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Health

Elbow pain

, medical expert
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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Pain in the elbow joint may appear not only from a stroke. In many cases, it is caused by other causes.

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What causes pain in the elbow joint?

  1. Elbow is prone to such a disease as epicondylitis (there is external and internal). It arises from trauma or severe overload of tendons on the arm and affects a person regardless of age. Pain in the elbow joint is felt during lifting of the weight, that is, when trying to load a hand, or when performing movements that require a rotational force: playing tennis, working with a screwdriver or a wrench for a long time. If the movements are performed without applying a load, then the pain may not even manifest itself (the same thing at rest). External changes in the elbow are not observed, with palpation, unpleasant sensations can appear when touching the lateral ossicles, but not to the most joint formation
  2. Pain in the elbow joint is not always direct, it can be reflected. For example, from the pain emanating from the traumatized area of the cervicothoracic spine. The mobility of articular structures is not lost, the appearance remains unchanged. Pain in the elbow joint torments the patient, even when he keeps his arm in peace, sometimes interfering with sleep. And, starting from the neck or zone of scapula, it is localized not only in the elbow, but pierces the entire limb.
  3. Elbow can affect arthrosis. Then, at the initial stages, the painful sensations in the elbow will appear when the person tries to bend or straighten the arm to the end (with a crunch in the joint). If no measures are taken in time, the mobility of the joint structures progressively decreases. When the form of arthrosis is running, the hand is constantly in a slightly bent position, and the bones are deformed.
  4. Among all the causes that can cause pain in the elbow joint, about 10% belongs to arthritis. In such situations, a person then usually has other joints that are inflamed. Painful sensations are strong enough, appear at movements, and as at rest. Elbow becomes hot and mutated: there is swelling, swelling, can become very red.
  5. Often, a companion of arthritis is an ulnar bursitis. During this disease, the periarticular bag inflames, on the elbow bend (on its back surface) you can observe the formation, filled with liquid and in shape, resembling an oval. To the touch of the neoplasm of severe pain does not cause.
  6. Sometimes pain in the elbow joint can signal a heart condition. For example, myocardial infarction causes pain not only behind the breastbone, but extends it to the neck, scapula, stomach, left arm and even into the elbow. With regular such pain, it is recommended to go to a cardiologist. Just the patient feels the heaviness and contraction in the chest, pales, can experience dizziness and eventually lose consciousness.
  7. Painful sensations in the elbow are possible with neurologic pathology, formed by squeezing in the ulnar canal of the ulnar nerve (syndrome of the cubital canal). Occurs because of micro-injury to bones. A person feels numbness, tingling on the skin. Pain in the elbow is felt at first during pressure on it or, if the elbow is bent for a long time. If the disease is not treated, then it can go so far that the objects themselves begin to fall out, and muscle atrophy develops.

Who to contact?

What should I do if I have pain in the elbow joint?

Pain in the elbow joint can be reduced by applying a warming ointment, cooling gel, cream, taking syrups, tablets, as well as by injection. However, all this should be used only after the appointment of any of the funds by the attending physician.

Treatment of pain in the elbow joint

When there was pain in the elbow joint, treatment should begin immediately, because untimely measures can lead to a lot of complications.

First of all, you can remove discomfort with anesthetics, the best group for this is a group of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: Nimesulid, Nyz, Nimesil, Ketorol (Ketanov), Meloxicam, Diclofenac, German analog Diklak, which is twice as strong as the domestic one.

Nimesulide is better taken in tablets, in fact the ointment is much weaker than the same Diclofenac. Diclac is strong from gels; he relieves inflammation more when Ketorol anesthetizes. You can also apply compresses from Dimexide (up to 3 times a day), mixing with water, with frequent use of 1: 4, with a rare - 1: 3. For greater pain relief, lidocaine may be added to the compress fluid. On the damaged tissues inflammation will decrease, and the pain will go away.

Do not forget about the physiotherapy methods: physiotherapy, therapeutic massages. The patient must limit movement, keep the joint in a free position.

To remove painful ouscheniya and relax the muscles with pain in the elbow joint will help manual therapy.

An alternative method of treating pain in the elbow joint is urinotherapy, which uses your own urine or a boy under 12 years old. You need to take a linen or cotton towel, wet it in a fresh urine, put on a sick elbow, top it with a film and cotton cloth, warm it with a woolen shawl. This compress is best used before bedtime, and in the morning, wipe the joint with a wet cloth. Keep your elbow in warmth, and repeat the procedure until the pain disappears completely. Another method of compresses at night is cabbage. Her sheet drops into boiling water for softening, and then is superimposed on the elbow, insulated in the same way as in the previous method with urine.

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