The muscles on the back of your forearm, responsible for curling your wrist backwards, are anchored to this bony point. Pain in this bump is called lateral epicondylitis also known as 'tennis elbow'. This area is particularly susceptible to tennis elbow because it has a poor blood supply medial epicondyle — the bump on the inner side of the elbow.
The muscles on the front of your forearm, responsible for curling your wrist up, are anchored to this bony point. Causes of elbow pain Some of the many circumstances that may contribute to elbow injuries include: lack of strength or flexibility in the forearm muscles lack of strength in the shoulder muscles instability of the elbow joint poor technique during sporting activities especially tennis and golf that puts too much strain on the elbow joint inappropriate sporting equipment, such as using a heavy tennis racquet or having the wrong sized grip on a tennis racquet or golf club repetitive movements of the hands and arms, such as working on an assembly line continuously making the muscles and joint take heavy loads other factors such as neck symptoms or nerve irritation.
Bursae are small sacs that contain fluid to lubricate moving parts such as joints, muscles and tendons. Bursitis may be caused by repetitive use or frequent pressure or by injury to the elbow osteoarthritis — the joint cartilage becomes brittle and splits.
Some pieces of cartilage may even break away and float around inside the synovial fluid a liquid found in the joints. This can lead to inflammation and pain referred pain — injuries to the bones of the spine vertebrae can irritate the nerves servicing the arm and cause referred pain around the elbow joint nerve entrapment — the radial nerve is the main nerve of the arm.
The radial nerve can be pinched by vertebrae or the elbow joint. There is evidence to suggest that nerve entrapment contributes to the pain of tennis elbow in some cases ligament sprain — joints are held together and supported by tough bands of connective tissue called ligaments.
A sprain is a type of joint injury characterised by tearing of the ligaments bone fracture — a heavy fall or blow to the elbow may cause one of the bones to break or crack avulsion fracture — a powerful muscle contraction can wrench the tendon free and pull out pieces of bone osteochondritis dissecans — in younger people, a piece of cartilage and bone can become loose in the joint. Treatment options may include: exercises prescribed by your physiotherapist to gradually strengthen the tendons soft tissue massage ice massage acupuncture taping or bracing your elbow anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving medication can help you cope with the pain, but do not improve long-term outcomes surgery — in severe cases, and if pain has not resolved within 12 months.
There is evidence that corticosteroid injections can be harmful in the longer term, so these are no longer recommended in most cases. Prevention of elbow pain Ways to reduce the risk of elbow injury include: Always warm up and cool down thoroughly when playing sport. Make sure you use good technique and proper equipment when playing your chosen sports. Do strengthening exercises with hand weights — your physiotherapist can prescribe the correct exercises for you.
Avoid or modify work tasks that put excessive pressure on muscles of the forearm or that include the use of fingers, wrists and forearms in repetitive work involving forceful movement, awkward postures and lack of rest. Other causes of elbow pain are fractures from falling onto an outstretched arm; arthritis; sprains, which stretch or tear elbow ligaments; and bursitis, inflammation of the fluid-filled joint cushions called bursae.
If you are unable to make your arm completely straight after an injury, Contact your doctor to check for a possible fracture. You'll likely undergo an x-ray. If your elbow is just sore, you should consider these fixes before contacting your doctor for help. Stop overuse of the muscle group you suspect is behind your elbow pain. For example, if you have a hobby or project that requires repetitive wrist flexing or extending, you may be overusing the muscles and tendons of the forearm that connect to the elbow.
Heat therapy. Heat can bring blood flow and nutrients to the elbow, which can encourage healing. Protect your skin with a thin cloth, then place a heating pad or hot pack around your elbow. Stretching out the muscles of the forearm can offer some relief. Simply straighten your elbow out with the palm of your hand facing the floor, and gently pull your fingers toward the underside of your wrist.
You should feel a stretch along the back of your forearm. Hold it for 30 seconds. Then flip your forearm over, with your palm facing the ceiling, and push your fingers toward the floor.
Any pains that disrupt your life are a potential cause for medical concern and may warrant a healthcare provider visit. If you have an accident or injury that has caused sudden or severe elbow pain, consider visiting your healthcare provider. You may have dislocated or fractured your elbow, and a healthcare provider can determine the severity of your injury.
Additionally, if you have already been diagnosed with arthritis but are experiencing new, different, or worsening elbow pains, you may consider visiting your healthcare provider to manage your changing symptoms. Your general practitioner or a specialist, such as a rheumatologist, may use several different methods to diagnose the cause of your elbow pain.
A physical exam can help your healthcare provider understand where and why exactly you are hurting. The healthcare provider may feel and move your elbow, rotating your arm to pinpoint swelling, irritation, or potential injuries.
They may ask you to raise your arms, bend your elbow, or clench your fists to observe your range of motion. An X-ray or magnetic resonance imaging MRI can show your healthcare provider the condition of the bones in your arm, so these imaging tests are especially helpful when analyzing if a skeletal issue may be causing your elbow pain.
Imaging tests can reveal advanced osteoarthritis or bone fractures. After a physical exam, your healthcare provider may decide lab tests will be useful. Blood tests can help identify RA or another autoimmune condition, infection, cancer, or other illnesses that may be contributing to your elbow pain. Over-the-counter pain relievers like Tylenol acetaminophen are common medications to relieve their elbow pains.
Holding a cold or hot compress to your elbow may help reduce swelling. A healthcare provider may recommend an opioid drug such as oxycodone or hydrocodone if you have an advanced form of arthritis or a serious elbow injury. Use opioids only as prescribed due to the risk of addiction. If an injury or overexertion led to your elbow pain, you might need to rest and wear a sports brace for extra support. If you have arthritis, though, your healthcare provider may encourage you to adopt more exercise to keep your joints loose and flexible, which can help you move your arms easier in the future.
If rheumatoid arthritis is the cause of your elbow pain, treatment will usually include immunosuppressants or DMARDs. Some patients complement their normal medical routine with alternative therapies like acupuncture. While no one coping method will work for everyone, many people find that strategies that provide some relief include gentle exercise yoga, swimming, stretches , heat or ice packs, and over-the-counter pain medications.
Light weight lifting can help strengthen your arm muscles, which can protect you from future elbow strain. Consult with your healthcare provider to determine a medical plan for your specific needs.
Our elbows help us do important things like lifting children or grandchildren, waving to neighbors, catching a ball, closing a door, or cooking our favorite recipes. While there are several potential causes for your elbow pain, like tendonitis or arthritis, your healthcare provider can help you determine the cause of your pain.
And once you are diagnosed, you can work with your healthcare provider to begin a routine to manage your elbow pain. Dealing with chronic inflammation? An anti-inflammatory diet can help. Our free recipe guide shows you the best foods to fight inflammation.
Get yours today! Lateral elbow tendinopathy. Orthop J Sports Med. Prevalence of elbow joint arthritis and enthesitis in rheumatoid arthritis. J Clin Med. Sanchez-Sotelo J. Elbow rheumatoid elbow: surgical treatment options.
Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med. Michigan Medicine. Comparing rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Updated August 4, Pooley J, Van der Linden D.
0コメント