Diagnosis
In the diagnostic phase, a detailed survey of the symptoms is first conducted. The question is how long the complaints have existed and whether there may have been a triggering event. It should also be clarified whether there are movements or situations in which the pain becomes worse, or whether it already exists at rest.
Also important is the question of occupation or leisure activities. These are all details that can already help to find the origin of the inflammation. In certain occupational areas such as office work, where a lot of work is done on the PC, but also in manual activities that are carried out professionally, very specific muscle groups can be overused.
This can eventually cause inflammation of adjacent structures on the elbow. The elbow is generally inspected and examined for signs of inflammation. These include swelling, possibly an effusion, overheating and pressure sensitivity.
Furthermore, a mobility test is performed, whereby certain functional tests are used. On the one hand, it serves to find out, by provocation, which movement primarily triggers the pain and whether movement restrictions already exist. Both provide information about the exact localization of the inflammation.
In addition to obtaining the patient’s medical history and physical examination, various imaging procedures and laboratory tests are carried out depending on the problem. The bony structures can be assessed on X-rays. An indication for this would be a previous trauma in order to rule out a fracture.
Changes caused by rheumatoid arthritis can also be detected by X-ray. MRI of the elbow shows not only the bony structures but also the soft tissues, thus enabling the assessment of inflammatory processes at the tendon sheaths or bursa. Ultrasound is also well suited for imaging the soft tissues.
Another advantage for the examiner is that the elbow can also be viewed in motion using ultrasound. A puncture is performed if there is a joint effusion. On the one hand, the puncture can relieve the joint, on the other hand, the microbiological examination of the material obtained allows a more precise statement to be made about the cause of the effusion.
The so-called inflammation parameters are determined in the laboratory. If these are elevated, this confirms that an inflammation is present in the body. If the inflammation is suspected to be rheumatic, rheumatoid factors can be determined additionally.
The therapy of inflammation of the elbow is initially treated conservatively. As a rule, pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed. These are drugs from the group of so-called NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-rheumatic drugs).
These include for example ibuprofen and diclofenac. The pain and inflammation symptoms often improve quickly after taking these drugs. If you take a longer period of higher doses of ibuprofen or diclofenac, you should also take a prophylactic medication to protect your stomach, as these can cause stomach problems.
These are usually omeprazole or pantoprazole. If the pain is very severe, it is also possible to inject cortisone-containing medication or local anesthetics directly into the joint space. Furthermore, the affected arm should be immobilized and cooled during the acute phase.
If the inflammation is rheumatic, the basic illness is additionally treated with antirheumatic drugs and cortisol. A simple household remedy to treat an inflamed elbow is an envelope with curd cheese. It relieves complaints by its cooling and anti-inflammatory effect.
Arnica ointment or oil can also be used well for external application. In homeopathy, potassium chlorate is often used for inflammation of the elbow. It is available as globules or ointment.
Physiotherapy is particularly useful if the inflammation is caused by incorrect or excessive strain on certain muscles. Here, the muscles can be strengthened and shortened tendons can be stretched again in a targeted manner through exercises in order to achieve an alleviation of the symptoms. A special massage technique is often used for this purpose (cross friction).
The therapist in physiotherapy also has the possibility to tap the joint. Other therapeutic options include shock wave treatment using ultrasound, electrotherapy or laser treatment.Which measure is applied in each individual case depends on the severity of the inflammation. If there is no improvement with consistent implementation of conservative therapy options, a surgical intervention should be considered.
A special case is a bacterial inflammation, in which a drug therapy is usually not sufficient. In most cases a surgical intervention is appropriate as a first measure to prevent further destruction of the joint or the spread of germs. The joint is opened, cleaned and a suction-irrigation-drainage is applied. In addition, antibiotics must be taken.
