by ALLIANCE ORTHOPEDICS
Elbow pain can be a total drag, and even moving your arm might feel uncomfortable. If you are suffering from shooting elbow pain, you will agree that it is one of the most important joints in your body. In fact, it enables you to throw things, swing the bat, lift objects, and do other tasks daily.
Even though the elbow joint is less intricate than the knee structure, there can be a handful of reasons behind that ache in your elbow. And knowing them is vital to choosing an appropriate treatment that gives long-lasting relief.
In this article, we will look at some common causes of severe pain in the elbow as well as effective treatment options.
Symptoms of Elbow Pain
Most people complain about feeling pain around the elbow area, when they move their arm. On top of this, there may be some other signs indicating that you have elbow pain, which needs attention from professionals.
- You will notice redness and warmth, followed by extreme swelling near the elbow joint.
- Restriction when bending or straightening the elbow for various reasons may indicate symptoms associated with this condition.
- It reduces your strength and makes it hard to grip objects or perform daily tasks.
- You will feel sensations of tingling or numbness radiating from the elbow to the forearm and fingers.
- Sudden sharp pain when touching or pressing on a sore spot surrounding the elbow.
Elbow and arm pain can impact your life in several ways, and it’s crucial to treat it before the condition requires surgical intervention. Get in touch with Alliance Orthopedics, and schedule a diagnosis for elbow pain.
Understanding the Causes of Elbow Pain
Elbow pain can occur for many reasons, from overuse, arthritis, fractures, and even conditions where the ulnar nerve does funny things. The severity of elbow pain that you have will depend on the condition you are suffering from. The cause behind the ache also affects the type of treatment that you need. The most common causes include:
Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis)
Did you ever wonder why it’s called tennis elbow? That’s because repetitive movements – like swinging a racquet when you play tennis or holding a paintbrush – can put too much strain on the tendon and forearm muscles, which can cause pain on the outside of your elbow.
Athletes often get this condition when playing tennis. Furthermore, people who have jobs that require repetitive motion of the arm and hand, such as using a screwdriver or lifting heavy boxes, also develop tennis elbow.
Golfer’s Elbow or Medial Epicondylitis
Although it has some similarities to tennis elbow, you feel pain along the inner side of the elbow. Usually, this ache is experienced by golfers, but any activity that involves continuous wrist and finger movements, such as throwing a ball or typing, can cause it.
Bursitis
Sometimes, tiny fluid-filled sacs (bursae) that cushion your elbows become inflamed. This results into swelling plus pain around this particular area making it difficult to flex or bend your elbow without suffering discomfort.
Arthritis
If your elbow feels stiff and achy, arthritis may be to blame. Whether it’s osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or another form of the disease, inflammation in the elbow joint can seriously cramp your style.
Tendinitis
Just like bursitis, the tendons in this region can become inflamed from overuse or repetitive motion injury, leading to what is known as tennis elbow. This will cause persistent pain when you try and lift something or flex your elbow.
Fractures and Dislocations
These kinds of injuries result in one-off trauma at the joint that ends up causing pain. These situations, when not properly addressed also lead to sharp pains around the elbow joint.
How to Treat Elbow Pain: From Non-invasive to Surgical Methods
The treatments used to heal elbow pain vary depending on how severe the pain is and what caused it. The following are some of the most effective treatments:
Physical Therapy
Physical therapy is an initial method used to deal with mild cases of elbow pain. These exercises concentrate on building muscles around elbows, increasing flexibility and eliminating aches as well as pains under the guidance of professional physical therapists.
This non-surgical treatment helps relieve pain and tennis elbow symptoms while you also learn proper body mechanics and ergonomics that will prevent future injury.
Bracing
Putting on a wrist brace or a compression bandage provides support and stability for the injured elbow, helping to offload the muscles and tendons. Such braces are useful in preventing movement that can worsen discomfort during tennis elbow or golfer’s elbow conditions.
Taping
Various kinds of tapes like kinesiology tape can be used to help maintain alignment of the elbow joint as well as improve blood flow and decrease swelling. Sometimes it is an ideal option for short term pain relief without pain relievers particularly during activities that could strain your elbow joint.
Viscosupplementation
If you have recurrent pain that’s not letting you move your arm to its full range then viscosupplementation is recommended. In this procedure, a compound having a gel-like thickness is injected into your joints to offer better lubrication and cushioning.
These steroid injections work for people with arthritis who haven’t had success with other non-surgical treatments.
Arthroscopic Surgery
For instance, if there is damage to tissues or elbow tendons causing pain, you may be required to remove them so as to experience any relief. During arthroscopic surgery, doctors make tiny incisions around the joint with the help of a camera to remove the affected tendons or tissues.
Arthroscopic surgery can reduce the frequent aches and improve function of the elbow, so you can easily return to performing regular activities.
Lifestyle Modifications for Pain Management
One major cause of elbow pain is overuse injuries caused by activities such as racquet sports. Apart from physical therapy, and minimally invasive procedures, there is also provision for lifestyle modification tips that help in reducing wear and tear.
These changes might include maintaining good posture, managing your weight well as well as specific exercises to prevent tennis elbow and other painful conditions.
Contact Alliance Orthopedics for Elbow Pain Treatment
Elbow pain restricts movement of the lower and upper arm making even simple tasks difficult to perform. We at Alliance Orthopedics understand how most elbow pain conditions can impact your life, and we are committed to helping you regain life’s enjoyment through effective pain relief options.
Our multi-pronged approach to elbow pain management combines sophisticated treatments with individualized care for optimal results. We are board-certified medical professionals who diagnose tennis elbow and other conditions properly so that you get the best treatment possible.
Book an appointment today to treat tennis elbow and other conditions and experience ultimate relief from elbow joint pain.
