Elbow complaints are frequently the result of overuse. Nerve compression and wear can also cause pain.
An overview of the conditions affecting the Elbow, each with information on how they develop, on diagnosis and on treatment. These texts do not replace a medical consultation — in the case of symptoms, we will determine the individually appropriate treatment together.
Pain in the elbow is frequently the result of overuse — for example through repetitive movements at work or during sport. However, nerve compression syndromes and wear of the joint can also cause elbow pain. A precise assessment of the cause is the basis for targeted treatment. In the following you will find the most important conditions of the elbow region.
Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) and golfer's elbow (medial epicondylitis) are painful irritations of the tendon insertions at the elbow, caused by overuse. In tennis elbow, the insertion of the forearm extensor muscles on the outer side of the elbow is affected; in golfer's elbow, the insertion of the forearm flexor muscles on the inner side. Despite their names, the conditions are by no means caused only by these sports — everyday or work-related strain is far more often the trigger.
Clinically, both conditions are characterised by pain over the affected tendon insertion, which increases with strain and on pressure. In tennis elbow, gripping and lifting movements in particular are painful; the pain can radiate into the forearm.
The diagnosis is made primarily clinically. Imaging — ultrasound or MRI — serves to assess the tendon tissue and to rule out other causes; an X-ray can show bony changes.
In the foreground is conservative therapy. This includes, above all, relieving the affected tendon insertion, physiotherapy with specific stretching and strengthening exercises, and pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory measures.
Supplementary measures such as shock-wave therapy, an epicondylitis brace or local infiltrations can relieve symptoms.
Only in cases where the symptoms persist over a long period despite consistent conservative treatment is a surgical procedure considered, in which the altered tissue at the tendon insertion is treated.
Elbow osteoarthritis refers to wear of the elbow joint, in which the cartilage covering the joint surfaces is increasingly worn down. It can be a consequence of previous injuries, of chronic overuse or of inflammatory joint disease. Typical features are load-dependent pain, restricted movement — particularly when fully extending and bending — and at times a grinding sensation in the joint.
In the early stages, elbow osteoarthritis is treated conservatively — with physiotherapy to maintain mobility, pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory measures and, where appropriate, local infiltrations. If the symptoms severely limit quality of life and conservative measures are exhausted, a surgical procedure may be considered. We will be glad to advise you individually at the practice on the options suitable for you.
Cubital tunnel syndrome is a compression syndrome of the ulnar nerve at the elbow. At this point the nerve runs in a bony groove on the inner side of the elbow — the spot many people know as the “funny bone”. If the nerve is compressed or irritated there, characteristic symptoms arise.
Typical features are tingling and numbness in the little finger and the adjacent half of the ring finger. As the condition progresses, weakness of the hand muscles and a loss of strength when gripping can occur. The symptoms are often particularly pronounced at night or when the elbow is bent for a long time. In addition to the clinical examination, a measurement of nerve conduction velocity helps to confirm the diagnosis and assess its severity.
In mild cases, conservative measures — such as avoiding prolonged bending of the elbow and night-time positioning — can relieve the symptoms. If the symptoms are pronounced or persistent, or if there are already signs of muscle weakness, a surgical procedure that relieves the nerve is advisable. The exact approach is discussed individually at the practice.
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