Panner's disease is swelling and irritation of the growth plate in the elbow. Growth plates are layers of cartilage near the ends of bones where most bone growth happens. Kids with Panner's disease have elbow pain. The elbow may also be stiff or swollen. Healing can take several months, but most kids don't have any lasting problems. 

Activity

• Your child needs to rest the elbow. This often means taking time off from sports that involve throwing, catching, and bending the arm. 
• When your health care provider says it's OK, your child can gradually increase activities. If they have no pain, they can continue to add more activities and training.
• If an activity causes pain or swelling, your child should stop doing it and put ice wrapped in a towel on the elbow for about 20 minutes. They can try the activity again after the elbow stops hurting or switch to a less intense activity.

To help with pain and swelling:

• Give your child acetaminophen (Tylenol^® or a store brand), ibuprofen (Advil^®, Motrin^®, or a store brand), OR naproxen (Aleve^®, Naprosyn^®, or a store brand) as needed for pain. Follow the directions on the label for how much to give and how often.
• Place ice wrapped in a towel on the elbow for about 20 minutes several times a day. Do not put ice directly on the skin.
• Wrap the elbow in an elastic bandage. 

Follow your health care provider's advice for:

• Any movement exercises or stretches your child should do and any activities to avoid.
• Whether your child should go to a bone doctor (orthopedist), sports medicine doctor, or physical therapist to help them build strength and flexibility and create a plan for returning to full activities and sports.
• When your child can return to sports. Usually, this is when the sports activity does not cause pain while your child does it or afterward.
• Any protective gear (such as elbow pads) that your child should wear when they go back to sports.
• When your child should follow up.

Your child has elbow pain:

• that doesn't get better after following your health care provider's instructions
• that goes away and then comes back

What causes Panner's disease? Panner's disease usually happens early in the growth spurt (around 5–10 years old) when the bones, muscles and tendons (bands of connective tissue that connect muscles to bones) grow at different rates. The tendons can become tight, and when the arm is used a lot in sports like baseball, gymnastics, or tennis, they pull on and injure the growth plate in the elbow. 

What happens if the pain does not get better? If the pain does not go away after a few weeks, a child may need to wear a cast or splint to keep the arm still during healing.