What type of doctor should i see for persistent elbow pain?

Persistent elbow pain can result from several different conditions, such as medial epicondylitis (golfer’s elbow), tennis elbow and many other causes. A sports medicine doctor is a good choice because they specialize in injuries related to sports and physical activities. They can evaluate your pain, help manage it with nonsurgical therapies like physical therapy or medications, and recommend lifestyle changes to improve healing. An orthopedic surgeon, especially one with experience in elbow injuries, can also be very helpful. They can perform diagnostic tests like imaging studies to see if there is a tear, impingement, or other structural problems. In some cases, if nonsurgical treatments do not work well enough for persistent symptoms, an orthopedic surgeon might consider surgery. Both types of specialists understand the different issues related to elbow pain, so a referral from your primary care doctor to one of these specialists is usually the next step.