The elbow consists of the elbow joint, which consists of the humerus and the two forearm bones ulna and radius. Numerous muscles, nerves and vessels run through the elbow joint and can be injured or become diseased. Accidents or prolonged strain on the elbow are the most common cause of pain in the elbow. However, everyday activities such as shopping also put strain on the elbow and can cause pain in the long term. For a specific therapy the exact diagnosis of persistent pain is necessary, so that the diagnosis should be made by a physician.
Causes and forms
The causes of a painful elbow are also distinguished between acute and chronic causes and between trauma-related and degenerative causes. Acute causes that can cause pain in the elbow include all traumas and injuries that can lead to a sudden functional impairment of the elbow. Fractures after severe falls or severe contusions after a fall often cause severe pain in the area of the elbow for days.
In addition, the pain increases as soon as an attempt is made to bend or stretch the arm. Chronic causes are mostly of a degenerative nature or signs of chronic overloading of the arm and elbow. In addition to the causes of overstrain, incorrect posture during movements can also lead to persistent pain in the elbow.
One example is arthrosis of the elbow joint, which is rare but does occur. Rheumatoid arthritis can also lead to pain in the elbow if it is affected by a rheumatic focus, in addition to the classic complaints such as pain in the fingers and restricted movement. Metabolic diseases, such as gout, can also affect the elbow during an attack with strongly increasing uric acid and lead to very severe pain.
Much more frequent and sometimes also the overstrain syndromes are accompanied by bursitis of the elbow joint. The so-called bursitis often occurs after overstraining and leads to sometimes very strong pain. In addition to the bursae of the elbow, the bursae of the other joints, such as the knee, are also frequently affected.
There are numerous other causes of pain in the elbow joint. In the so-called shoulder-arm syndrome, there is an anatomical constriction in the shoulder area. This constricts both nerves that run there and muscles that run down the arm.
If the arm is now moved upwards, the nerves are compressed so strongly that they cause pain that goes into the elbow. The so-called Sulcus ulnaris syndrome causes a constriction in the elbow. The ulnar nerve that passes through this narrowing is compressed and causes pain that extends into the little finger. Particularly when sitting for long periods of time with elbows resting on the table, it is possible that permanent irritation of the nerve and pain in the elbow and hand may occur.
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