PAIN Problems and
Solutions
Elbow Pain
What is Elbow Pain?
Overuse and sports injuries cause many elbow conditions. Golfers, baseball pitchers, tennis players, and boxers often have elbow disorders.
What Causes Elbow Pain?
Medial epicondylitis
Medial epicondylitis affects the inner tendons in the elbow, and is commonly called golfer’s elbow and little leaguer’s elbow. The repetitive throwing motion used in baseball and the downward swing of a golf club are common causes.
Can also be the result of a repetitive hand motion, such as swinging a hammer every day at work. This disorder can cause pain along the inside of the elbow. Wrist movements in particular can trigger pain.
Lateral epicondylitis
Another name for lateral elbow tendinopathy is tennis elbow. It affects the tendons on the outside of the elbow. Playing racquet sports or working in certain professions that use the same sort of motion can cause this condition.
Professionals who commonly experience lateral epicondylitis include:
- cooks
- painters
- carpenters
- autoworkers
- plumbers
Olecranon bursitis
- student’s elbow
- miner’s elbow
- draftsman’s elbow
Bursitis affects bursae, small sacs of fluid that help protect the joints. Olecranon bursitis affects the bursae protecting the pointy bone of the elbow.
It may be caused by:
- a blow to the elbow
- leaning on the elbow for a prolonged period of time
- infection
- medical conditions such as arthritis
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a condition that affects the cartilage, a type of connective tissue found in the joints. OA causes this tissue to wear down and become damaged. Elbow OA may be caused by an elbow injury, or wear and tear on the joints.
OA is usually treated with medication and physical therapy. Surgery, including joint replacement, is an option in more severe cases.
What are the symptoms of an elbow pain ?
- Pain
- Difficulty bending the elbow
- A locking sensation in the elbow
- A grating sound during movement
- Swelling
- Rest
- Physical therapy
- The use of a brace or tennis elbow strap
- visual changes to the elbow, such as swelling and discoloration
- inability to move the joint
- Pain
- stretched
- partially torn
- completely torn
- pain
- joint instability
- swelling
- problems with range of motion
- rest
- pain relief methods such as icing the area
- bracing the elbow
- physical therapy
Management
Most elbow pain improves with simple home treatments, such as:
Protect
Keep the area from getting further injury.
Rest
Avoid the activity that caused your injury.
Ice
Place an ice pack on the sore area for 15 to 20 minutes three times a day.
Compression
Use a compression bandage to reduce swelling.
Elevation
Keep your arm elevated to help reduce swelling.
When Should I Seek Professional Help?
- An obvious deformity in your elbow
- A protruding bone
- Severe pain, swelling and bruising around the joint
- Trouble moving your elbow normally, using your arm or turning your arm from palm up to palm down and vice versa
Resources
malaysiaphysio.com
Elbow | – (malaysiaphysio.com)
mychiro.com
https://www.mychiro.com.my/joint-and-sports-injury/elbow-pain/tennis-elbow/
painfreenyc.com
Brooklyn Pain Management Doctors & Specialists (Sports Injury Clinic) (painfreenyc.com)
Kids Health Information
Kids Health Information : Pain relief for children – paracetamol and ibuprofen
Elbow Pain (Tendonitis and Bursitis)
https://www.aci.health.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/273803/elbow-pain-ed-patient-factsheet-march-2015.pdf
Tennis Elbow Factsheet
https://hastingsphysio.com.au/files/tennis-elbow.pdf
Article on Lateral Epicondylitis Of The Elbow
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5367546/
Article on Tennis Elbow Clinical Review
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/335098297_Tennis_elbow_A_clinical_review_article
Why Does My Elbow Hurt?
Why Does My Elbow Hurt? 14 Common Causes of Elbow Pain (webmd.com)
Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis)
Tennis Elbow Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments (webmd.com)
Common Reasons for Elbow Pain and Treatments
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyjqG-AyLGY
There Are Three Main Categories Of Pain:
Acute Pain
Lasts for a short time and occurs following surgery or trauma or other condition. It acts as a warning to the body to seek help. Although it usually improves as the body heals, in some cases, it may not.
Cancer Pain
Lasts beyond the time expected for healing following surgery, trauma or other condition. It can also exist without a clear reason at all. Although chronic pain can be a symptom of other disease, it can also be a disease in its own right, characterised by changes within the central nervous system.
Chronic Pain
Can occur in patients with early stage and advanced disease, and in cancer survivors as a severe and debilitating side-effect of treatment.