Every time you move an item, hug a person, prepare a meal, or toss a ball, you utilize your elbow to do so. It’s time to go to the doctor if it’s not operating correctly.
When the humerus, the upper arm bone, meets the ulna and the radius, it forms your elbow joint. Bones are protected from grinding against one another by cartilage, a tough tissue that covers the ends of each bone. Helping the bones to keep in place are the strong strands of tissue known as ligaments. In order for your elbow to move into all of its possible configurations, the tendons that connect it to your muscles must be stretched all the way out.
It’s easy to injure your elbow since you use it so frequently and it bends in so many ways. Elbow discomfort may be caused by any of the following conditions and injuries.
- The elbow may be dislocated or fractured in a sports-related or car accident-related injury that occurs quickly. Putting off treatment for a sore elbow might worsen an undiscovered fracture and cause the bone to not heal correctly, resulting in joint misalignment and restricted motion.
- From a sudden injury, you may have a muscular strain or damaged ligament. While your elbow heals, it may be necessary for you to wear a sling. A splint may be necessary if the sprain is severe. The more you use your wounded elbow, the more likely it is that it may get infected, necessitating surgery even if the condition could have been treated conservatively before.
- Tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow are two examples of overuse injuries of this joint, which may cause microtrauma. An irritated tendon that connects muscles to your elbow bones is to blame for both injuries.
- Tennis and golf players who engage in repeated movements with their elbows, arms, and wrists are more likely to suffer from this kind of injury. These microtraumas may affect anybody who works in a career or activity that involves repetitive actions like painting or carpentry.
As a result, if you don’t seek medical attention, the discomfort you’re feeling in your elbow can spread down your arm and decrease your grip, resulting in even more tissue damage.
- Additionally, a strained tendon may tear, resulting in partial loss of elbow function. It is our goal to get you back in the game or back to work as soon as possible, which is why we collaborate with Urgently Ortho’s team of board-certified physicians.
- It is possible that elbow discomfort is due to a medical problem. It’s possible that your elbow joint may get infected with OA. Your bones may be grinding against one other because your cartilage has thinned.
- Rheumatoid arthritis or lupus, on the other hand, might be the result of your illness. The immune system targets the tissue in your elbow when you have one of these disorders, resulting in swelling and discomfort. Working together, your Urgently Ortho physician helps to alleviate your symptoms and improve the quality of your life.
An Elbow Injury: What Can You Do at Home?
The majority of the time, minor elbow discomfort does not need a trip to the hospital. Elbow discomfort may often be treated at home. Make sure your elbow is protected from additional harm if you are treating it at home. If you have a minor sports injury and want to take care of it at home, turn to the tried-and-true RICE approach.
A doctor’s visit isn’t always necessary, even if the discomfort in your elbow may be treated at home and gets better on its own. You should always seek immediate medical attention if you see a bone poking through the skin or if you have severe pain in elbow area.
Final thoughts
Getting relief for elbow discomfort doesn’t have to be scary. Physical therapy, bracing, injections, and surgery are all alternatives for elbow injury treatment. An individualized treatment plan is provided by your CCO physician.