Elbow

Tennis elbow is an overuse injury resulting from the inflammation of the tendons that attach to the outer bony bump of your elbow. Pain radiates during activities involving gripping and wrist extension, affecting people of all activity levels.

Treatment for tennis elbow starts with RICE therapy and over-the-counter pain relievers. Physical therapy is also crucial for strengthening and improving mobility.

Similar to tennis elbow, golfer's elbow involves inflammation of the tendons on the inner elbow. Pain is experienced during activities requiring wrist flexion or clenching motions.

Treatment mirrors that of tennis elbow, emphasizing rest, pain management, physical therapy, and, infrequently, injections or other procedures.

The olecranon bursa, a fluid-filled sac at the pointed tip of your elbow, can become inflamed. This causes pain, swelling, and sometimes redness at the back of the elbow. It often occurs after a direct blow or from leaning on the elbow for prolonged periods.

Olecranon bursitis is often managed with rest, ice, compression, and anti-inflammatory medication. Draining the bursa (aspiration) may be necessary for excess swelling, whereas corticosteroid injections help reduce severe inflammation.

The bones making up your elbow joint are susceptible to fractures. These injuries often result from falls or direct impact, causing severe pain, swelling, deformity, and inability to move the joint.

Treatment depends on severity. Simple fractures may require a cast or splint for immobilization or closed reduction to realign the bone manually.

On the other hand, complex fractures often necessitate surgery using pins, wires, or plates to secure the bone during healing.

This occurs when the elbow bones are forcefully displaced from their normal positions. Dislocations are often caused by falls and are accompanied by significant pain, deformity, and immobility.

Emergency treatment involves closed reduction, where a doctor realigns the joint. Immobilization follows to allow healing. Complex dislocations or unsuccessful reductions may require surgery.

Elbow arthritis refers to inflammation and degeneration of the joint surfaces within the elbow. Some of the most common types of arthritis that affect the elbow include:

• Osteoarthritis: The most common type, osteoarthritis results from wear-and-tear of the cartilage covering the ends of the bones within the elbow joint.
• Rheumatoid arthritis: An autoimmune condition where the body's immune system mistakenly attacks the lining of the joints (synovium), causing inflammation, pain, and cartilage breakdown. Rheumatoid arthritis often affects multiple joints, including both elbows.
• Post-traumatic arthritis: This develops after a significant elbow injury, such as a fracture or dislocation. Even with proper healing, the initial injury can increase the risk of arthritis later on.

The ligaments around the elbow, such as the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL), provide stability. Overstretching or sudden force can lead to sprains (stretching) or tears of these ligaments, causing pain and instability, particularly in athletes who perform throwing motions.

The RICE protocol, pain medication, and immobilization are the first steps. Physical therapy plays a major role in strengthening and stabilizing the joint.

However, severe ligament tears, particularly in athletes, may need surgery to restore optimal elbow stability.