Biceps Tendon Disorders

The biceps tendon has two muscle 'heads' that contribute to it, the long head and the short head. The long head goes through the shoulder, where it often has problems. It can fully tear, partially tear, become painfully degenerative, or sublux/dislocate out of its groove. Any of these conditions

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Radial Head Fractures

Radial head fractures are the most common fracture of the elbow. Most commonly, they are minimally displaced (ie. not moved very much). While minimally displaced radial head fractures don't require surgery, they can still cause problems.
Far and away, the most common problem people have

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Trigger Finger / Trigger Thumb

Trigger finger and trigger thumb are extremely common. The problem is very similar to carpal tunnel syndrome except that, instead of the median nerve getting pinched, it's the tendon that moves your finger or thumb that gets compressed. People usually wake up in the morning with one or more of

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Tommy John (MCL) Elbow Reconstruction

These days, there seems to be a rash of medial collateral ligament (MCL) injuries in teenage pitchers. The problem is this: the really good pitchers are usually bigger, taller, heavier and can throw harder than the average pitchers. Everyone wants them to pitch for them. In Texas, the weather

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"Just a Sprain"

I am continually astonished by the number of patients that come to see me a month or later after they thought they 'sprained' their finger. Their finger is painful, swollen, and doesn't bend. It may even be deformed. These patients say things like, "I thought that if it was broken, it wouldn't

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DeQuervain's Tendinitis

DeQuervain's tendinitis is a space problem, like carpal tunnel syndrome. However, instead of a nerve getting compressed (as in carpal tunnel syndrome), this time it's a tendon that's getting compressed. It's the tendons on the thumb side of your wrist. You get swelling in the tunnel that the

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Carpal tunnel syndrome during pregnancy

Carpal tunnel syndrome is very common during pregnancy. It's probably caused by all of the swelling and fluid shifts that the mother goes through. Extra fluid collects throughout the body, including inside the carpal tunnel. This compresses the median nerve about the wrist, leading to carpal

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Pronator Syndrome

Pronator syndrome is compression of the median nerve about the elbow / upper forearm. It has symptoms similar to those of carpal tunnel syndrome, but is much less common. The two syndromes are therefore often confused. In addition, the two syndromes can occur simultaneously, meaning that the

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Ulnar Tunnel Syndrome

Ulnar tunnel syndrome is when the ulnar nerve gets compressed at the wrist. The small and ring fingers go numb. The symptoms are very similar to those of cubital tunnel syndrome, but ulnar tunnel syndrome is much less common. These two nerve compression syndromes are therefore often confused.

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