Los Angeles Elbow Pain & Injury Doctor
Elbow pain can come from the tendons, ligaments, nerves, or joint. At Advanced Orthopaedic Care in Los Angeles, our specialists use a detailed exam and advanced imaging to pinpoint the cause and create a treatment plan tailored to your recovery goals.
Board-Certified Orthopaedic Specialists
CT-Guided and Image-Guided Procedures
Serving Los Angeles & Orange County
Dr. Tracey Didinger, MD
Specialist Diagnosis
Fellowship-trained physicians confirm the diagnosis.
Resolve Pain Nonsurgically
Therapy and injections treat most cases.
Surgical Options
Arthroscopy, UCL reconstruction, and nerve release.
Our Marina del Rey Office
-
4551 Glencoe Ave, Ste 145
Marina del Rey, CA 90292 - (562) 732-4578
- Mon-Fri 8am to 4:30pm
Why Elbow Pain Requires Targeted Treatment
Persistent elbow discomfort often develops gradually. Patients adjust their grip, avoid certain lifts, or modify daily routines long before scheduling an evaluation.
That timeline informs the diagnosis. Our orthopaedic team reviews when symptoms began, how they progressed, and what your arm has to handle once you’ve recovered.
A proper evaluation also separates joint problems from referred pain originating in the cervical spine or shoulder. The correct diagnosis points to the right treatment.
Elbow Conditions Treated in Los Angeles
Elbow conditions cover a wide spectrum, from sudden athletic injuries to slow-developing tendon problems and nerve compression syndromes.
Our orthopaedic specialists in Los Angeles diagnose and treat each category with proven clinical protocols.
Overuse Tendon Conditions 
Traumatic and Sports Injuries 
Nerve Compression and Radiating Pain
Degenerative and Inflammatory Conditions
Degenerative and Inflammatory Conditions How Our Specialists Diagnose Elbow Conditions
Focused Symptom History
Your physician asks where the pain originates, which movements trigger it (lifting, gripping, throwing, typing), and how it affects daily activities.
Hands-On Exam
Targeted maneuvers stress each tendon, ligament, and nerve around the joint. Your specialist tests flexion, extension, pronation, and supination, then compares grip strength side to side using a dynamometer.
Imaging and Nerve Studies
X-rays reveal bone alignment, fractures, and arthritic wear. MRI evaluates soft tissue damage like tendon tears and cartilage injury.
When numbness or weakness raises a nerve concern, EMG and nerve conduction studies confirm whether the ulnar, radial, or median nerve is involved.
Personalized Treatment Recommendation
You’ll receive a clear diagnosis, conservative or surgical options, and a recovery timeline matched to your goals.
Nonsurgical Elbow Treatment Options
Most patients recover without surgery once treatment matches the diagnosis.
-
Activity Adjustments and Ergonomic Improvements
Adjustments to grip technique, desk setup, mouse position, or training volume often deliver outsized relief. We coach patients on the changes that protect inflamed tissue. - Bracing, Splinting, and Counterforce Straps A counterforce strap unloads the tendon during tennis elbow flares. A night splint holds the elbow at 45 degrees of flexion when cubital tunnel symptoms wake you up.
-
Physical Therapy
Our therapy partners deliver eccentric loading programs that strengthen tendons over time. They also address shoulder mechanics and wrist mobility, since stiffness elsewhere in the upper extremity often drives elbow pain. -
Image-Guided Injections
Cortisone injections quiet acute flares of bursitis and tendinopathy. Joint and bursa injections reach deeper into the inflammation. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections promote healing in select tendon cases that haven't responded to standard care. -
Bursa Aspiration and Closed Reduction
A needle aspiration drains a swollen olecranon bursa right in the clinic. Closed reduction restores alignment after dislocations and stable fractures. -
Casting, Taping, and Medication
A fiberglass cast protects stable fractures during healing. Athletic taping reinforces ligament strains. Anti-inflammatory medication keeps pain manageable along the way.
Surgical Procedures for Elbow Conditions
Certain elbow problems require surgical correction when conservative care has run its course or when imaging reveals damage that won’t heal on its own.
-
Elbow Arthroscopy
Through two or three small incisions, our surgeons insert a camera and miniature instruments inside the joint to remove loose bodies, smooth cartilage, and release scar tissue. -
Tennis and Golfer's Elbow Release
When tendon pain refuses to improve after six to twelve months of conservative care, surgical release of the diseased tendon allows healthy tissue to take over. -
Tendon Repair
Our team reattaches ruptured distal biceps and triceps tendons to bone using suture anchors or cortical buttons, restoring the strength you depend on for lifting, pulling, and pushing. -
UCL Reconstruction
Throwers with full UCL tears often require Tommy John reconstruction, in which a tendon graft replaces the damaged ligament, to return to overhead sports. -
Cubital Tunnel Release
Surgical decompression frees the ulnar nerve at the medial elbow and resolves the tingling, numbness, and grip weakness of advanced cubital tunnel syndrome. -
Fracture Fixation and Joint Reconstruction
Plates, screws, and specialty hardware stabilize complex fractures of the radial head, olecranon, and distal humerus during healing. For end-stage arthritis, joint reconstruction restores motion and function.
Meet Your Fellowship-Trained Orthopaedic Surgeons
You deserve to know who’s delivering your care. Our doctors bring subspecialty training, surgical experience, and a patient-first approach.
Dr. Tracey Didinger
Dr. Didinger holds board certification in orthopaedic surgery and completed fellowship training in Sports Medicine and Shoulder Surgery.
She previously served as assistant team physician for professional and collegiate athletics, treating elbow injuries common to throwing, racket, and contact sports.
Bilingual consultations are available in English and Spanish.
Dr. Kushagra Verma
Dr. Verma is a board-certified orthopaedic spine surgeon with fellowship training in complex spinal deformity. He evaluates patients with elbow symptoms caused by cervical spine nerve compression.
Hear From Our Patients
Los Angeles Elbow Pain & Injury Doctor FAQs
When should I see an orthopaedic elbow doctor?
Book an evaluation if pain lasts more than two to three weeks, your grip weakens, the joint catches or feels unstable, or numbness travels into your fingers.
How long does a tennis elbow take to heal?
Mild cases heal in six to twelve weeks with activity adjustments and therapy. Surgery is an option only after six to twelve months of conservative care have failed.
Do I need surgery if I have a UCL injury?
Not always. Partial tears in non-throwing athletes often heal with rest and rehab, while throwing athletes with full tears typically need Tommy John reconstruction.
Why does my elbow hurt when the problem is in my neck?
A pinched nerve at the C6 or C7 cervical root can refer pain into the elbow, mimicking a joint problem. Specialist evaluation identifies the source.
What should I do at home right after an elbow injury?
Apply rest, ice, compression, and elevation for the first 48 hours. Schedule an evaluation if you can’t fully bend or straighten the joint or if the pain is severe.
Schedule Your Elbow Consultation in Los Angeles
Fellowship-trained orthopaedic surgeons are ready to diagnose your condition and design a personalized treatment plan.
Whether the pain stems from a tendon, ligament, joint, or nerve, an elbow specialist in Los Angeles will deliver the right treatment options for your situation.