Elbow Pain

The Problem
You have pain in your elbow and perhaps swelling, tenderness, redenss, or bruising.

Cause of Elbow Pain

• Bursitis. You have swelling around the elbow; it’s painful, especially when you press on it. You may have a fever. Your doctor may want to drain the fluid to be sure there’s no infection and then will probably suggest a compression wrap, an anti-inflammatory medication such as aspirin or ibuprofen, and avoidance of direct pressure.
• Fracture/dislocation. You have fallen, or your elbow has been injured. It’s swollen, bruised, or bleeding; looks twisted or deformed; and is painful, tender hard to move, and stiff within a half hour after the injury. It may be dislocated, broken, o ryou may have chipped a bone or torn soft tissue around the elbow.
• Compression injury. You have pain in your elbow and numbness and tingling in your fourth and fifth fingers. You’ve been repeatedly leaning your elbow on a hard surface, such as a desk, or the handlebars of a bicycle. You may have damaged your ulnar nerve, which passes under your elbow at a spot commonly referred to as the “ funny bone.” Try not to lean on your elbow, and use a protective pad when you do.
• Tennis elbow. You have pain in the outer part of your elbow and upper forearm after repeatedly rolling or twisting the forearm, wrist, and hand (e.g., playing tennis or using a screwdriver or wrench). Try self-care and prevention measures.

Self-Care Measures

• For the first 48 hours: Apply ice packs(20 minutes on, 20 minutes off). Rest your elbow, using a sling if needed. Avoid stress or strain on the joint. Try an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory pain reliever such as ibuprofen.
• After 48 hour: Begin carefully moving your elbow through its range of motion every hour or so. Ask your nurse information service or doctor about elbow exercises.

Prevention

• Ask your nurse information service or doctor abut exercises that will strengthen your forearm and shoulder.
• Use the proper equipment, posture, and movement or repetitive-motion activities (e.g., typing, using a screwdriver, playing golf or tennis, or pitching a baseball.)
• For tennis elbow: Ask an instructor to correct your backhand; reduce your hours of play; warm up before playing; apply ice after a game; and use tennis-elbow strap. Try ibuprofen an hour before and 6 hours after playing.