Elbow pain is a symptom that every person encounters at least once in a lifetime. There are a lot of causes of elbow pain, and each of them requires a specific treatment. If your elbow hurts in the joint even at rest, you should immediately consult a doctor.
How is the elbow joint?
The joint is a movable connection of the bones of the skeleton. The elbow joint is formed by the radius, ulna and humerus. Vascular highways pass through the elbow, which supply blood to the arm from the elbow to the wrist and phalanges of the fingers. Also, three nerves pass through the joint, which can cause pain in the elbow during flexion or extension. Reinforced joint with four ligaments.
The movement of the elbow joint is carried out with the help of the muscles of the flexors and extensors:
- shoulder to elbow – triceps, biceps brachii, ulnar and shoulder muscles;
- from elbow to wrist - square and round pronators, brachioradialis, radial flexor of fingers,flexor wrist and others.
It is when moving that the elbow in the joint hurts more often. What to do to relieve pain before visiting a doctor, you can read below.
Causes of pain in the elbow joint
Elbow pain may be related:
- with injuries sustained as a result of injuries;
- with tumors;
- with degenerative-dystrophic processes;
- with pathological changes in blood vessels and nerves;
- with inflammations of infectious and non-infectious etiology, localized in the joint itself or its surrounding tissues;
- with peculiarities of joint movement (in some athletes).
The most common causes of pain are injuries, damage or overload of the joint. If the elbows in the joints of the hands hurt without prior damage, this indicates the development of diseases. Each of them has its own symptoms and treatment features.
What are the diseases of the elbow joint?
The most common disease is epicondylitis - damage to the tendons as a result of injury or heavy prolonged stress. The elbow hurts in the joint with a load or when performing rotational movements. In everyday life or at rest, no painful symptoms appear.
Reflected pain is a disease that occurs due to changes in the cervicothoracic spine. Externally, the joint does not change in any way. The main difference is the nature of the pain - it occurs even at rest.
Arthrosisnot characterized by severe pain syndrome. It occurs only when you try to bend or straighten your arm to the limit. In addition to pain when bending, stiffness and crunch are felt. In the absence of proper treatment, after a while, bone deformation occurs.
Arthritis is an inflammatory process in the joint, accompanied by severe pain even at rest, redness and swelling of the affected area.
Any pain in the elbow joint is a reason to visit a doctor. Pain symptoms do not go away on their own, they need treatment - elimination of the root cause of joint pain. Only in this case, you can save your he alth.
It hurts the elbow in the joint: what to do? Ointment and compresses as a way to reduce pain
If the pain intensifies, and there is no opportunity to visit a doctor now, you can use simple methods:
- Fixation of the elbow joint - it is possible to significantly reduce the manifestation of the symptom by reducing the load on it and fixing it with an elastic bandage. It is necessary, if possible, to provide complete rest to the joint until the cause of the pain is identified and the correct treatment is prescribed.
- Cold compresses can slightly reduce the pain and swelling of the affected area. You can apply such compresses for no more than half an hour, otherwise you can only harm the joint and increase the pain syndrome.
- The use of gels or ointments - their main component should be a substance that provides an anti-inflammatory effect (diclofenac, ibuprofen, nimesulide). Rubthey are needed several times a day.
Don't self-medicate. These methods are used only to alleviate unpleasant symptoms. If you experience pain, you should contact the emergency room as soon as possible, where an experienced specialist will help determine the cause of discomfort in the elbow joint.
It hurts the elbow in the joint: how to treat?
Basic conservative treatment includes physiotherapy and drug therapy:
- Physiotherapy includes physiotherapy, reflexology, exercise and massage.
- Drug therapy - a course of drugs that provide activation of nerve conduction and improve blood circulation. Be sure to take additional painkillers and normalize the work of the digestive tract. The most commonly used "Structum", "Chondroxide", "Teraflex". For injections use "Flosteron", "Diprospan", "Metipred".
In order to prescribe an effective and safe treatment, it is necessary to undergo an examination by a doctor and, if necessary, additional examinations. Only with a complete picture of symptoms and changes in the structure of the elbow can a correct diagnosis be made and effective treatment prescribed.
What tests can a doctor prescribe for pain in the elbow?
If, during examination, the doctor detects swelling, swelling and other lesions of the elbow joint area, he prescribes appropriate methodsexaminations:
- blood test (biochemical);
- X-ray of the elbow joint (if degenerative changes are suspected after injuries and heavy loads);
- CT or MRI of the elbow is indicated when x-rays fail or for people who cannot be x-rayed (pregnant women, patients who have recently received radiation from x-rays);
- A biopsy of the elbow joint is prescribed if a malignant tumor in the joint or elbow area is suspected, when the elbow in the joint is very sore.
What to do? To confirm or refute the preliminary diagnosis of a doctor, it is necessary to conduct examinations as prescribed and as soon as possible.
Surgical treatment of the joint
Used only if there is no effect after a course of conservative medical treatment. One of the most effective and common methods of surgical treatment is the introduction of hyaluronic acid into the joint cavity.
Hyaluronic acid is a protein compound, almost half of the joint consists of it. An injection is made into the articular bag of the affected joint, due to this, friction between the articular surfaces of the bones decreases, and the process of destruction of the articular tissues slows down.
It is better to regularly monitor your he alth to prevent the development of joint diseases that are difficult to cure. Attention to one’s condition and the appearance of painful syndromes will alloweliminate developing changes in the joints as quickly as possible.
Folk treatments
Many people may be disturbed by an unpleasant symptom when the elbow hurts in the joint. What to do? Folk remedies can reduce pain before the appointment of traditional treatment.
In folk medicine, eggshells are used to treat joints. It must be dried and ground into powder, then mixed with sour milk to a pulp and applied to the elbow. For the best effect, the joint should be wrapped with a warm cloth and walked like this for 1 hour. The course of treatment is 5 days.
You can take baths if your elbow hurts in the joint. What to do? To do this, pour a glass of boiling water 1 tbsp. l. buttercup flowers. Dilute the resulting broth with hot water to a volume of 5 liters and take “elbow baths” for an hour, maintaining the temperature of the water.
Any folk remedies can be used only after consulting a doctor. Otherwise, improper treatment can aggravate the condition of the joints.
Prevention of joint pain
Any disease is easier to prevent than to spend a lot of time, effort and money on treatment. The main preventive measures are:
- protecting joints from excessive and prolonged stress;
- maintaining a he althy lifestyle (proper nutrition and moderate exercise);
- try not to overweight (as it puts a lot of pressure on the joints);
- regularly passpreventive examinations by doctors, especially if the elbow hurts in the joint.
What to do to prevent joint diseases? Responsible attitude to your life is the key to he alth and longevity, especially for the condition of the joints.
