Elbow Pain

The joint that joins the middle three bones of your arm is called your elbow:

• (Upper arm bone) Humerus
• The inner forearm bone, or ulna
• (Outer forearm bone) Radius

It operates like a hinge, allowing your arm to move forward and backward. Your elbow can also twist inward and outward, which rotates your arm. Numerous other structures close to the elbow are needed to support this complex movement:

• Tendons connect the muscles above and below the elbow, enabling the joint to flex, extend, and rotate the arm.
• Sturdy connective tissue gives the joint flexibility and stability.
• A bursa, a little fluid sac near the end of the elbow, acts as a cushion and guards against injury or agitation to the ligaments, tendons, and joint.
• The area’s blood vessels guarantee that there is always enough blood available for movement.
• Nerves transmit signals that enable the movement you want to happen.

There are numerous ways in which an injury might happen since your elbow’s intricate structures interact to guarantee optimal function. Elbow pain may arise if any of these structures are damaged or wear down.

Typical Reasons for Elbow Pain

Elbow pain can have a variety of reasons. In order to guarantee that you receive the best possible therapy for your ailment, a correct diagnosis is essential.

One-Time Accidents

There’s a chance that the damage you’re experiencing is related to a single incident. Among them are:

• One of your arm bones may break at the joint if you take a hard hit to the elbow. This most frequently happens in catastrophic falls, car accidents, and sports injuries.
• When one of the bones that support this joint is knocked out of alignment, the elbow becomes dislocated. This is a typical injury that occurs when you extend your hand to support yourself after you fall.
• A sprain happens when ligaments are strained or damaged. A strain is brought on by strained or stretched muscles. These injuries happen when your muscles and ligaments are overworked, which happens frequently when lifting large objects or engaging in physical activity.

Wear and Tear Damage

Your elbow may experience severe wear and tear from repetitive actions. These can be quite painful injuries that frequently result from sports or work conditions. Typical instances of injuries caused by repetitive movements include:

• Repetitive movements can cause the bursa that cushions your elbow to fill with fluid and swell, which can cause redness and discomfort. Trauma related to a fall may potentially cause harm to it.
• Overuse of your elbow might cause injury to its tendons. One kind of tendonitis that appears on the outside of the elbow is called “tennis elbow.” “Golfer’s elbow” is a type of tendonitis affecting the inside of the joint.

Additionally, injuries related to pronation and supination (elbow rotation) may arise with repeated use.

Nerve Damage

Nerve damage to the elbow is common. Common types of nerve injuries include:

• Ulnar nerve injury is the cause of cubital tunnel syndrome. It frequently causes burning or numbness down the inner arm that travels to the hand and fingers. In extreme circumstances, hand weakness could occur.
• The symptoms of radial tunnel syndrome include burning and numbness along the outside of the elbow and forearm, which is linked to injury to the radial nerve.