Everyone has had a minor elbow injury. You may have bumped your "funny bone" at the back of your elbow, causing shooting numbness and pain. The funny-bone sensation can be intense, but it is not serious and will go away on its own. Maybe your elbow has become sore after activity. Elbow injuries can be minor or serious and may include symptoms such as pain, swelling, numbness, tingling, weakness, or decreased range of motion. Home treatment often can help relieve minor aches and pains.
Injuries are the most common cause of elbow pain. Some people may not recall having had a specific injury, especially if symptoms began gradually or during everyday activities. To better understand elbow injuries, you may want to review the structure and function of the elbow. See an illustration of the elbow.
Elbow injuries occur most commonly during:
- Sports or recreational activities.
- Work-related tasks.
- Work or projects around the home.
Most elbow injuries in children occur during activities, such as sports or play, or are the result of accidental falls. The risk for injury is higher in contact sports such as wrestling, football, or soccer, or high-speed sports such as biking, in-line skating, skiing, snowboarding, or skateboarding. Elbows, forearms, wrists, hands, and fingers are the most affected body areas. Any injury in a child or adolescent that occurs near a joint may injure the growing end (growth plate) of long bones and needs to be evaluated.
Older adults have a higher risk for injuries and fractures because they lose muscle mass and bone strength (osteoporosis) as they age. They also have more problems with vision and balance, which increase their risk for accidental injury.
Sudden (acute) injury
An acute injury may be caused by a direct blow, penetrating injury, or fall; or by twisting, jerking, jamming, or bending an elbow abnormally. Pain may be sudden and severe. Bruising and swelling may develop soon after the injury. Acute injuries include:
- Bruises from a tear or rupture of small blood vessels under the skin. See an illustration of a bruise (contusion).
- Injuries to ligaments, the ropelike fibers that connect bones to bones around joints.
- Injuries to tendons that connect muscles to bones.
- Injuries to joints (sprains) that stretch or tear the ligaments.
- Pulled muscles (strains) caused by overstretching muscles.
- Muscle tears or ruptures, such as your biceps or triceps in your upper arm.
- Broken bones (fractures) of the upper arm bone (humerus) or the forearm bones (ulna or radius) at the elbow joint.
- Dislocations of the elbow joint (out of its normal position). See an illustration of a dislocated elbow.
Overuse injuries occur when too much stress is placed on a joint or other tissue, often by overdoing an activity or through repetition of an activity. Overuse injuries include:
- Bursitis . Swelling behind the elbow may be olecranon bursitis (Popeye elbow).
- Tendinosis, which is a series of microtears in the
connective tissue in or around the tendon.
- Soreness or pain felt on the outside (lateral) part of the elbow may be tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis). This is the most common type of tendinopathy that affects the elbow and most often is caused by overuse of the forearm muscles. This overuse may occur during sports, such as tennis, swimming, golf, and sports involving throwing; jobs, such as carpentry or plumbing; or daily activities, such as lifting objects or gardening.
- Soreness or pain in the inner (medial) part of the elbow may be golfer's elbow. In children who participate in sports that involve throwing, the same elbow pain may be described as Little Leaguer's elbow.
- Ulnar nerve compression, which is the pinching of the ulnar nerve near the elbow joint. This usually occurs with repeated motions.
An infection of the elbow may cause pain, redness, swelling, warmth, fever, chills, pus, or swollen lymph nodes in the armpit on that side of your body. "Shooter's abscess" is an infection commonly seen in people who inject illegal drugs into the veins of their arms.
Treatment for an elbow injury may include first aid measures; application of a brace, splint, or cast; physical therapy; medicines; and in some cases, surgery. Treatment depends on:
- The location, type, and severity of the injury.
- How long ago the injury occurred.
- Your age, health condition, and activities, such as work, sports, or hobbies.
Use the Check Your Symptoms section to decide if and when you should see a doctor.
