Common Injuries To The Elbow

Did you know that tennis elbow is actually most common in carpenters, plumbers, chefs, and anyone who does high-impact tasks repetitively? If you are suffering from an elbow injury caused by sports, work, age, or an accident, then consider requesting an appointment with the New York Sports Medicine Institute today. As an orthopedic doctor in Ho-Ho-Kus, New Jersey, the New York Sports Medicine Institute prides itself in providing nothing short of the best quality of orthopedic and sports medicine care. 

Common Injuries in the Elbow 

The most common elbow injuries are as follows: 

● Tennis/Golfer’s elbow: Most common in carpenters, plumbers, and chefs since they perform repetitive high-impact tasks this, is when tendons in your elbow are overused. Pain is felt on the outside of the elbow and potentially in the forearm and wrist. 

● Osteoarthritis: This is when there is a loss of blood supply to the cartilage in the elbow joint. Caused by natural wearing away from age and activity but can also result from a previous injury. 

● Dislocated Elbow: Dislocation is when the bones in your elbow become unaligned. It occurs most commonly when people try to catch themselves from falling on their outstretched arm. It can also result from an injury from sports or a car accident. 

● UCL Stretches/Tears: A UCL injury is most common in sports that involve throwing, such as javelin throw and baseball. These activities put a lot of repetitive stress on your dominant elbow, which can wear it down and cause it to have a greater chance of injury.

● Tendinitis: This is a tender and painful feeling in the knobby bone on the outside of your elbow where the injured tendons connect to the bone. Commonly results in aches and pains in the elbow which can cause weakness and make certain activities more difficult. This is similar to tennis and golfer’s elbow. 

All of these common elbow injuries are treatable. The pain can be managed especially if it is caught in the early stages. If you believe you are suffering from one of these injuries we recommend you learn more here and contact us to request an appointment. 

Causes of Elbow Injuries 

Sports, hobbies, and our jobs will naturally put our bodies through a lot of wear and tear, resulting in our bodies being more prone to injury. Overuse is the most common cause of elbow injury. Repetitive motions in high-impact tasks will break down the cartilage and weaken the elbow joint. Even hitting your “funny bone” really hard can result in nerve damage in your elbow. When you get a tingling feeling in your elbow after hitting it or leaning on it for too long, this is your ulnar nerve. Ulnar nerve damage can result in losing sensation in your fingers, losing coordination in your hand, or hand weakness from physical activity. If these conditions go untreated, it can result in more complicated issues that may result in surgery or ongoing treatment. 

Treatments 

Treatment for elbow injuries will help to manage the pain and more severe cases, get rid of the pain. Common treatments for tennis and golfer’s elbow, dislocated elbows, osteoarthritis, and other not as severe injuries are: 

● Meeting with an orthopedic doctor: An orthopedic doctor will evaluate one’s condition to determine the cause of the pain and the best treatment options to reduce it. 

● Taking care of your body: Recovery in sports is crucial. After practicing for two or more hours, athletes take the necessary steps to cool down and recovery their bodies. This prevents injuries, makes sure they don’t get too sore, and keeps their body healthy to play their sports for years to come. Everyone should learn how to listen and take care of their bodies after doing any physical activity, a long day of work, or a busy day of unusual activities.

● Physical Therapy: This is not only for people recovering from injuries; it can also be for those who want to prevent injury, improve their bodies, or strengthen weak areas. Physical therapy offices provide individualized treatment programs. 

Treatments for those who suffer from more severe elbow injuries such as UCL tears or stress fractures are: 

● Open reduction and internal fixation: This is a procedure most common for stress fractures. It entails putting the bones back in their correct placements. Holding the bones in place requires wires, screws, pins, or metal plates are added, depending on the severity determines which is used. 

● Tommy John Surgery: This is the procedure used to repair UCL tears. It is most common for athletes who want to return to competition because the whole ligament is replaced to restore full range of motion. 

● UCL repair: This procedure involves repairing the existing ligament. No replacement is involved. 

Contact Us 

If you are looking for an orthopedic doctor in Ho-Ho-Kus, New Jersey contact us today!