1. Introduction
While most people expect their elbow pain to get better on its own, with or without treatment, that is not always the case. Elbow pain with simple causes often benefits from self-care steps. In some cases, when the pain is severe and debilitating, treatment by a physician is necessary. The persistence of pain should not be ignored. It should be evaluated by a doctor to determine the cause and prevent it from becoming a chronic, disabling condition. The treatment options are as various as the causes. Because of this, it is often time-consuming and frustrating to find an effective treatment for a specific cause of elbow pain. This article will cover the most common reasons for elbow pain, both simple and complex, acute and chronic. This article is intended for anyone suffering from elbow pain, considering seeing a physician, or simply wanting to educate themselves about this common ailment. It provides general information on the causes of elbow pain, symptoms to look for with each cause, when a doctor should be consulted, and what type of treatment one can expect. As stated above, elbow pain has numerous causes. Below are some common causes of elbow pain, but there are literally over 15 different reasons one can experience pain in the elbow. The most common cause of elbow pain is known as tennis elbow. This is tendinitis of the wrist extensor muscles as they attach to the lateral epicondyle. Tennis elbow is not always caused by tennis, but it is a common injury in tennis players. This injury also causes pain with wrist extension, and it is painful to grasp objects with the hand. If these moves reproduce the pain in your lateral elbow, you may indeed have tennis elbow.
2. Common Causes of Elbow Pain
Tennis Elbow Otherwise known as lateral epicondylitis, is a painful condition characterized by pain on the outside of the elbow with movement of the wrist and elbow. The pain occurs on the lateral (outside) of the elbow, but can also spread down the forearm. This is a specific injury to the common extensor origin at the lateral humeral epicondyle. Usually caused by overuse of the forearm extensor muscles by repetitive use of the hand and wrist. Static contraction of the muscles (e.g. gripping onto something tightly) can also cause the muscles to become overworked. This injury can be caused by participation in any activity that requires hand gripping or repetitive wrist and arm movement. This could include anyone from heavy manual workers, racquet players, and musicians. Often caused by a new or increased level of activity involving the forearm muscles.
This is a common cause of pain and discomfort in the elbow. Usually caused due to repetitive movements that place stress on the muscles of the elbow. An example is playing tennis using backhand, where the extensor muscles on the back of the forearm can become strained. This is characterized by localized pain on the side of the elbow and is usually made worse by resisted wrist extension. This injury can often become chronic and cause debilitating pain if not given adequate rest and treatment.
3. Understanding Elbow Nerve Pain
There is a complex network of nerves crossing the elbow to provide sensation and control muscles. Nerves are responsible for both muscle control and sensation, so when they are disrupted, both the muscles they control and the sensation in the skin may be affected. Because the ulnar nerve is one of the major nerves of the arm responsible for movement and sensation, daily activities are often complicated by ulnar nerve entrapment or compression. Given the nerve’s anatomically exposed position at the elbow and its requirement to flex and extend with elbow motion, the nerve is susceptible to injury. Ulnar nerve entrapment is probably the second most common nerve compression syndrome in the upper extremity, which often manifests as elbow pain. Ulnar nerve entrapment (UNE) can occur at several sites from the nerve root in the neck to its terminal branches in the hand. An investigative study of UNE, only the portion involving the elbow has been systematically assessed. This is discerning with the fact that the elbow is second to the wrist in its predilection for the ulnar nerve entrapment site. High levels of elbow pain and discomfort accompany the injury and are often difficult to treat with conservative measures. Any condition causing enlargement or effusion of the elbow joint can increase intraneural pressure and impair blood-nerve exchange. A major cause of UNE is known to be the degenerative process of the cubital tunnel and retention of the nerve at the elbow. This is seen in work with older patients, but is also common with those who have experienced minor trauma to the medial epicondyle area.
4. Effective Treatments for Elbow Pain
Once the cause of the elbow pain is understood and the treatment plan is developed, there are many methods to treat elbow pain. So, more effective ways to control elbow pain are anti-inflammatory medications like aspirin to reduce pain, cortisone injections, physical therapy, and in some cases, surgery. The most common cause of elbow pain is inflammation of one of the tendons that attach to the elbow joint, this is called epicondylitis. When treating elbow pain that is caused by inflammation, taking aspirin or ibuprofen may be effective in reducing the pain. If the inflammation has been present for a long period of time, an injection of cortisone into the affected area may provide temporary relief. Cortisone is very effective in reducing inflammation and is used in many cases to provide relief until the inflammation is treated through other methods. A more permanent way to treat inflammation on a particular tendon is to have an injection of a substance called polidocanol around the tendon. This is an outpatient procedure that causes controlled damage to the tissue around the tendon to reduce the inflammatory process. After the injection, a period of rest followed by specific exercises for the affected area is usually done, and a gradual return to regular activity after deficiencies in strength and flexibility are corrected. An inflamed tendon area can also be treated with ultrasound, which is believed to cause a rise in tissue temperature and improve blood flow to the affected area for better healing. This may be done over a series of visits to a hospital or physical therapy center. If the tendon has ruptured completely, surgery may be required to reattach the tendon to the bone. Elbow nerve pain treatment is available for you.
5. Tips for Preventing and Managing Elbow Pain
Applying the same sort of concept as adjusting your technique, taking breaks is a simple yet very effective way to prevent elbow pain caused by repetitive activities. A rule of thumb you can use is for every 30 minutes of repetitive activity, you should take a 30-second rest, and for every 4 hours of repetitive activity, you should take a 15-minute rest. During these rest periods, you should avoid activity that causes elbow pain, and icing the elbow can be helpful as well.
Depending on your occupation or sport, you may be putting repetitive stress on your elbow without even realizing it. If you feel pain in your elbow, stop what you are doing and take time to figure out what activity is causing the pain. The best way to do this requires the least amount of medical intervention. Temporarily stop the activity that is causing the pain to see if the pain subsides. If the pain goes away, do not assume that it is healed and go right back into your typical activities. This will only make the pain return. Instead, try modifying the activity by changing the way you do it. For example, if the pain is due to exercise, decrease the frequency, duration, or intensity of the exercises. If you have more than one exercise to choose from, choose the one that uses the least grip strength. If the pain is due to occupation and is allowed with certain tasks, take time off work or consider a medical leave to allow the elbow time to heal. This is the most effective way to heal elbow pain considering the pain is due to the activity. Elbow pain causes and treatment is readily available in Singapore.
