Pain in the elbow - causes and treatment

Everyone has ever experienced a phenomenon like elbow pain, so everyone knows what discomfort it can bring. After all, it is not only painful sensations, serious discomfort, but also limitation of the patient's motor activity. And, in addition, the pain in the elbows can be not only the result of fatigue from heavy physical work or injuries, but also of infectious diseases, as will be discussed below.

The elbow joint connects several bones at one and the same time - the ulnar, humerus and several rays. Elbow - one of the most important parts of the hand, because it is possible to perform a variety of movements, including flexion or extension of the hand. In the elbow joint there are nerve trunks. That is why with any injuries in this area, the elbows are seriously hurt. These sensations are also given in the forearm, where the nerve fibers also leave. In addition, serious damage can cause blood circulation disorders. In some cases, the patient's limb can be saved only through surgical intervention.

Why hurt the elbows? And what to do with this? There are several reasons, but it is worth highlighting neuritis of the ulnar nerve, infectious infections, gout, heavy physical exertion, reactive arthritis, synovial chondromatosis, trauma.

Pain in the elbows is not the only symptom, it is often accompanied by swelling and redness. By the nature of unpleasant sensations it is possible to judge the possible ailment that caused them. If the pain in the elbow is the cause of the inflammatory process, in this case it is pulsating and aching, and at the same time the sensitivity of the skin in the affected area decreases, the fingers often become numb, the pain becomes especially noticeable when the forearm deviates to the side. If the pain is monotonous and noisy, the fingers become numb , the sensitivity of the skin of the affected area of the body falls - this, most likely, is neuritis.

In case of a fracture, it is also possible to hear a sound, which is due to the friction of bone fragments . Bones crunch, the hand, as if shortened, the joint loses its natural shape, any movements of the patient with the hand are absolutely impossible, and the pain is often simply unbearable.

After strong physical exertion, elbows often hurt. However, such pain is not intense, it starts only with certain movements, such feelings can be tolerated.

Intense pain in the elbows and swelling of the joint occurs with gout. Such swelling, as a rule, fetters the patient's movements. In addition, in the area of the elbow joint, a "pouch" may appear, filled with pus, in the language of medicine called bursitis.

There is such a phenomenon as "the elbow of a tennis player" - this is the consequence of a long strain of muscles and tendons, because of which the tissues are strongly stretched. The pain in the elbows is so strong that you can neither bend nor straighten your arm. In scientific terms, the elbow of a tennis player is called epicondylitis. "The tennis player's elbow" disease is called because of the fact that it is the tennis players most often showing the overstretch of the muscle tissues, which is caused by incessant repetitive movements of the hands.

If the pain in the elbow does not give you rest, do not wait until it passes by itself. Address to the surgeon who will consult you and will look or see a sore point. The final diagnosis depends on the results of the X-ray examination, laboratory tests or ultrasound.

To remove the pain in the elbow, often use special ointments and gels. Ointments, which include bee venom, mustard or pepper (warming ointments), can not only remove pain, but also partially restore blood circulation in the affected area.

Treatment of the disease in this case directly depends on its cause. If the pain in the elbows was caused by a fracture, a gypsum should be applied to the fracture site. If neuritis caused such sensations, then acupuncture and manual therapy will help. To cure gout, use numerous medications, methods of physiotherapy and diet. Osteoarthritis is treated with balneotherapy and therapeutic mud. In some cases, chondroprotectors are used to stop or prevent the process of destruction of ulnar cartilage.