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Topic of the Month: Elbow

Your elbow is an extremely important joint, allowing you to lift, throw, swing, and hug. The reason why you can do so many different things with your arms is that the elbow is a highly complex joint. As such, there are a lot of things that can potentially go wrong with this part of your body.

Three bones come together in the elbow joint: the humerus (upper arm bone), the ulna, and the radius (the two bones in the forearm). There is cartilage on the end of each bone to help them slide against each other painlessly. Since tendons and ligaments connect everything, it can cause significant pain when something goes wrong with any of these parts.

Here, we explore three of the most common causes of elbow pain.

Biceps and triceps tears

A rupture of the biceps or triceps tendon can be painful. Biceps tendon tears can be complete or partial and often begin with fraying of the tendon due to overuse or following a specific injury. A triceps tear refers to a rupture of the tendon that connects the triceps muscle to the tip of the elbow. This injury commonly occurs with a fall onto an outstretched hand or a sudden force such as a block in football.

Symptoms of a biceps tear include sudden sharp pain accompanied by an audible snap or pop. There may also be cramping, bruising, pain or weakness in the shoulder and trouble turning the palm up or down. Symptoms of a triceps tear generally include tenderness, weakness, and swelling. Treatment for either injury will depend on several factors, which may include rest, ice, nonsteroidal pain medication, physical therapy, or surgery.

Nerve entrapment

Nerve entrapment in the elbow refers to compression on the nerve, usually as a result of repetitive movements. It may also occur because of staying in the same position for a long time, such as sleeping with the elbows bent or consistently leaning on the elbows (at your desk, for example).

When nerves must pass through narrow spaces without much soft tissue to protect them, as they do in the elbow, they are more vulnerable to compression and damage. The nerve can become trapped when pressed between bones, ligaments, or tendons. Symptoms of nerve entrapment in the elbow include localized pain, radiating pain, tingling or numbness, or weakness in the elbow, while treatment includes rest, medications, physical therapy, steroid injections, splinting, or surgery.

Tennis/Golfer’s Elbow

Tennis/golfer’s elbow refers to a painful condition involving the area where the forearm tendons connect to the bony bump on the outside or inside of the elbow. This pain may spread down the forearm to the wrist. This uncomfortable condition’s name is derived from tennis players and golfers because of the constant bending of their wrists and clenching of their fingers while they play.

Complete recovery is likely. Symptoms of Tennis/golfer’s elbow include pain, tenderness, weakness, stiffness, and numbness. Most cases respond to rest, ice, bracing, and over-the-counter pain medications; some severe cases may require a minimally-invasive surgical procedure.

If you are experiencing elbow pain, don’t hesitate to contact us for an appointment. We’ll be happy to determine the cause of your pain and recommend an effective treatment plan tailored to your needs.