Elbow Pain
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What is the cause of elbow pain?
Elbow pain is a common medical problem which can be caused by a number of issues. The most common cause of elbow pain in adults is tendinitis, or inflammation and injury to the tendons. In most cases, the cause of elbow pain is due to injured or inflamed soft tissue such as tendons or ligaments.
This may be accompanied by joint pain, stiffness, swelling and redness. Sometimes, it can also be caused by a medical condition. There are many ways to treat elbow pain, but regardless of the type of pain, it is best to see a health professional.
Elbow pain can be caused by a number of factors, including arthritis. Arthritis simply means a joint that is painful and swollen. Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, and whoever are a number of types of arthritis. Rheumatoid (roo-ma-toyed) arthritis – an autoimmune condition. Psoriatic (sorry-atik) arthritis – an autoimmune condition associated with the skin condition. Gout – a type of arthritis that causes pain and swelling in joints.
What are the symptoms of elbow pain?
The symptoms associated with elbow pain can be debilitating, affecting the ability to carry on with ordinary daily activities.
- Weak grip
- Experiencing a dull ache at rest in your elbow
- Pain when trying making a fist (golfer’s elbow)
- Difficulty when opening the fingers (tennis elbow)
- Soreness around the affected elbow bump
- Pain will increase when making a fist or flexing the forearm muscles.
What treatments are available for elbow pain?
Treatment should be aimed at reducing pain and restoring normal physical functioning, to maintain work life activity. Depending on your conditions with elbow disorder and symptoms you experience. A conservative approach is the preferred initial treatment because it offers the fewest complications and allows patients to retain their normal lives. Surgery is a last resort if your symptoms don’t improve.
- ice
- rest
- nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
- braces or immobilization
- steroid injections
- elbow padding
- physical therapy
- Surgery