Bursitis Elbow Pain and Treatment

The inflammation of bursa in the elbow causes bursitis elbow pain. The fluid filling the sac is called bursa. The bursa acts as a cushion between a tendon and the bone.

Tendon

A tendon is a cord which connects bones to the muscles. Elbow bursa is located right under the elbow. Bursae is the plural of the bursa. The human body contains in a total of 160 bursae.

Causes of Bursitis Elbow Pain

These are the common causes of bursitis elbow pain.

Medical Conditions

There are several different medical conditions causing bursitis elbow symptoms. Medical conditions are one of the many bursitis elbow symptoms potentially behind the problem. Two of the medical conditions associated with bursitis elbow pain include gout and arthritis.

Infection

The injury to the tip of the elbow can break the skin, which can cause swelling. Swelling elbow pain may eventually cause infection. Swelling elbow pain, if left untreated, can lead to bacteria getting into the bursa sac. A swelled bursa can cause pain, or produce bursa fluids. If you have elbow pain, you need to get swelling elbow treatment before it turns into pus.

Pressure

Sometimes, patients unintentionally lean on their elbow for a long time without realizing the impacts. When we lean on our elbow on hard surfaces, it can cause the bursa to swell. Usually, it takes a few months before this type of elbow bursitis develops. Some professions that demand exhaustive physical activity can result in elbow bursitis.

Trauma

Sometimes, a hard blow to the elbow can also make bursa create extra fluid, resulting in swelling and pain.

Bursitis Elbow Symptoms

These are some of the common bursitis elbow symptoms.

  • Swelling elbow pain is the first common symptom.
  • Loose skin at the back of the elbow.
  • Increase in pain when pressure is applied on the elbow.
  • Red and warm elbow indicates growing elbow bursa.

Bursitis Elbow Treatments

Non-Surgical Methods of Bursitis Elbow Treatment

  • The orthopedic surgeon may use a needle for removing extra fluid caused by swelled elbow.
  • The doctor may prescribe anti-inflammation and pain-reducing medicines to the patient.
  • Antibiotics are sometimes prescribed to help overcome elbow infection.
  • Elbow pads are used to cushion the elbow.
  • Your orthopedic doctor may also recommend changes in your physical activities until your elbow injury improves with the passage of time.

Surgical Methods of Bursitis Elbow Treatment

  • The use of surgery to remove the infected elbow bursa.
  • Surgery to remove the non-infected bursa if the non-surgical ways of treating elbow pain have failed.

Recovery

The recovery from an elbow treatment surgery takes time. You must follow your orthopedic doctor’s instructions carefully to facilitate recovery.

Physical therapy is recommended depending on the type of treatment chosen by the orthopedic surgeon. It may take from a 2 to 4 weeks before the patient has fully recovered from their elbow injury.