Most minor injuries will heal on their own, and home treatment is usually all that is needed to relieve your symptoms and promote healing. However, if you suspect you have a more severe injury, use first aid measures while you arrange for an evaluation by your doctor.
First aid for a suspected broken bone
- If a bone is sticking out of your skin, do not try to push it back into your skin. It is better to leave the bone alone and cover the area with a clean bandage.
- Control bleeding from your injury.
- Remove all rings, bracelets, watches, or any other jewelry from the injured arm immediately. It may be difficult to remove the jewelry if swelling occurs, which in turn can cause other serious problems, such as nerve compression or restricted blood flow.
- Splint your injured arm without trying to straighten it. Loosen the wrap around the splint if you develop signs that indicate the wrap is too tight, such as numbness, tingling, increased pain, swelling, or cool skin below the wrap. A problem called compartment syndrome can develop.
If a cast or splint is applied, it is important to keep it dry and to try to move the uninjured part of your arm as normally as possible to help maintain muscle strength and tone. Your doctor will give you instructions on how to care for your cast or splint.
Home treatment for a minor injury
Home treatment may help relieve pain, swelling, and stiffness.
- Remove all rings, bracelets, watches, or any other jewelry that goes around your wrist or fingers of the injured arm. It will be more difficult to remove the jewelry later if swelling increases.
- Use rest, ice, compression, and elevation (RICE) to treat pain and swelling.
- Wear a sling for the first 48 hours after the injury, if it makes you more comfortable and supports the injured area. If you feel you need to use a sling for more than 48 hours, discuss your symptoms with your doctor.
- An elbow support, such as an elbow sleeve, forearm wrap, or arm sling, may help rest your elbow joint, relieve stress on your forearm muscles, and protect your joint during activity. A counterforce brace may be helpful for tennis elbow symptoms. Follow the manufacturer's directions for using the brace.
- Gently massage or rub the area to relieve pain and encourage blood flow. Do not massage the injured area if it causes pain.
- For the first 48 hours after an injury, avoid things that might increase swelling, such as hot showers, hot tubs, hot packs, or alcoholic beverages.
- After 48 to 72 hours, if swelling is gone, apply heat and begin gentle exercise with the aid of moist heat to help restore and maintain flexibility. Some experts recommend alternating between hot and cold treatments.
- If applying ice to your elbow does not reduce the swelling, talk with your doctor about hydrocortisone gel treatments (phonophoresis) with a physical therapist.
- Start exercises using
the MSA process (gentle exercise). MSA stands for movement, strength, and
- Movement. Resume a full range of motion as soon as possible after an injury. After 24 to 48 hours of rest, begin moving the injured area. Stop any activity if it causes pain and give the injured area more rest. Gentle stretching will prevent the formation of scar tissue that may decrease movement.
- Strength. Once the swelling is gone and range of motion is restored, begin gradual efforts to strengthen the injured area. Hand grip exercises can help you regain elbow strength. Using a small ball, such as an old tennis ball, squeeze the ball 20 to 25 times holding each squeeze for about 5 seconds. After 2 to 3 weeks of hand grip exercises, you may begin forearm exercises of extending or bending the elbow.
- Alternate activities. After the first few days but while the injury is still healing, slowly add in regular exercise, such as activities or sports that do not place a strain on the injured area. If certain activities cause pain, stop doing those activities but continue doing your other exercises.
- Do not smoke or use other tobacco products. Smoking slows healing because it decreases blood supply and delays tissue repair. For more information, see the topic Quitting Smoking.
|Try a nonprescription medicine to help treat your fever or pain:|
Talk to your child’s doctor before switching back and forth between doses of acetaminophen and ibuprofen. When you switch between two medicines, there is a chance your child will get too much medicine.
|Be sure to follow these safety tips when you use a nonprescription medicine:|
Symptoms to Watch For During Home Treatment
Use the Check Your Symptoms section to evaluate your symptoms if any of the following occur during home treatment:
- Pain or swelling develops.
- Signs of infection develop.
- Numbness, tingling, or cool, pale, skin develops.
