Conditions
Procedures
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Elbow Injuries
Tennis Elbow
Tennis elbow or lateral epicondylitis is an extremely common injury that originally got its name because it is a frequent tennis injury, appearing in a large proportion of tennis players. Nevertheless it commonly manifests in a vast proportion of people who do not play tennis at all.
Golfers Elbow
Golfer elbow is a similar injury to tennis elbow only it affects the inside of the elbow instead. Golfer elbow is more common in throwers and golfers hence the ‘nicknames’. Also known as flexor / pronator tendinopathy this elbow pain is seen in tennis players who use a lot of top spin on their forehand shots.
Inflammation and Rupture of the Triceps Tendon
The triceps tendon is the one at the back of the upper arm – as shown opposite. It inserts into the back of the elbow. If you fall onto your hands you can rupture this tendon. If you over-do the weights or try to push something too heavy you can also rupture the tendon or it could become inflamed through over use.
Bursitis / Students Elbow
The elbow pain originates from below the tip of the elbow where there is a sack of fluid called a bursa. A bursa is used to help lubricate the movement of tissues in joints. However if you take a hard impact onto the back of the elbow or are constantly leaning on the elbows the bursa can become inflamed or bleeding can occur in the bursa. The result is elbow pain and swelling on the bony bit at the back of the elbow.
You would need to see the doctor if you notice the following symptoms.
- Inability to carry objects or use your arm
- Elbow pain that occurs at night or while resting
- Elbow pain that persists beyond a few days
- Inability to straighten or flex your arm
- Swelling or significant bruising around the joint or arm
- Any other unusual symptoms
Treatment for Elbow Injuries
Treatment generally involves lifestyle modification, simple exercises to control the symptoms, and changing strokes mechanics. Medication may be prescribed to reduce inflammation and control pain. Injection of cortisone may also be used to treat the pain.
Elbow Brace and Exercises
An elbow orthosis, called an elbow clasp, can be worn. The theory behind using an elbow clasp is that the brace will redirect the pull of misaligned muscles. Patients often find relief of pain when using the clasp during activities.
Surgery
There are several possible surgical treatments that have been successful. These include removing a portion of the damaged tendon or releasing the attachment of the affected tendon. A repair of the healthy portion of tendon is sometimes carried out as well. In addition, arthroscopic elbow surgery has become an option for some patients with tennis elbow.
