Epicondylitis of the elbow joint - symptoms and treatment

People engaged in heavy or monotonous physical labor often face the problem of epicondylitis of the elbow joint.

We will understand what the features of this disease are, what symptoms are characteristic for him and why it arises.

And most importantly - how to treat and prevent epicondylitis of the elbow joint.

What is epicondylitis?

Epicondylitis of the elbow joint is an inflammatory disease that occurs in the elbow area. It matters, in which place inflammation is observed.

Proceeding from this, it is customary to distinguish two varieties:

• interior;
• external.

It is important to understand that the disease is secondary.

Causes of the disease

The exact causes of epicondylitis of the elbow joint are not known to physicians. At the same time, the category of people who are more prone to such a problem is determined.

To them it is customary to include:

• designers of clothes;
• athletes;
• builders - painters and plasterers;
• workers involved in agriculture - tractor drivers, milkmaids and others.

A problem can arise if a person often performs uniform bending and unbending of the elbow joint, and at the same time the arm is loaded. Thus, most often the problem is faced by the hand that is dominant. So, in the case of right-handers, this is the right one.

Symptoms

Manifestations of the disease are characterized by a mild expression. Most often, inflammatory processes occur the appearance of pain. At the initial stage they are not very expressive. The pain is noisy and localized.

Appear pain can after the limb, which is affected, is loaded. There is no pain if the elbow is free and does not perform flexion and extension. This is the distinguishing feature of injuries.

If the disease is long enough, the pain can be present for an extended period of time. In some cases, this occurs even for months.Do not treat epicondylitis of the elbow joint with antibiotics alone, all actions should be approved by the doctors.

Diagnostics

Physicians for the disease practice the appropriate methods of diagnosis. To them, above all, is the performance of physical research. The task before doctors is to carry out anamnesis. It is necessary to conduct several tests - functional and motor tests. In the future, this will open the possibility of accurately diagnosing the patient.

In some cases, it becomes necessary to clarify the conclusion, and it may also be necessary to differentiate with other conditions that involve the inflammation of the joints. In this case, the appointment of an ultrasound is practiced, there may be a need for radiographic examination.

Methods of treatment

Treatment of epicondylitis of the elbow joint will, first of all, relieve the pain, and then remove the inflammation. At the initial stage, immobilization of the hand is performed.

When the disease is practiced conservative therapy. If it is an external therapy, the epicondylitis of the elbow joint ointment is used as a means of anesthetizing and treating.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed. Their use helps reduce inflammation and pain. Practice is the appointment of phonophoresis and electrophoresis with anesthetics. If the nature of the disease is vertebral, a therapeutic treatment is prescribed.

Physiotherapy methods are widely used.These include reflexotherapy and magnetotherapy. Sometimes doctors prescribe cryotherapy (applying special compresses). Modern methods include laser therapy and microcurrent therapy.

Progressive methods include the method of shock wave therapy. The essence of the method lies in the impact of sound pulses. This results in the restoration of tissues that have been damaged.

Along with conservative methods of treatment, the use of various folk methods is practiced. Today, there are many popular recipes that are practiced in the presence of this disease. But non-traditional medicine is not capable of curing epicondylitis, it can only be an addition to the main course of treatment.

A good effect is self-massage (subject to regular execution and massing of the necessary areas). Also, doctors recommend taking special baths. When in warm water, blood supply and lymph flow improve.

If the positive dynamics are not observed within a year, physicians are assigned surgical intervention. The operation involves a surgical incision, less often a puncture.

Following the operation is a period of recovery (rehabilitation) for a period of at least six months. At this time, you can not actively engage in sports and work hard. The doctor selects a special set of exercises for developing the elbow with a gradual increase in the load on the joint.

Prevention of the development of the disease

As already mentioned, about the heavy, monotonous work, which is accompanied by the monotonous movements of the hands (flexion and extension of the elbow), there is a risk of injury to the elbow joint. To prevent this, it is not necessary to change jobs (or quit playing sports).

It is important to follow several rules:

1. If you feel tired - rest. Reasonably alternate work with rest.
2. Really evaluate your capabilities - do not carry too heavy loads alone.
3. Be careful not to injure yourself in production.
4. While engaged in mobile sports, use protective sports equipment (elbow pads).

When there is pain in the elbow area, consult a doctor immediately, because the epicondylitis is much easier to treat at the initial stage. Be healthy!