- Symptoms do not improve with home treatment.
- Symptoms become more severe or more frequent.
The following tips may prevent elbow problems or injuries.
General prevention tips
- Wear your seat belt when you travel in a motor vehicle.
- Do not use alcohol or other drugs before participating in sports or when operating a motor vehicle or other equipment.
- Don't carry objects that are too heavy.
- Use a step stool. Do not stand on chairs or other unsteady objects.
- Wear protective gear during sports or recreational activities, such as roller-skating or soccer. Supportive splints may reduce your risk for injury.
- Stretch before and after physical exercise, sports, or recreational activities to warm up your muscles.
- Do stretching and range-of-motion (ROM) exercises with your fingers and wrist to prevent stiffening of the tendons that affect your elbows. Gently bend, straighten, and rotate your wrist. If you have any pain, stop the exercises.
- Use the correct techniques (movements) or positions during activities so that you do not strain your muscles.
- Avoid overusing your arm doing repeated movements that can injure your bursa or tendons. In daily routines or hobbies, examine activities in which you make repeated arm movements.
- Take lessons to learn the proper technique for sports. Have a trainer or person who is familiar with sports equipment check your equipment to see if it is well suited for your level of ability, body size, and body strength.
- If you feel that activities at your workplace are causing pain or soreness from overuse, call your human resources department for information on alternative ways of doing your job or to discuss equipment modifications or other job assignments.
Preventing falls will help you to avoid elbow injuries. To prevent falls:
- Remove obstacles, such as electrical cords or clutter, from your walking paths around your home. See other tips to prevent falls of adults.
- Use stair gates to block stairways if you have babies or toddlers in your home. See other tips to prevent falls of babies and toddlers.
Keep bones strong
- Eat a nutritious diet that includes enough calcium and vitamin D, which helps your body absorb calcium. Calcium is found in dairy products, such as milk, cheese, and yogurt; dark green, leafy vegetables, such as broccoli; and other foods.
- Exercise and stay active. Talk to your doctor about an exercise program that is right for you. Begin slowly, especially if you have been inactive. For more information, see the topic Fitness.
- Don't drink more than 2 alcoholic drinks a day if you are a man, or 1 alcoholic drink a day if you are a woman. People who drink more than this have a higher risk for weakening bones (osteopenia). Alcohol use also increases your risk of injuries related to falls.
- Do not smoke or use other tobacco products. Smoking puts you at a much higher risk for developing osteoporosis. It also interferes with blood supply and healing. For more information, see the topic Quitting Tobacco Use.
- Cut down on caffeine. Caffeine in coffee and soda pop may increase calcium loss from your body and increase your risk for osteoporosis.
Injuries such as bruises, burns, fractures, cuts, or punctures may be a sign of abuse. Suspect possible abuse when an injury cannot be explained or does not match the explanation, repeated injuries occur, or the explanations for the cause of the injury change. You may be able to prevent further abuse by reporting it and seeking help.
Preparing For Your Appointment
To prepare for your appointment, see the topic Making the Most of Your Appointment.
You can help your doctor diagnose and treat your condition by being prepared to answer the following questions:
- What are your main symptoms?
- How long have you had your symptoms?
- How and when did the injury occur? How was it treated?
- Have you ever had any injuries to the same area? Do you have any ongoing problems because of the previous injury?
- What activities related to sports, work, or your lifestyle make your symptoms better or worse?
- What home treatment measures have you tried? Did home treatment help?
- What prescription and nonprescription medicines have you tried? Did they help?
- Do you have any health risks?
|Author||Jan Nissl, RN, BS|
|Editor||Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA|
|Associate Editor||Tracy Landauer|
|Primary Medical Reviewer||William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine|
|Primary Medical Reviewer||Martin Gabica, MD - Family Medicine|
|Specialist Medical Reviewer||H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine|
|Specialist Medical Reviewer||William H. Blahd, Jr., MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine|
|Last Updated||February 19, 2009|
Last Updated: February 19, 2009