Summary | Pain in the elbow

Summary

Pain in the elbow is a far-reaching symptom that can have a variety of causes. One of the most common causes is overstrain reactions, which can result from frequently performed unilateral movements. These include tennis elbow or golfer’s elbow, where overstraining of the tendons can lead to irritation of the periosteum.

In tennis elbow, the outer side of the elbow is painful, depending on the position of the muscles involved. In addition to overstrain, poor posture in the sense of arthrosis can also lead to pain in the elbow.Furthermore, trauma can also lead to fractures in the elbow area. From the upper arm, numerous nerves run across the elbow to the forearm.

These nerves can be impaired in their course and lead to pain. The so-called nervus ulnaris syndrome is well known, in which the so-called “funny bone” can become constricted and sometimes cause the most sensitive pain. The diagnosis of causes of elbow pain is made by X-ray or magnetic resonance imaging.

The therapy depends entirely on the cause of the pain. For example, fractures are treated conservatively or surgically, arthroses are mostly treated conservatively, and if nerves are affected, decompression surgery is often necessary. Pain in the elbow is a relatively common symptom, the cause of which is in most cases chronic or unusual overload.

In addition to the forms of tennis elbow or golfer’s elbow, chronic inflammation of the tendons or in the joint, as well as wear and tear of the joint (arthrosis) can also cause pain. In most cases, acute pain recedes without further therapy. Inflammations of the tendons or the joint must be treated by immobilization or by means of medication.

If the joint or one of the bones has been severely injured or broken by an accident, in some cases surgery must be performed. Neurological diseases are usually of a chronic nature and usually affect other organs as well, so that a more extensive or systemic therapy must be started here. In most cases, additional physiotherapeutic measures can help to alleviate symptoms. Due to the variety of causes, a doctor should decide on the diagnosis and therapy.