Elbow pain can arise with a variety of conditions, including trauma, tendinitis, arthritis, bursitis and joint infection. Home treatment may be appropriate for some types of elbow pain, such as minor bruises and temporary soreness. More serious elbow ailments often require medical intervention. Determining the underlying cause of elbow pain helps determine the appropriate form of treatment.
Rest, Ice and Elevation
Acute elbow pain caused by a minor blow or short-term overuse often responds to home treatment with rest, ice and elevation, notes the National Library of Medicine online encyclopedia MedlinePlus. Application of an ice pack to the elbow for 15 minutes every one to three hours can help reduce pain and swelling during the first few days after an injury. Elevating the elbow above the level of the heart also helps reduce swelling. Resting the elbow by avoiding use of the joint for a few days facilitates healing. An elastic wrap around the elbow can reduce swelling and provide support to the joint during recovery. Elbow pain that persists despite home treatment requires medical evaluation.
Medications
Different types of medications can prove useful for the treatment of various causes of elbow pain. Over-the-counter pain relievers, such as ibuprofen, naproxen and aspirin, often help alleviate the pain of minor elbow injuries and mild forms of elbow tendinitis, bursitis or arthritis. In addition to pain-relieving properties, these drugs have anti-inflammatory activity that can help reduce tissue inflammation and swelling.
Corticosteroid injections are sometimes used to treat elbow tendinitis or osteoarthritis. The Ohio State University Medical Center notes that different types of arthritis can affect the elbow joint, including rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and septic arthritis--an infection of the joint. Prescription anti-inflammatory medication may be helpful for elbow osteoarthritis. Gold-based medications and methotrexate commonly prove useful for rheumatoid arthritis of the elbow. Antibiotics remain the primary form of treatment for septic elbow arthritis.
Physical Therapy
Doctors commonly prescribe physical therapy in conjunction with other forms of treatment to help alleviate elbow pain associated with arthritis, tendinitis and bursitis. Physical therapists teach people with elbow arthritis how to gently overcome painful stiffness and preserve joint mobility.
Elbow tendinitis and bursitis typically occur among people who use the elbow joint in a repetitive motion. Repetitive stress on the tendons and cushioning bursae of the elbow leads to inflammation and pain. After a period of rest, a program of physical therapy can help strengthen the forearm muscles to reduce stress on the elbow tendons, notes the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Physical therapists also teach patients with elbow tendinitis and bursitis how to gently stretch the tendons to help prevent recurrent elbow pain.
References
- MedlinePlus: Elbow Pain
- The Ohio State University Medical Center: Elbow Pain
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons: Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis)
- National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases: Bursitis and Tendinitis
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons: Rheumatoid Arthritis
