Why does my elbow hurt and swell? The reason for this condition will be presented later. We will also tell you how to treat this pathological phenomenon, and what symptoms it may be accompanied by.
General information
Swollen elbow periodically worries many people. If such a condition does not cause much discomfort, then most of them do not pay any attention to it. But often this phenomenon is accompanied by a significant limitation of the ability to work and physical activity of a person. In this case, you should definitely contact a specialist, as we can talk about the development of quite serious pathologies.
Before telling you about what kind of disease a swollen elbow can talk about, it should be noted that the elbow joint is formed by the articulation of the ulna, radius and humerus. As you know, the surfaces of these articular elements are covered with cartilage, which contributes to the smooth and soft movement of the hand.
Thus, the elbow joint belongs to the complex parts of the body. This is partly due to the fact that in its cavity there are 3 more small joints, referred to as:radioulnar, humeroulnar and brachioradial.
Main causes of elbow swelling
Why is my elbow red and swollen? What is the cause of such a pathological phenomenon?
Pain in this part of the body can occur for many different reasons. Conventionally, they are divided into:
- Disorders of bones and articular cartilage (eg, trauma, chondrocalcinosis, arthritis, gout, arthrosis, synovial chondromatosis, elbow osteophyte, joint swelling).
- Disorders of the musculoskeletal system (eg, tendinitis, bursitis, epicondylitis, cubital tunnel syndrome, diffuse fasciitis).
- CCC and NS lesions (neuritis, intervertebral hernia, neurotrophic arthropathy, spinal osteochondrosis, myocardial infarction, hemophilia).
Let's consider the features of some diseases in more detail.
Injuries
If you have a swollen elbow joint, then this may indicate some kind of injury.
- Dislocation of the elbow joint occurs as a result of a violation of the relative position and correspondence of the articular surfaces. Common symptoms of this pathological condition include redness of the skin, intense pain, swelling, swelling and changes in the natural forms of the joint.
- Subluxation - manifested by sudden pain in the arm and elbow, as well as limitation of movement in the elbow joint. Most often, children get this injury.
- Fracture - expressed very intensely. Movement in the hand is almost completely limited, and the joint abruptly changes its naturalform. Very often, this phenomenon is accompanied by bruising caused by rupture of blood vessels.
- Ischemic contracture occurs as a result of a violation of arterial blood flow in the arm due to damage to blood vessels or squeezing them with increasing edema. Symptoms of this condition are: increasing pain that is not relieved by analgesics, coldness of the limb, a sharp blanching of the skin on the arm, rapidly increasing swelling of the fingers, impaired skin sensitivity, disappearance or weakening of the pulse.
Arthritis and arthrosis
Sometimes a swollen elbow indicates the development of serious diseases.
Arthritis is an inflammation of the joint caused by rheumatism, psoriasis, systemic lupus erythematosus, autoimmune pathologies and metabolic disorders. This condition is accompanied by pain not only in the elbow joint, but also in other joints.
As for arthrosis, it is a degenerative-dystrophic disease of the joint. With it, the discomfort is not as intense as, for example, with arthritis. To the touch, the elbow is almost painless. At the same time, no redness and increase in local skin temperature is observed.
Torn tendons
Pain in the elbow and arm when the tendon apparatus is ruptured often occurs. With such a pathology, the patient has a decrease in the flexion force at the elbow, a violation of active movements, a change in the shape of the muscles compared to a he althy limb, pain and swelling.
Tendinitis
This disease is accompanied by inflammation of the tendons. A common symptom of this pathology is pain in the elbow, resulting from active movements. Also, the patient's skin turns red and their temperature increases above the area of inflammation. In addition, with tendinitis, there is a noticeable swelling in the area of the inflamed tendon.
Bursitis
Elbow swollen, reddened and hot - what could it be? Such symptoms often indicate the development of bursitis. This is an inflammation of the periarticular bag (connective tissue), which is accompanied by the accumulation of fluid (exudate) in its cavity.
The main symptom of bursitis is the appearance of a mobile and rounded swelling in the elbow area, which has a rather soft texture. This swelling is very painful to the touch. Over time, it turns red or even dark purple, and also becomes very hot.
Neuritis
Pain in the elbow with neuritis, or the so-called inflammation of the ulnar nerve, is monotonous and aching in nature, and is also very often accompanied by numbness of the fingers and impaired sensitivity. Such a disease can occur as a result of hand injuries, hypothermia, nerve compression in narrow areas, its friction against bone structures, and other things.
The elbow, swollen with neuritis, is characterized by awkwardness when moving the hand, as well as muscle weakness in the upper limb.
Osteochondrosis and spinal hernia
What to do if it hurts andswollen arm above the elbow? First of all, you need to contact a qualified doctor. As a rule, such symptoms occur due to damage to the vertebrae of the cervicothoracic region. At the same time, pain sensations are noted not only in the area of the elbow joint, but also spread along the shoulder blades, neck and the entire arm as a whole.
The cause of pain and swelling can be the infringement of nerve fibers in osteochondrosis or intervertebral hernia. In addition to the above signs, this pathology is characterized by the development of atrophy of the biceps muscle of the shoulder, impaired flexion at the elbow and loss of skin sensitivity in the forearm.
Tumor of the elbow joint
The first symptoms of malignancy are fatigue, weakness, spontaneous fever, loss of weight and appetite. Also, for a tumor in the elbow joint, the appearance of pain is characteristic. At first, it does not have a pronounced intensity, however, in the process of pathology development, pain sensations become constant, stubborn and intensifying, including at night. Such symptoms do not respond to pain medication.
Tumor formation can be detected visually. The affected area is visibly swollen. Joint mobility is also limited.
Treatment
Now you know the main causes of swelling of the elbow joint. So what to do if your elbow is very swollen, the temperature of the skin at the site of the lesion has increased noticeably and other unpleasant symptoms have arisen? How to treat such a condition? howas a rule, the diagnosis of pain in the arm does not cause difficulties for experienced doctors. This is due to the fact that the elbow joint is well accessible for examination and other diagnostic procedures.
Therapy for swelling and pain in the elbow should only be trusted by professionals. After all, only a qualified doctor can easily identify the cause of the development of this pathological condition, make the correct diagnosis and prescribe adequate treatment. It should be noted that the treatment of such a phenomenon may include the use of painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs, as well as acupuncture, massage and other physiotherapy.
If the patient does not have the opportunity to see a specialist in the near future, then the following measures can be taken to improve the condition:
- A swollen and painful elbow joint should be fixed in the most comfortable arm position.
- If it is impossible to bend or straighten the upper limb due to its swelling or pain, as well as the inability to stretch it forward, all actions that cause discomfort should be stopped.
- To stop internal bleeding, eliminate swelling and reduce pain, ice can be applied to the affected area.
Such actions will significantly alleviate the patient's condition, which will make it possible to calmly wait for the doctor's consultation.
