Elbow & Wrist Pain
Shaking hands stings. Lifting the coffee pot pulls at the outer elbow. 'Tennis elbow' rarely comes from tennis around here — it comes from keyboards, tools, ranch work and gym grip…
Medically reviewed by Dr. Alan S. Bader, DC — Chiropractic Physician, Nevada License B-567 · Dr. Bader · Dr. Doyle · Last reviewed: July 2026
Shaking hands stings. Lifting the coffee pot pulls at the outer elbow. 'Tennis elbow' rarely comes from tennis around here — it comes from keyboards, tools, ranch work and gym grips. Elbow and wrist pain are overuse's favorite addresses, and they respond to care that fixes load, not just symptoms.
What’s actually going on
The common patterns: lateral epicondylalgia (tennis elbow — outer), medial epicondylalgia (golfer's elbow — inner), wrist tendon irritations (De Quervain's at the thumb side), and joint restrictions from old falls. Most are tendon-loading problems: tissue asked to do more than its current capacity, week after week.
Common causes we see
- Grip-intensive work — trades, tools, ranch and warehouse tasks
- Keyboard-and-mouse marathons with the wrist cocked
- Gym loading jumps: new pull-ups, new deadlifts, same old tendons
- Racket and club sports with technique or equipment issues
- Falls onto the hand — joints that never got their motion back
How we evaluate it
Resisted testing to localize the tendon, grip measurement (an honest tracker), joint mobility testing at wrist and elbow, and cervical screening — neck involvement quietly amplifies arm tendon issues often enough to always check.
How chiropractic care may help
Tendon care that works looks the same everywhere in the body: adjust the mechanics (joint mobilization at elbow, wrist and where indicated the neck), calm the irritable tissue (soft-tissue work, modalities), then rebuild capacity with progressive loading — the evidence-backed engine of the recovery. Add tool, technique and workstation fixes so the tendon's job description changes. Timelines are honest: established tendinopathies improve over weeks-to-months, not days.
What to expect
Expect grip measurements at re-evaluations and a look at how you actually work — the fix usually includes the tool, the technique or the desk.
⚠ When to seek medical care instead
Medical evaluation for: deformity after a fall (fracture), hot swollen joints with fever, numbness spreading through the hand (see carpal tunnel/pinched nerve), or elbow pain in a child after a pull or fall.
Care framework: progressive tendon-loading protocols per current tendinopathy literature.
This page is education, not medical advice for your specific situation — an examination is how care decisions get made. If you may be experiencing an emergency, call 911. Full medical disclaimer.
In pain right now? Acute patients get priority scheduling. Call and tell us what’s going on — same-week appointments are usually available.
☎ (775) 829-7575Elbow & Wrist Pain — FAQs
Why is it called tennis elbow if I don't play tennis?
History named it; keyboards and tools kept it employed. Any repetitive grip-and-extend pattern loads the same tendon attachment.
Should I rest it completely?
Tendons dislike both overload and total rest — they remodel with the right dose of load. 'Relative rest plus progressive loading' is the phrase your elbow wants.
Do straps and braces help?
Counterforce straps can reduce pain during activity and buy comfort while you rehab — a useful tool, not a treatment plan.
What patients say
Reno Patients, In Their Own Words
“First time here… Friendly and efficient receptionist, she explained everything in detail. I saw Dr. Bader. Listened to my areas of pain, explained many things and my first adjustment was great. He is also friendly, has good “bedside” manners. They are a hometown health provider.”
“I’ve been seeing Dr. Bader for the last 15 years. He is extremely knowledgeable and has a great bedside manor. The office is very well run… Most insurance is accepted and if it’s not, the cash plan is very reasonable. Walk in’s are acceptable and same day appointments are most likely.”
“Dr Bader is a Super Chiropractor! Palmer educated.”
“They actually work on fixing your issues with adjustments and therapy and get you in and out of the office in a timely manner.”
Real patient reviews from Google and Yelp, quoted word-for-word (ellipses mark trims — nothing else is changed). Individual experiences vary — care decisions always follow an examination. Read them all — unfiltered — at the sources.
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