Elbow Pain: Causes, Symptoms, and Effective Treatments

Elbow pain can occur to anyone, anytime. It is a condition that affects people of all ages. This pain can arise from mild discomfort to severe, extreme pain in the elbow. This pain can make your daily life tasks difficult. Like, you would have difficulty lifting, typing, or even gripping something. Mild elbows can go away easily by taking painkillers, but what about extreme pain? Do not worry; there is a treatment for this. At Dr. Geetanjali Physioworks, we treat this kind of issue and give you relief. Here in this article, you will read about what elbow pain actually is, what are the causes and symptoms of elbow pain, and treatment for this.

What is Elbow Pain?

Elbow pain means pain, ache, or discomfort felt around your elbow joint. The elbow is a complex joint where three bones meet: the humerus (upper arm bone), radius, and ulna (forearm bones). It can stop you from doing various movements like bending, extending, and rotating the forearm. Depending on the cause, the pain may become extensively sharp, dull, or get swelling, stiffness, or a limited range of motion.

Common Causes of Elbow Pain

Here are some common causes of elbow pain:

Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis)

Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis), as the name stands, occurs as a result of overuse to the muscles of the forearm due to excessive wrist and arm fluctuation movements. Very common among tennis players, painters, and carpenters, it typically manifests itself as pain in the outer side.

Golfer’s Elbow (Medial Epicondylitis)

Similar to tennis elbow, it affects the tendons on the inner side of the elbow and originates from repeated gripping, lifting, or swinging movements.

Elbow Bursitis

This condition usually develops when the bursa, which is the fluid-filled sac cushioning the elbow joint, gets inflamed. Its causes include prolonged pressure on the elbow joint, trauma, and/or infection.

Cubital Tunnel Syndrome

It develops as a result of compression of the ulnar nerve, otherwise known as the “funny bone” nerve. The manifestation of this syndrome comprises tingle, numbness, or pain along the inner side of the arm and hand.

Arthritis in the Elbow

Rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis can lead towards causing elbow joint pain, stiffness, and swelling. These are a result of wear and tear or autoimmune disorders.

Elbow Fractures or Dislocations

They usually occur from trauma or accident. The symptoms of this condition include extreme pain, swelling, and the inability to move the arm.

Symptoms Associated with Elbow Pain

Some of the symptoms associated with elbow pain include:

Pain: A dull ache or sharp pain when the elbow is at rest or when bending, straightening, or lifting something.
Stiffness: The elbow may feel stiff.
Swelling: The elbow may be swollen.
Redness: The elbow may be red.
Limited range of motion: The elbow may have a limited range of motion.
Deformity: The elbow may be visibly deformed.
Weakness: The grip may be weak, or there may be weakness in the arm.
Numbness or tingling: The elbow, arm, wrist, or hands may feel numb or tingly.
Pain when making a fist: This is a symptom of a golfer’s elbow.
Pain when opening the fingers: This is a symptom of tennis elbow.

Diagnosing Elbow Pain

Proper diagnosis of elbow pain is crucial to getting treatment.

Physical Examination

A physiotherapist or doctor will assess your elbow in terms of its range of motion, strength, and sensitivity. They may ask some questions regarding your lifestyle and related activities or any recent injuries in order to know the cause.

Imaging Tests

Checking with X-rays for fractures or arthritis.
MRI scans through which the soft tissues will be assessed to find ruptured tendons or bursitis.
Nerve conduction studies to diagnose conditions such as cubital tunnel syndrome.

Types of Elbow Surgery

Severe conditions may change the course of treatment toward surgery. Rest, medication, and physiotherapy may fail to relieve pain associated with elbow problems. Surgery addresses the pathological basis of pain, restores normal function, and enhances quality of life. Some of the more common surgery types for elbow pain include:

Arthroscopy for Removing Damaged Tissue or Bone Spurs

Arthroscopy is a minimally invasive operation performed by inserting a small camera along with surgical tools into tiny incisions into the elbow joint. The surgeon then removes the damaged tissue, bone spurs, or loose fragments that cause pain and restricted movement. It is a frequent procedure for arthritis, tennis elbow, and cartilage lesions. Arthroscopy recovery time is generally shorter than open surgery, patients experience less scarring, and there is less postoperative discomfort.

Tendon Repair Surgery for Severe Tendon Tears

Surgery to repair the tendon can be called for by extremely torn tendons, as seen in very late cases of tennis elbow or golfer’s elbow. During this process, the surgeon attaches a torn tendon back to the bone or otherwise excises damaged portions of the tendon. The function and strength of the elbow are returned to their normal condition, after which patients return to normal activities. This is followed by post-surgical rehab physiotherapies, which play a major part in reaching optimal strength and flexibility.

Elbow Joint Replacement for Advanced Arthritis

Severe degenerative joint disease of elbow joints may sometimes require elbow joint replacement arthroplasty. This surgical procedure involves replacing the malfunctioning elbow joint with an artificial one composed of metal and plastic components. Replacement of the elbow joint tends to alleviate pain and restore mobility, thereby improving the quality of life for the suffering population suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, or trauma-induced damage in joints. If undergoing this procedure, one must undergo extensive physiotherapy to regain inside functionality as well as strength.

Nerve Decompression Surgery for Conditions like Cubital Tunnel Syndrome

Cubital tunnel syndrome is an ulnar nerve compression syndrome that passes through the elbow. Nerve decompression surgery relieves pressure on the ulnar nerve, alleviating pain, tingling, and numbness of the arm and fingers. Possible approaches include relocating the nerve from its position to one where it is less compressed or removing barriers that restrict movement. Nerve decompression surgery is effective in alleviating signs and symptoms as well as preventing long-term nerve injury.

Preventing Elbow Pain

Prevention is always better than cure. Here are some tips for preventing elbow pain:

Proper Ergonomics: Modify the workstation to prevent strain on elbows while typing or using a mouse.

Warm-Up: Always stretch and do warm-up exercises before engaging in sports or heavy lifting to prepare the muscles.

Regular Strengthening Exercises: Strengthen the forearm and elbow muscles to lower the chances of injury from overuse.

Preventing Overuse: Take breaks during repetitive tasks to prevent strain on the elbow joint.

Exercises to Relieve Elbow Pain

Physiotherapy exercises to relieve elbow pain and restore mobility. Here are some effective exercises for elbow pain:

Wrist Flexor Stretch

Extend your arm in front of you with the palm facing up, and using the opposite hand, pull your fingers back toward your body. Hold for 15-30 seconds.

Wrist Extension Stretch

Extend your arm with the pad facing downwards. Gently pull your fingers back with the other hand.

Forearm Pronation and Supination

Hold a lightweight, like a can, and rotate your forearm palm up and down.

Elbow Flexion and Extension

Gradually bend your elbow and stretch to increase its range of motion.

When Should You Seek Help from a Physiotherapist for Elbow Pain?

You should seek help from a physiotherapist for elbow pain when you experience:

Persistent pain lasting more than a week.
Swelling or redness that worsens over time.
Difficulty moving your elbow or performing daily activities.
Numbness or tingling sensations.

A physiotherapist will develop a program involving exercises, manual treatment, and lifestyle modifications to address elbow pain.

Conclusion

Elbow pain can disrupt one’s life, but with an accurate diagnosis and treatment, it can be handled. Whether caused by overuse, injury, or illness, the key to effective recovery lies in knowing what the precise cause is. Physiotherapy is entailed in lifting the burden of pain, restoring movement, and blocking future problems. Seek the help of a professional physiotherapist at Dr. Geetanjali Physiowgorks, where expert care is just a step away.

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