Inflammation of the elbow

Inflammation of the elbow can occur due to several causes. Typical symptoms of inflammation of the elbow are local swelling, reddish irritated skin and pain when pressing. An inflammation (mild inflammatory response) is a normal natural response when soft tissues, muscles or tendons become irritated or damaged. When tissue is damaged or irritated, the body will try and increase blood circulation to the area - this leads to pain, local swelling, heat development, reddish skin and pressure soreness. The swelling in the area can also lead to a nerve compression, which we can see in, among other things, by squeezing the median nerve in the elbow or wrist area (eg by Carpal Tunnel Syndrome).

Tip: If you suffer from recurrent elbow problems, consider using Elbow compression support for increased circulation and stability in the affected area.

- Stronger Symptoms Can Mean Greater Damage Mechanism

These symptoms will vary in intensity depending on the damage or irritation in the tissue. It is important to distinguish between inflammation (inflammation) and infection (bacterial or viral infection). We want to emphasize that the vast majority of 'inflammations' are not necessarily exclusively inflammations, but rather a combination of muscle or tendon dysfunction / injury. Please take contact us on our Facebook page if you have any questions or comments.

Causes of inflammation of the elbow

As mentioned, inflammation or inflammation is a natural response from the immune system to repair an injury or irritation. This may occur due to overuse (without sufficient stability muscle to perform the task) or due to minor injuries. Here are some diagnoses that can cause inflammation or inflammation in the elbow:

• Arthritis (Arthritis)
• Osteoarthritis (the pain depends on which joints are affected)
• Golf elbow / medial epicondylite
• Olecranon bursitis (elbow mucus inflammation)
• rheumatism (the pain depends on which joints are affected)
• Tennis elbow / lateral epicondylite

Who is affected by inflammation of the elbow?

Absolutely everyone can be affected by an inflammation in the elbow - as long as the activity or load exceeds what the soft tissue or muscles can withstand. Those who increase their training too quickly, especially in weight training, weightlifting and especially those with a high repetitive load on relevant joints are most exposed - especially if the majority of the load is in the highest layer. Too weak support muscles (forearm, upper arm and shoulder muscles, among other things) in combination with repetitive loads at work or in everyday life can also be a contributing factor to the development of an inflammatory reaction in the elbow.

Olecranon bursitis (elbow mucus inflammation)

Inflammation of the elbow can be very bothersome and can lead to pain and problems also in nearby structures. If an inflammation occurs, you must remember that in most cases it is self-inflicted (a lot of repetitive work with lack of training of supporting muscles for example?), And that you are smart in listening to what the body is trying to tell you. If you do not listen to the pain signals, the condition or structure can be chronically damaged. Our advice is that you seek active treatment (eg chiropractor, physiotherapist or manual therapist) for the problem.

Symptoms of inflammation of the elbow

Pain and symptoms will depend on the extent to which the elbow has an inflammatory reaction. We remind you again that an inflammation and an infection are two completely different things - if you get a severe inflammatory reaction with heat development, fever and pus in the area, then you have an infection, but we will go into more detail in another article. Typical symptoms of inflammation include:

• Local swelling
• Reddish, irritated skin
• Painful when pressed / touched

Diagnosis of inflammation of the elbow

A clinical examination will be based on a history / anamnesis and an examination. This will show reduced movement in the affected area and local pressure soreness. You will not normally need further imaging - but in certain cases it may be relevant with imaging to check if an injury is the cause of the swelling or possibly also blood tests.

Imaging diagnostic examination of inflammation in the elbow (X-ray, MRI, CT or ultrasound)

An X-ray may exclude any fracture of the elbow or arm. One MRI examination can show if there is any damage to tendons or structures in the area. Ultrasound can examine whether there is tendon damage - it can also see if there is fluid accumulation in the area.

Treatment of inflammation of the elbow

The main purpose of treating inflammation in the elbow is to remove any cause of the inflammation and then let the elbow heal itself. As mentioned earlier, an inflammation is a completely natural repair process where the body increases blood circulation to the area to ensure faster healing - unfortunately it is the case that sometimes the body can do a slightly excessive job and it may then be necessary with icing, anti- inflammatory laser and possible use of anti-inflammatory drugs (we remind you that overuse of NSAIDS can lead to reduced repair in the area).

Cold treatment and heat packs can provide pain relief for sore joints and muscles, also in the elbow. One should always try conservative treatment for a long time before resorting to invasive procedures (surgery and surgery), but in some cases this is the only way out. Direct conservative measures can be:

• Physical therapy (treatment of nearby muscles can provide pain relief and increased blood circulation)
• Rest (take a break from what caused the injury)
• Elbow compression support (opens in new window)
• Laser therapy (1)
• needle treatment
• Sports casting / gymnastics
• Shockwave Therapy
• Exercises and stretching (see exercises further down in the article)

Laser therapy has, among other things, a documented effect on tennis elbow (tendonitis on the outside of the elbow).

Self-help against Muscle and Tendon Disorders in the Elbow

• Arnica cream or heat conditioner (many people report some pain relief if they use, for example, arnica cream or heat conditioner)

- Many people use arnica cream for pain due to stiff joints and sore muscles. Click on the image above to read more about how arnica cream can help relieve some of your pain situation.

Exercises for inflammation of the elbow

One should try to cut out too much repetitive exercise if one is afflicted with inflammation in the elbow - at least until the worst has been healed. Replace the heaviest strength training with swimming, elliptical machine or exercise bike. Also make sure that you stretch your wrists, forearms and shoulders, as well as train the shoulder blades as shown in this article. We also recommend that you take a look at these the carpal tunnel exercises.

In the video below, we show you some exercises that can be used for tendonitis in the elbow. You will also find several good exercise programs at our Youtube channel.

VIDEO: Exercises for Tendonitis On The Outside Of The Elbow

NEXT PAGE: - Sore elbow? You should know this!

Sources:
1. Lam et al, 2007. Effects of 904-nm low-level laser therapy in the management of lateral epicondylitis: a randomized controlled trial. Photomed Laser Surg. 2007 Apr; 25 (2): 65-71.

Questions about inflammation of the elbow:

Question: Man, carpenter from Oslo, 22 years old. Inflammation of the right elbow I think, but how can I know if I have elbow inflammation / inflammation of the elbow? Could it have been relevant to go to a chiropractor in Oslo with this e.g. (I live in the center of Oslo)?

In most cases, pain from joints and muscles is misinterpreted as 'inflammation'. This is a simplification of the problem that shifts the responsibility away from the person affected - and which suggests that it is not that person's fault. This is normally not the case - and most people have probably overloaded beyond their means (eg overloaded the area without sufficient support muscles) or done other things before they get such a pain presentation.

The fact is that it is usually due to too little stability muscles, often in combination with stiff and dysfunctional joints. A public health authorized clinician (chiropractor, physiotherapist or manual therapist) will be able to help you diagnose and treat your ailment. If you want a recommendation for a chiropractor in Oslo or more specifically Oslo city center, we are happy to help you with that - get in touch via social media.

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