Why Do I Have Elbow Pain When Bending? We Unlock the Answers
Your elbow is feeling fine.
At least, you thought it was. But then you bend it, you feel a sharp, stabbing pain. You need a solution fast because elbow pain when bending can hinder your ability to perform even the simplest day-to-day tasks.
Many people aren’t aware of how vital the elbow is for daily activity until they experience elbow pain when bending,“We see these injuries often in our patients who frequently use the gym or participate in sports like golf or tennis. Fortunately, most of these conditions do not require surgery, and we provide timely and effective treatment.
If elbow pain is continually hampering your function, we urge you to schedule an appointment with us.
We’ll provide some useful tips on how to relieve elbow pain as well as the most common causes.
Why Does My Elbow Hurt While Bending It?
There are several causes of elbow pain when bending, and our board-certified orthopedic surgeons in Raleigh will carefully examine you, taking into account your medical history, activities and any recent injuries you may have had. It’s only by getting a complete picture of your current health that we can craft a specially tailored treatment plan for you.
Following are some of the most common causes of elbow pain we see in our office:
Elbow Bursitis
Your bursa is a fluid-filled sac that cushions your bones. When it becomes inflamed, it causes elbow bursitis, causing swelling, pain and redness.
Elbow Tendonitis
This causes inner elbow pain that occurs when your tendons have been damaged—most often by overuse. It’s common to see in sports or jobs that require repetitive motions. There are different types of elbow tendonitis including:
- Tennis elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis), which causes inflammation on the outer elbow.
- Golfer’s elbow (Medial Epicondylitis), which causes inner elbow pain as the result of tendonitis.
Trauma
Accidents or injuries can lead to chronic elbow pain. If you have a severe injury, it’s important to get medical attention immediately.
How to Relieve Elbow Pain With Help From Our Orthopedic Surgeons in Raleigh
As we mentioned earlier, most elbow pain can be easily managed without surgery. In fact, there are some effective home remedies we frequently recommend to our patients.
These include:
- Over-the-counter medication
- Heat therapy
- Specialized stretching exercises
- Platelet-rich plasma injections
We highly recommend working with our professional, in-house physical therapists who can provide detailed exercises that can help restore function and reduce pain.
Will I Need Surgery for My Elbow Pain?
That depends upon how successful nonsurgical techniques are. Our orthopedic surgeons in Raleigh take a conservative approach to surgery. This means we will not recommend elbow surgery unless it is absolutely necessary and nonsurgical methods have failed to provide relief.
With a Long-Standing Tradition of Excellence, See Why the Bone and Joint Surgery Clinic in Raleigh Is the Area’s Premier Practice
We have earned our reputation of excellence through providing compassionate, state-of-the-art care for the community for more than 50 years. With board-certified orthopedic surgeons and advanced techniques such as arthroscopic surgery, PRP and advanced imaging.
Don’t let elbow pain keep you from the activities you love. Contact us for an appointment today.
The content within this article and others on this website is only for educational purposes and should not be considered medical advice. For any questions or concerns, please consult with your healthcare provider.
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American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, “Elbow (Olecranon) Bursitis,” https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases–conditions/elbow-olecranon-bursitis/
Cleveland Clinic, “Elbow Pain,” https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/elbow-pain
