Elbow pain is a common condition that can affect people of all ages. It can be caused by a variety of factors, including overuse injuries, degenerative conditions, and acute injuries. Many people experience elbow pain due to repetitive motions or strain on the elbow joint, such as tennis, golf, and weightlifting. Others may develop elbow pain due to conditions such as osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. Elbow pain can range in severity from mild discomfort to severe pain that limits daily activities. It is important to address elbow pain promptly to prevent further injury and restore normal function.
Our elbow is a hinge joint between the arm and the forearm. When you have pain in your elbow, it can be any physical pain in the elbow joint or the ligaments, tendons, and muscles around it. Any injury or unidentified disease could be the cause of elbow pain.
Elbow pain is caused by various factors, including injuries such as a fracture, sprain, or dislocation, as well as diseases such as tendonitis, bursitis, tennis elbow, and so on.
If you have severe elbow pain and are wondering what is causing it, you must visit the doctor immediately for the quickest relief from elbow pain treatment.
In this blog, we will discuss several reasons behind your elbow pain, its diagnosis, and treatment to assist you with your elbow pain. And we will also share some methods for instant relief from your elbow pain.
Types And Causes Of Elbow Pain
Prolonged pressure or elbow flexion, trying a new sport like tennis, local trauma, a desk job, sprains, or strains are some of the causes of elbow pain. A list of injuries and diseases that could result in elbow pain includes the following:
Elbow Fracture: An elbow fracture breaks off the elbow’s bony tip.
Elbow Dislocation: Simple to severe dislocation of elbow Joints Due to Injury
Elbow Sprain: Injury to the ligaments surrounding the elbow joint is known as an elbow sprain, which can cause due to bent and twisting arms.
Osteoarthritis of the elbow: Osteoarthritis is a disease causing the breakdown of joints. Osteoarthritis of the elbow develops when the cartilage surface of the elbow wears down or is injured. This could be due to a previous injury, such as a fractured or dislocated elbow.
Osteochondritis of the elbow: Osteochondritis of the elbow develops when the blood flow to the elbow joint is compromised or interrupted, which results in the loss of the bone beneath the tissue. The inactive bone could fracture, resulting in discomfort and restricted joint motion.
Cubital Tunnel Syndrome: Cubital tunnel syndrome occur when a nerve in your elbow becomes inflamed or swollen due to excessive pressure from bones, tendons, muscles, or joints. The same can result in inner elbow pain or severe elbow pain in the area.
Rheumatoid arthritis Inflammatory joint disease
Bursitis: Bursitis is inflammation of the fluid-filled pads (bursae) that act as cushions at the joint
Golfer’s elbow: Golfer”s elbow is a condition that affects the elbow’s inner side acne excessive or repetitive stress, often caused by rapid wrist and finger movements, which is the root cause.
Tennis elbow: Painful condition caused by repetitive motion of wrist and arm -overusing or stressful activity
Broken arm: Fracture or breakage in bones of the arms
Triceps tendonitis: Repetitive action irritates the tendon that joins the triceps muscle to the elbow, resulting in Triceps Tendonitis. It could result in elbow pain when lifting or gripping.
Common Causes Of Elbow Pain
Elbow pain is a pain in the elbow joint or the parts surrounding it. The tendons close to the elbow joint can become overworked or subjected to repeated strain, especially where the tendons connect to the bone.
If there is an overload, it may result in elbow pain, especially while using the wrist and hand. Depending on the state of the injury, the recovery can take weeks to months.
Another cause of elbow injury can be any accident that leads to injury in the area due to a fall or hit.
Diagnosis
An orthopaedist diagnoses elbow pain based on the symptoms, Determining the diagnosis with an x-ray or CT scan.
- Pain in elbow
- difficulty bending locking sensation
- grating sound during movement.
- Swelling.
Treatment: How do you treat elbow pain?
The R.I.C.E method helps with instant relief to treat elbow pain. Steps of self-treatment for Rice include resting. Icing, compression, and elevation.
- Resting is always recommended during any pain, injury, or disease to allow the body to heal.
- Use ice to reduce pain and swelling. Using an ice pack or anything frozen, ice the affected part for 10–20 minutes, three to four times a day.
- Keep the elbow elevated and bandaged for a few days to reduce pressure and swelling. You can also take over-the-counter painkillers (on your doctor’s advice), like paracetamol, ibuprofen, or naproxen, to reduce pain.
- Depending on mildness or severity, elbow pain could heal itself or require surgery to replace it, be it right or left elbow pain.
The R.I.C.E method helps with instant relief to treat elbow pain. Steps of self-treatment for Rice include resting. Icing, compression, and elevation.
- Resting is always recommended during any pain, injury, or disease to allow the body to heal.
- Use ice to reduce pain and swelling. Using an ice pack or anything frozen, ice the affected part for 10–20 minutes, three to four times a day.
- Keep the elbow elevated and bandaged for a few days to reduce pressure and swelling. You can also take over-the-counter painkillers (on your doctor’s advice), like paracetamol, ibuprofen, or naproxen, to reduce pain.
- Depending on mildness or severity, elbow pain could heal itself or require surgery to replace it, be it right or left elbow pain.
About Your Doctor
Dr. Aditya Bhalla is a leading orthopaedic surgeon at Aveksha Hospital with more than 25 years of experience specializing in joint replacement surgery. He has expertise in both surgical and nonsurgical treatment concerning muscles, bones, and joints.
