elbow consultant making a cut on the back of your elbow, before removing the elbow joint. This will then be replaced with an artificial elbow joint.
Total elbow replacement surgery can be hugely beneficial for those with elbow arthritis. This helps to drastically improve your elbow pain and ensures you can move your arm more easily. Total elbow replacement surgery takes between one and two hours.
During the surgery, your elbow specialist will make a cut on the back of your elbow. They will then remove the damaged joint surfaces, before replacing these with an artificial elbow made from metal, plastic, ceramic or a combination of these materials.
Potential problems which may arise following arthroscopic elbow surgery include:
Damage to the blood vessels or nerves
Thankfully, it is a hugely successful operation. Most people who visit Shirley Oaks Hospital for elbow surgery for tennis elbow specifically will see a dramatic improvement in their symptoms.
The success rate for other elbow operations — including arthroscopic elbow surgery — is extremely high too. You can speak to our specialists for more information.
However, flexible payment options are available at Shirley Oaks Hospital in Croydon, with a great many benefits to paying for your own treatment.
Combining effective anaesthesia, post-operative pain relief and a dedicated programme of physiotherapy, our elbow surgeon will ensure you are as comfortable as possible both during and following your surgery.
Private elbow surgery offers a host of benefits besides these. With fast access to consultant-led appointments, Shirley Oaks offers bespoke treatment plans, comfy, private rooms and a peaceful environment, and access to new technologies and state-of-the-art facilities.
You can choose your own elbow surgery consultant too, and you can ask any questions you like during your consultation appointment to better prepare you for any treatments or surgery you may later undergo.
You might wonder what elbow surgery involves, how long does elbow surgery take, and how painful is elbow surgery? During your consultation for elbow surgery, you can find out answers to all these questions, and any more you might have.
Shirley Oaks Hospital can be found on Poppy Lane, Shirley Oaks Village, Croydon, Surrey, CR9 8AB, with great access via public transport and 100 car parking spaces, should you wish to drive.
Our opening hours are Monday to Sunday, 8am to 10.30am, and you can make an appointment by calling 020 8003 4778. Alternatively, book an elbow surgery consultation online using our handy online booking form here.
We look forward to welcoming you to Shirley Oaks Hospital.
