Elbow pain

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Pain - elbow

In adults, the following steps can help treat many cases of elbow pain:

• When you first notice the pain, apply ice up to 15 minutes every hour for the first day. Continue to apply ice every 3 to 4 hours for up to 3 days. Wrap the ice in a cloth -- do not apply ice directly to the skin.
• Wrap the elbow with a bandage, such as an ACE bandage. You may need an air splint to keep the elbow immobilized.
• Keep the elbow elevated above your heart, if possible.
• Give the elbow joint complete rest for at least 2 days. DO NOT return to the activity that caused the problem for at least 3 weeks. Then, gradually strengthen the muscles around your elbow. A physical therapist can teach you how to do this.
• While you are resting the joint, take pain relievers such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
• After the initial rest period, you should begin to gradually strengthen the muscles around the elbow through gentle flexibility exercises.

Contact your doctor if:

• You have a prolonged case of tendinitis that doesn't improve with home care.
• The pain is due to a direct elbow injury.
• There is obvious deformity.
• You are unable to use the elbow.
• You have fever or swelling and redness of your elbow.
• A child has elbow pain.

Your doctor will perform a physical examination, including a thorough examination of the elbow, and ask questions such as:

• Are both elbows affected?
• Does the pain shift from the elbow to other joints?
• Is the pain over the outside bony prominence of the elbow?
• Did the pain begin suddenly and severely?
• Did the pain begin slowly and mildly and then get worse?
• Is the pain resolving spontaneously?
• Did the pain begin following an injury?

For chronic tennis elbow, your doctor may prescribe a pain reliever and a corticosteroid injection into the painful area. Usually no more than 3 such injections are performed. Surgery is a last resort.

For arthritis, physical therapy and analgesics may help. For infections, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics.

For bursitis, your doctor may need to drain fluid.

Review Date: 06/08/2005
Reviewed By: Kevin B. Freedman, MD, MSCE, Sports Medicine, Orthopaedic Specialists, Bryn Mawr, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.