Elbow Pain Resource · Atlanta, GA

Elbow pain in Atlanta — find the right treatment

Not all elbow pain is the same. The right treatment depends entirely on an accurate diagnosis. This guide helps you identify what's causing your pain and connect with the Atlanta specialists who treat it every day.

Identify My Pain Find a Specialist

What type of elbow pain do you have?

Use your symptoms to identify the likely condition before your first appointment

Outer elbow pain
Lateral Epicondylitis (Tennis Elbow)
Pain or burning on the outside of the elbow
Weak grip, pain when lifting or gripping
Worsens with wrist extension
Gradual onset over weeks or months
Common in: office workers, tradespeople, athletes (dominant arm)
Inner elbow pain
Medial Epicondylitis (Golfer's Elbow)
Pain on the inside of the elbow
Tenderness along the inner forearm
Worsens with gripping or wrist flexion
May involve tingling in ring/little finger
Common in: golfers, pitchers, climbers, construction workers
Back of elbow or widespread
Olecranon Bursitis or Nerve Entrapment
Swelling or fluid on the back of the elbow
Numbness or tingling in the ring/little fingers
Pain radiating down the forearm or into hand
Elbow locking or clicking sensation
Common in: anyone who leans on elbows frequently; cyclists, office workers

Advanced Minimally Invasive Treatment

Ultrasound-guided percutaneous tendon debridement

When elbow tendinopathy — particularly lateral or medial epicondylitis — becomes chronic and fails to respond to conservative care, a minimally invasive procedure can physically remove the degenerative tissue at the source. Available from Atlanta pain and orthopedic specialists.

How it works

Under continuous ultrasound guidance, the physician makes a small incision and advances a small-gauge device to the degenerated tendon at the common extensor or flexor origin. A high-pressure saline jet emulsifies and removes the diseased collagen through an integrated aspiration channel while healthy fibers are preserved. The procedure takes 15–30 minutes in an office or clinic under local anesthesia — no general anesthesia or surgical center required.

Why it works for chronic elbow pain

Chronic epicondylitis is a tendinopathy — the underlying problem is degenerated collagen, not active inflammation. This is why cortisone injections provide temporary relief but pain returns: the diseased tissue remains. This procedure physically removes it under real-time imaging, targeting the source rather than suppressing symptoms.

How it compares
Cortisone injection
Reduces inflammation temporarily. Pain returns as degenerative tissue remains.
Percutaneous debridement
Removes degenerative tissue under ultrasound. Small incision, local anesthesia, office-based. Treats the source.
PRP therapy
Stimulates healing but does not debride diseased tissue. Often complementary.
Surgical release
Effective but requires surgical center and longer recovery. Reserved for refractory cases.
Small incision, in-office under local anesthesia
No surgical center or general anesthesia
Real-time ultrasound guidance throughout
Treats degenerative tissue — not just pain
Return to activity within days to weeks

Treatment Pathway

How elbow pain is treated in Atlanta

Treatment follows a progression from conservative to interventional. Most patients improve at step one or two — the right starting point depends on how long you've had symptoms.

1
Rest, bracing & activity modification
Counterforce bracing, targeted stretching, ergonomic adjustments. Resolves mild cases entirely when started early.
TimelineWeeks 1–6. Best for new or mild symptoms.
2
Physical therapy & eccentric exercise
Supervised PT addresses muscle imbalances and tendon weakness. Eccentric strengthening has the strongest evidence base for epicondylitis.
TimelineWeeks 4–12. Most patients with 1–3 month symptoms.
3
Ultrasound-guided corticosteroid injection
Short-term pain relief allowing rehabilitation to continue. Ultrasound guidance ensures precision. Effective as a bridge — repeated injections can weaken tendon over time.
TimelineMonths 2–4. Pain limiting PT participation.
4
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP)
Concentrated platelets from your own blood to stimulate genuine tissue repair. Strong evidence for chronic tendinopathy. Available ultrasound-guided from Atlanta specialists.
TimelineMonths 3–6. Failed conservative care.
5
Percutaneous tendon debridement
Minimally invasive removal of degenerative tissue under ultrasound guidance. For chronic cases unresponsive to steps 1–4. Office-based, local anesthesia.
Timeline6+ months of failed conservative care.

Atlanta Specialists

Physicians treating elbow pain in Atlanta

Board-certified orthopedic and pain management specialists across the Atlanta metro area treating all types of elbow conditions.

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Dr. Clay Charles Guynn, DO
Sports Medicine · PM&R
Northside Hospital Orthopedic Institute
Lawrenceville & Dacula · (770) 237-3475

Fellowship-trained sports medicine physician. Ultrasound-guided elbow diagnosis and treatment, PRP, non-surgical management.
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Dr. Matthew Simmons, MD
Non-Operative Orthopedics
Northside Hospital Orthopedic Institute
Metro Atlanta · (770) 237-3475

Non-operative orthopedic specialist. Treats all elbow conditions with a conservative-first approach.
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Dr. Kamal Kabakibou, MD
Interventional Pain Medicine
Center for Pain Management
Atlanta, GA · (404) 603-9090

30+ years in pain management. Comprehensive injection and regenerative therapies for chronic elbow conditions.
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Dr. Efosa Ogiamien, MD
Interventional Pain Medicine
OlympusMD Pain & Wellness
Metro Atlanta · (770) 676-9805

UAB fellowship-trained. Advanced interventional procedures for elbow tendinopathy and chronic pain.
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Dr. Omar Hajmurad, MD
Interventional Pain Medicine
OlympusMD Pain & Wellness
Metro Atlanta · (770) 676-9805

Emory fellowship-trained. Board-certified pain specialist treating elbow and upper extremity conditions.

Personal Referral

Not sure which specialist is right for your elbow pain?

Jeff Karesh works directly alongside Atlanta's orthopedic and pain management physicians as a medical device sales specialist. He can help point you toward the right doctor for your specific type of elbow pain and treatment history.

Call Jeff Karesh
Name
Jeff Karesh
Phone
(912) 247-8925
Role
Medical Device Sales Specialist
Orthopedic & Pain Management · Atlanta