The elbow can be injured in varieties of ways. Let us discuss the various ways in this article. We will talk about how an elbow injury doctor treats different elbow conditions. Elbows injuries are mostly experienced by athletes. People who do not engage in sports injure their elbows too.
Some people experience elbow pain due to traumatic causes. The elbow gets damaged sometimes due to overuse or occupational hazards.
Types of common elbow ailments
Now, there are various types of elbow injuries that one can suffer from. These include:
Pitcher’s Elbow
Pitcher’s elbow is a form of elbow injury caused by undue throwing motions commonly seen in some contact sports like baseball. Pitcher’s elbow causes pain and inflammation. It also interferes with elbow’s movement, which often hinders the performance of the injured athlete.
It is not a serious condition. One can sort this out easily through rest and other conservative treatments. Conservative management often includes the application of ice to the injured site. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs could also be used to relieve pain.
Baseball Elbow
This is a type of elbow injury that occurs cumulatively. It happens due to long term overuse and repeated use of the elbow. This type of elbow injury is commonly found in people that play baseball and golf. The tendons of muscles that attach to the elbow begin to degenerate.
It causes pain often initially at the elbow. It is then felt at the forearm later on. The kind of pain felt has been reported to be throbbing and aching. The injury can also be well managed through conservative treatments. Rest and application of ice are crucial at the early stage of treatment.
Tennis Elbow
Tennis elbow is the degeneration of the tendon that attaches to the lateral epicondyle (the bony lump outside your elbow). When the muscles in the forearm are strained, it can lead to tearing and inflammation near the bony lump. The small tears cause pain at the elbow. It is a fairly common injury among tennis athletes. It is caused by overusing the elbow for repeated and strenuous activities.
Tennis elbow can occur when someone starts suddenly engaging in activities the forearm muscles are not familiar with. This type of elbow can successfully be well treated with none surgical procedures. Rest, physiotherapy management, and appropriate medications can help.
Elbow Fracture
Fracture is defined as a complete or partial break in a bone. The causes include trauma, disease, repeated overuse of a bone. A bone fracture can also occur when excessive force is being applied to it. The classical symptom of fracture is pain. The elbow joint is made up of three different bones; humerus, radius and ulna.
If any of these 3 bones get damaged, it would lead to serious pain and instability. Elbow fractures are often well managed by orthopaedic doctors. They employ the use of splints to immobilize the injured part. They also prescribe the right medications.
Physical therapy intervention is also very crucial at the rehabilitation phase of fracture. Physiotherapy intervention helps with pain and muscle weakness. If the fracture is complex or comminated, surgery procedures might be needed to fix the damage.
Conclusion
If elbow injury is left untreated, it might lead to many other complications that are difficult to treat or manage. We hope that this article gave you a clearer perspective about different types of elbow injuries that you can face.
If you are experiencing elbow pain due to trauma or some other reasons, it is important to see an orthopedic elbow specialist. Make sure that you are only going to the best clinic for treatment, otherwise you will not get the results that you want.