Table of contents:
- What are the common causes of elbow pain?
- Tendinosis or tendonitis
- Olecranon bursitis
- Osteoarthritis
In martial arts, you may often hear people say that the elbow is the hardest bone in the body. Even if this statement is probably true, you can still feel pain in your elbow from trauma or injury.
The elbow joint is made up of bones, cartilage (cartilage), ligaments and fluid. The muscles and tendons help the elbow joint move freely. When any of these structures are injured or injured, you will have elbow problems. Many factors cause pain in the elbow, such as:
- Sports injuries are a common cause of elbow pain.
- An accident when you fall.
- Sports that rely on joints.
- Diseases and disorders affecting parts of the body.
Your elbow can fracture or dislocate as a result of falling directly on the elbow or your arm is putting too much pressure on it. Your doctor can realign your dislocated joint, and don't try to do this yourself without professional supervision.
When the elbow is fractured or dislocated, seek first aid immediately. Do not move the elbow and apply the splint to reduce shock. You can apply an ice pack to reduce swelling in the injured area.
What are the common causes of elbow pain?
To get the best treatment, first know the cause of the pain in your elbow.
Tendinosis or tendonitis
Tendinosis, otherwise known as chronic tendonitis, is a tendon injury that causes extreme pain in the elbow. The cause of tendonitis is the habit of using the wrists and elbows constantly, such as throwing baseball or swinging a golf club, or playing tennis.
There are two types of tendonitis, namely medial epicondylitis or "golfer's elbow" (a type of tendonitis that affects the inside of the elbow) and lateral epicondylitis or "tennis elbow" (a type of tendonitis that affects the outside of the elbow).
For pain caused by tendons, symptoms will fade with rest, physical therapy, or anti-inflammatory drugs.
Olecranon bursitis
Sometimes elbow pain can come from the bursa, the small, fluid-filled sacs that help protect and lubricate the joint. Leaning or getting impacted on the elbow, infection, and arthritis can cause damage to your bursa.
This condition may be treated with medication and elbow pads. In some severe cases, surgery may be necessary.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is a type of arthritis. Osteoarthritis causes pain and reduces motion in your hands. This condition can occur in any joint, but usually affects the hands, knees, hips or spine.
Osteoarthritis breaks down cartilage which helps reduce sudden movements. When this condition occurs, the bones that rub against each other over time will permanently damage the joint.
Treatment that can be given is recommended exercise, medications, and surgery including joint replacement for more severe cases.
In most cases, you will need to undergo physical therapy after treatment of a severe elbow injury. Physical therapy will help restore range of motion after surgery or after the splint or cast has been removed.
