Medial elbow pain, also known as tennis or golfer’s elbow, is caused by activities involving rapid wrist flexion, such as throwing or racquet sports. Ulnar nerve entrapment and other conditions can also cause elbow pain. Treatment includes rest, protection, ice, compression, elevation, medication, and physical therapy.
Tennis elbow is a painful condition caused by activities, often sports, that involve rapid flexion of the wrist. Pain occurs in the medial elbow, the bony area closest to the body, and the proximal or upper forearm. The pain and the condition, also known as golfer’s elbow, both worsen when the wrist is flicked back and forth. Activities involving any type of throwing, weight lifting, golf, racquet sports such as tennis and skiing are the most common causes of medial elbow pain.
Activities that involve movements such as throwing a ball can cause a sprain of the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL). This usually triggers the onset of medial elbow pain, which often increases with continued activity. A doctor’s stress test may show instability in the elbow after such a sprain and traction spurs, and other problems can be identified with an X-ray. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is not usually needed to diagnose a UCL sprain, although the procedure can be used to identify tears in the ligament that can also lead to medial elbow pain.
Medial elbow pain can also be caused by a disorder known as ulnar nerve entrapment. This condition is usually accompanied by forearm pain and pain on the outside of the hand. It can result in a weakened grip, clumsiness, and unusual fatigue. The ulnar nerve becomes tender, and the person’s strength when attempting to pinch with the index finger is noticeably reduced. Many of the culprits for medial elbow pain in general are also responsible for ulnar nerve entrapment.
Other types of elbow pain are also associated with overuse activities involving the elbow. Biceps tendinosis, for example, commonly results from bowling and gymnastics, and bursitis can be the result of activities such as soccer, wrestling, and basketball. Racquet sports can cause problems with triceps tendinosis, lateral tennis elbow, and radial tunnel syndrome. Pitching sports like baseball cause a variety of painful conditions in addition to medial elbow pain. Pronator syndrome, olecranon stress fracture, triceps tendinosis, radiocapitellar chondromalacia, and olecranon impingement are all associated with throwing sports.
Elbow pain caused by injuries from overuse or excessive sporting activity is typically treated by protecting it, letting it rest, applying ice, applying compression, elevating it, taking medications, and participating in physical therapy or modalities (PRICEMM). Protecting the injured elbow from further stress is important, as is controlling the inflammation. Resting the injured elbow, applying ice and compression, and elevating the joint will help reduce the pain. Medications for inflammation and pain may be prescribed, and physical therapy may be required; Sometimes rest and rehabilitation exercises are all that is needed to improve the condition and relieve the pain.
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