Elbow Pain
Elbow Pain
Elbow pain is very common and can occur after trauma or seemingly for no reason whatsoever. In most cases, this is nothing serious and will usually settle within 6-8 weeks. There are a variety of causes for elbow pain.
People commonly describe pain on the outer or inner aspect of the elbow around the bony protuberances. You may also experience stiffness and pain that is more global around the elbow.
Sometimes, symptoms such as tingling or numbness may be felt in the arm and this can be a sign that a nerve is being irritated. We would recommend seeking an appointment sooner if this is the case, so that checks can be carried out on how the nerves are working. Mode Physiotherapy can carry out appropriate assessment to help diagnose your problem.
For more information about elbow pain, click on the sections below.
Important symptoms to monitor
We would advise a more urgent assessment with Mode Physiotherapy is you experience
- Pins & needles or numbness
- Loss of power into the hand or arm
- Inability to complete fine skills such as doing up buttons on clothes.
- If you develop a red, hot and swollen joint while also feeling unwell, seek medical attention urgently.
Do I need a scan?
Carrying out routine scans is not required in most cases. Around 95% of scans will show normal age related and coincidental findings which may not be related to your symptoms. An assessment by a physiotherapist will be able to determine if you require a scan.
At Mode Physiotherapy we have access to private MRI facilities and have a vast amount of experience in referring for MRI investigations.
Are there things I should avoid?
There is nothing that you should avoid when having elbow pain, but you do need to listen to your symptoms and adjust your activities accordingly.
It is important to keep moving as much as possible. There may be some activities that are painful, but this doesnt mean that is it causing you any damage. One of our physiotherapists will be able to work with you to get you back doing the activities you enjoy.
Should I take pain relief?
It is important to discuss pain relief with your local pharmacist or GP. If your pain levels are better controlled, this will enable you to keep more active and by keeping active it will help to maintain your strength and movement. This approach could lead to a quicker recovery.
Mode Physiotherapy will be able to advise if you need to discuss pain relief with your GP or Pharmacist.
How can Mode Physiotherapy help with my elbow pain?
At Mode Physiotherapy we have extensive experience in managing a variety of elbow pain disorders, such as:
Muscle Injuries
Ligament Injuries
Osteoarthritis
Tennis Elbow
Golfers Elbow
One of our physiotherapist will be able to help diagnose the cause of your elbow pain as well as provide advice and guidance on ways to manage it. Often this will include a combination of hands on treatment and a tailored rehabilitation programme.
