Inflammations

Long-term stress on the elbow can inflame the tendons that are attached through constant friction. This is called tendovaginitis. The joint itself can also become inflamed through prolonged stress or infection.

This is called arthritis. This form of inflammation is often accompanied by other local symptoms. Usually, arthritis develops over time and does not occur acutely.

The form of rheumatoid arthritis can also cause pain. In this case, however, it is not overstrain or infection that causes the pain, but a congenital rheumatic disease that is chronic and cannot be cured. Another structure is a bursa in the area of the elbow joint.

This bursa can also be infected by heavy strain or germs. This is called Bursitis olecrani. An inflammation of the bursa (bursitis) can also cause pain in the elbow.This leads to an inflammatory reaction of the bursa, which forms the fluid-filled slide bearing between all muscles and bones of the joint.

This inflammation can have many causes: Often, bursitis is the result of overloading, for example when the elbow is constantly resting on a table. This happens, for example, when the metabolic disease gout also causes bursitis of the elbow, through irritation of the bursa by deposits of uric acid crystals. Due to the inflammatory reaction, the bursa produces more fluid and the joint swells.

The flexion of the arm in the crook of the arm can therefore be very painful and limited. At the same time, the affected joint is often overheated and reddened. If bacteria are involved, an infection with pus develops in the bursa.

Normally, an inflammation in the bursa is treated conservatively. The first measure here is immobilization, possibly with the help of a splint or plaster. Anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving medication (NSAIDs, e.g. Diclofenac) additionally promotes the improvement of the symptoms.

Cold therapy or shock wave therapy can also have a beneficial effect. If the joint is too swollen and the patient complains of a feeling of tension, a puncture of the joint is indicated to relieve pressure. The drained fluid can also provide additional information about possible pathogens.

During the puncture, cortisone can be injected into the bursa at the same time to further reduce the inflammation and thus minimize the excessive fluid production. If left untreated, a local and purulent infection can sometimes develop into blood poisoning (sepsis) with symptoms such as fever and chills when the pathogens enter the bloodstream. To prevent this, this bacterial inflammation should be treated with antibiotics as early as possible.

If the antibiotic therapy is not successful, the purulent bursa must be removed in an operation. The well-known “tennis elbow” is also an inflammatory form of overuse. This causes an inflammation at the bony attachment of the radialis tendon (epicondylitis humeri radialis).

Since this inflammation often develops due to the constant strain, which typically resembles the movement during a tennis match, it is called tennis elbow. The bony attachment point of the ulnar tendon can also become inflamed (epicondylitis humeri ulnaris). Since this tendon is particularly stressed during golf, this form of inflammation is called the golfer’s elbow.