Overview

At one time or another, everyone has had an elbow problem that may have caused pain or swelling. Most of the time our body movements don't cause problems. But sometimes symptoms develop from everyday wear and tear or overuse.

Elbow problems can be minor or serious. They may include symptoms such as pain, swelling, numbness, tingling, weakness, or changes in temperature or color. Home treatment often can relieve minor aches and pains.

Conditions that may cause elbow symptoms

• Osteoarthritis may cause pain that's worse in the morning but improves during the day. Other types of arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis, gout, and lupus, can also affect the elbow.
• A pinched nerve can cause elbow pain with numbness and tingling.
• A problem elsewhere in the body, such as a heart attack, can cause referred pain in the elbow.

Overuse elbow problems

Most people may not remember having a specific injury when their symptoms get worse over time. But these overuse problems are actual injuries. They occur when too much stress is placed on a joint or other tissue. This can happen when you overdo an activity or repeat an activity over and over. Overuse injuries include:

• Bursitis. Swelling behind the elbow may be olecranon bursitis. This affects the olecranon bursa at the back of the elbow.
• Tendinosis or tendinopathy. This is when a tendon is injured and doesn't heal as it should.
  • Soreness or pain felt on the outside (lateral) part of the elbow may be tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis or epicondylopathy). This is the most common type of tendinopathy that affects the elbow. It's most often caused by overuse of the forearm muscles. This overuse may occur during sports, such as tennis, swimming, golf, and sports involving throwing. Or it may occur when you do certain jobs, such as carpentry or plumbing, or do daily activities, such as lifting objects or gardening.
  • Soreness or pain in the inner part (medial) of the elbow may be golfer's elbow (medial epicondylitis or epicondylopathy). In children who do sports that involve throwing, the same elbow pain may be called Little Leaguer's elbow.
• Ulnar nerve compression. This is the pinching of the ulnar nerve in the elbow joint. It most often occurs with repeated motions.

Treatment

Treatment for an elbow problem may include first aid and a brace, splint, or cast. It also may include physical therapy or medicine.

Self-Care

Try the following tips to help relieve elbow pain, swelling, and stiffness.

• Remove all jewelry.

  Remove rings, bracelets, watches, and any other jewelry that goes around the wrist or fingers of the affected arm. It will be hard to remove the jewelry after swelling starts.

• Rest.

  It's important to rest and protect the affected area. Stop, change, or take a break from any activity that may be causing your pain or soreness.

• Use ice.

  Put ice or a cold pack on your elbow for 10 to 20 minutes at a time. Try to do this every 1 to 2 hours for the next 3 days (when you are awake).

• Wrap the affected area.

  Compression, or wrapping the area with an elastic bandage (such as an Ace wrap), will help reduce swelling. Don't wrap it too tightly, because that can cause more swelling below the affected area. Loosen the bandage if it gets too tight. Signs that the bandage is too tight include numbness, tingling, increased pain, coolness, and swelling in the area below the bandage.

• Elevate the affected area.

  Try to keep the area at or above the level of your heart to help reduce swelling. Prop up the area on pillows while you apply ice and anytime you sit or lie down.

• Support your elbow.

  Wear a sling if it makes you more comfortable and supports your elbow.

  Use an elbow support, such as an elbow sleeve or forearm wrap. It may help rest your elbow joint, relieve stress on forearm muscles, and protect the joint area during an activity. A counterforce brace may be helpful for tennis elbow symptoms. Follow the directions on the package for using the brace.

• Apply heat.

  After 2 or 3 days, you can try applying heat to the area that hurts. Apply heat for 10 to 20 minutes at a time, several times a day. You might also try switching between ice and heat.

• Rub the area.

  Gently massage or rub the affected area to relieve pain and encourage blood flow. Don't massage the area if it causes pain.

• Don't smoke or use other tobacco products.

  Smoking slows healing because it decreases blood supply and delays tissue repair.

If you need to use a wrap or sling for more than 48 hours, you may have a more serious injury that needs to be checked by a doctor.

When to call for help during self-care

Call a doctor if any of the following occur during self-care at home:

• New or worse pain or swelling.
• New signs of infection, such as redness, warmth, pus, or a fever.
• New or worse numbness, tingling, or cool and pale skin.
• Movement or strength decreases.
• Symptoms occur more often or are more severe.

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