Joint pain is always debilitating and its severity & location decide what type of symptoms it is going to show. Such a situation often arises due to an injury to the joint or any underlying health condition that affects the bones. Pain in any of the joints in our body makes it difficult for us to perform even daily tasks and this depends on the type of joint affected. Severe injuries may require joint replacement surgery and that may involve the placement of an implant specifically designed for that joint. Such implants may include Radial Head Prosthesis, Hip prosthesis, LCP locking compression plate, and more. Remember, the type of implant used will depend upon the location and severity of the injury.

In this post, our focus will be on discussing elbow pain that could occur due to traumatic injuries or overuse. Elbow pain due to overuse is the most common. Let us see some of the common causes of the pain.

What Are the Causes of Elbow Pain?

Both traumatic and non-traumatic causes can result in elbow pain. Here are some of the causes:

Broken arm
Bursitis
Osteoarthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis
Sprains

Golfer’s elbow
Stress fracture
Tennis elbow

What Are the Different Types of Elbow Disorders?

Several types of elbow disorders are there, below-mentioned are their types:

Medial Epicondylitis

Commonly known as a golfer’s elbow, medial epicondylitis is known to affect the inner tendons in the elbow. Repetitive throwing motion can result in medial epicondylitis.

Lateral Epicondylitis

Also known as tennis elbow, this condition is known to affect the outside part of the elbow.

Olecranon Bursitis

In this condition, small sacs of fluids that protect our joints in the elbow get inflamed, and this results in elbow pain.

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is a condition that affects the cartilages, a type of connective tissue found in the joints. When this occurs, the joint becomes weak and pain starts to occur.

Dislocation or Fracture

Fractures of the elbow or dislocations will always be painful and they often result due to traumatic injuries. This condition makes it difficult for the person to move his/her elbow and in severe cases, surgery might be required.

Ligament Strains and Sprains

Trauma or repeated stress is the commonest cause of ligament strains and sprains, and that could affect any of the ligaments in the elbow.

Osteochondritis Dissecans

Also called Panner’s disease, this condition is characterized by dislodging of a tiny piece of bone or cartilage in the elbow.

What is the Diagnosis for Elbow Disorders?

After a physical examination, the healthcare service provider often recommends imaging tests like:

X-rays
CT scan
MRI scan
Electromyography
Biopsy of the bursa fluid

What is the Treatment for Elbow Disorders?

The treatment will solely be based on the severity and type of condition. Besides this, diagnostic reports will also play a key role in deciding the best treatment. Maximum cases are known to require only conservative treatment including:

Ice application
Rest
Prescribed NSAIDs
Physical therapy
Application of braces

Surgery is always the last option that is recommended when the condition is too severe and/or conservative treatments fail to relieve the symptoms.

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Elbow Pain - What You Need to Know About