Common Causes of Elbow Pain

Elbow pain can often begin as a slight annoyance and worsen over time into pain that affects your mobility and ability to function normally. Overuse of the elbow is often the cause of elbow pain, and with rest it may feel better. When rest doesn’t help, and pain worsens or lasts for weeks or months, it is time to have it checked by a doctor. There are several common causes of elbow pain that may need to be addressed.

Injuries

Injuries to the elbow can happen at any time, and sometimes they are not immediately apparent. If an injury happened accidentally with a simple bump of the elbow or arm, you may not realize right away just how bad the injury is. Bumping the elbow is often very painful at first, even if the injury is not severe. Some common injuries that cause elbow pain include broken bones, dislocation of the joint, sprains, stress fractures, and throwing injuries.

Arthritis

When most people think of arthritis, they think of joints like the knees and the knuckles of the hands. Yet you can have arthritis symptoms in any joint, including the elbow. There are two types of arthritis. Osteoarthritis is a disease that breaks down the joint. Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory joint disease that is actually an autoimmune disorder. Both types of arthritis have several different treatment options.

Other Joint Conditions

Bursitis is a condition in which the joint becomes inflamed. It can sometimes start with an injury, but it may also occur naturally. Another joint condition that can cause elbow pain is trapped nerves. Sometimes, nerves can become trapped in or near the elbow, causing pain and limited mobility in the elbow and the hand of the affected side. These conditions can be treated with simple outpatient surgery.

If you have been experiencing elbow pain for some time and are seeking relief, contact us today for an examination and consultation.