Solutions for Elbow Pain

To understand elbow pain it's helpful to know how the elbow works. The elbow is a joint in the middle of the arm where three long bones meet: the humerus (upper arm), the ulna (inner forearm) and the radius (outer forearm). The elbow is a hinge joint that allows the elbow to rotate.

Causes of Elbow Pain

• Most elbow pain isn't serious and can be cured with simple home remedies. But because we use the elbow so much, elbow pain can be...uh, well...a pain. The pain is generally caused by overuse. According to the Mayo Clinic, "these may be sports-related or the result of activities and professions that require repetitive hand, wrist or arm movements. Elbow pain is sometimes due to arthritis, but in general," reports the Mayo Clinic, "your elbow joint is much less prone to wear-and-tear damage than other joints are. The elbow can be affected by inflammation of the tendons or the bursae or conditions that affect the bones and joints, such as fractures, arthritis or nerve irritation."

Causes & Solutions

• There are several specific causes of elbow pain, too, including:
  • Lateral epicondylitis, also known as tennis elbow. And before you ask, yes you can get this even if you don't play tennis. The lateral epicondyle is the outside bony portion of the elbow. Large tendons attach to this point of the elbow and when those tendons are injured, the tendons become inflamed and pain results. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons reports that the tendons can be injured through "work or recreational activities that require repetitive and vigorous use of the forearm muscle. Some common activities that lead to epicondylitis include tennis (groundstrokes), racquetball, squash, fencing, meat cutting, plumbing, painting, raking, or weaving." Tennis elbow can be treated with icepacks, rest and/or anti-inflammatory medication such as ibuprofen.
  • Medial epicondylitis, or golfer's elbow, occurs when the tendons of the forearm attached to the inner elbow become inflamed. The Mayo Clinic states that "activities which require twisting or straining the forearm tendon can elicit pain and worsen the condition. X-rays for epicondylitis are usually normal but can indicate calcifications of the tendons if the tendinitis has persisted for extended periods of time." Treatment for golfer's elbow, which can occur with other repetitive motions, is ice packs and medications like aspirin or ibuprofen. And, also, staying off the golf course.

  • Olecranon bursitis is inflammation of the bursa at the tip of the elbow. This can flare up after an injury or trauma, infection, prolonged pressure or other medical conditions like rheumatoid arthritis. Depending on the cause, the treatment for olecranon bursitis can be removing the fluid from the elbow, antibiotics, icepacks or in some cases, surgery.

Other Causes

• Other reasons for elbow pain include, fractures, sprains and arthritis. But for any unusual elbow pain, you should consult your doctor.