There can be a number of conditions and diseases which can cause pain to the elbow joint. Most people associate chronic joint pain with arthritis, but remember to always consult your doctor to determine the correct cause of elbow joint pain. One of the more common causes is bursitis-a painful disease that affects many people each year, which is caused by direct trauma or overuse of joints.
When the bursa is injured, the sac no longer releases the fluid and your joints begin to rub against each other, which causes friction resulting in pain.
What Is Bursitis?
A bursa is a small sac filled with fluid. When functioning normally, the bursa releases fluid which lubricates the joints and allows them to glide smoothly. When the bursa is injured, the sac no longer releases the fluid and your joints begin to rub against each other, which causes friction resulting in pain.
Elbow Joint Pain
Although you cannot feel it, the elbow bursa is located behind your elbow, over the pointed tip. Bursitis to the elbow is referred to as olecranon (oh-LEK-rah-non) bursitis. This is normally a result of repetitive movement or prolonged, excessive pressure to the area. People who perform repetitive activities that stress the elbow joints such as tennis players or construction workers have been commonly known to develop this condition.
High Risk Factors
There are a number of medical conditions which place people at higher risk for bursitis:
- Diabetes
- Alcoholism
- Steroid therapy
- Trauma
- Uremia
- Skin disease
How to Treat Bursitis
There are several methods for the treatment of bursitis pain, ranging from home rest to surgery. Physicians normally start with conservative and least extreme therapy and move on to one of the more aggressive treatment if the problem and pain remain.
R.I.C.E. Therapy: Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation therapy is the most common and widely recommended treatment for bursitis pain sufferers. Depending on the situation and the degree of severity of your elbow joint pain, R.I.C.E therapy may or may not be successful.
Steroids: Your doctor can prescribe medications to reduce the pain and swelling. Corticosteroids, which can be directly injected into the affected area, are recommended because they attack the problem and relieve the symptoms faster. However prolong and excessive use of painkillers can have long term side effects.
Joint Therapy/Exercises: Your medical doctor may recommend some form of physical therapy or at home exercise program to strengthen certain muscles groups. There may be a combination treatment of offering a corticosteroid injection with therapy, which may offer immediate pain relief.
Medications: NSAIDs-Anti-inflammatory medications such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen may be helpful in relieving bursitis pain.
In some cases, the bursa fluid may have to be aspirated or removed with a needle and syringe.
Antibiotics - In cases of infectious bursitis, fluid is collected for lab analysis and antibiotics will be required to treat the infection. Depending on the severity of your situation, intravenous antibiotics may be necessary.
Alternative Medicine – On the market there are is a wide range of all-natural supplements available such as Celadrin, which has been known to promote and increase joint health and has shown excellent results in clinical studies.
Invasive Treatments:
In some cases, the bursa fluid may have to be aspirated or removed with a needle and syringe. The fluid is then sent to a laboratory for analysis. In some severe or repeat cases of bursitis, surgical drainage and removal of the infected bursa (bursectomy) may be required. In most cases, the joint functions normally after the procedure.
Once the causes of your chronic joint pain are known, the good news is that it can be treated. The first and most important step is getting the proper diagnosis from your physician.
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