How To Tell If My Elbow Pain is an Injury or just Soreness?

In your daily life, you may not realize the strain you put on your joints, specifically your elbow. Whether you are an athlete, work at a desk, lift heavy equipment, or are doing an at-home workout, you are putting stress on your elbow always. This stress and pressure can result in elbow soreness and pain; however, it is essential to differentiate between an elbow injury or soreness. Our orthopedic doctor in Paramus, NJ at the New York Sports Medicine Institute is here to help you determine the root and cause of your elbow pain and the course of action you need to take to overcome this pain.

Elbow Anatomy 

To best understand what is specifically causing your elbow pain, you should first understand the anatomy of your elbow. 

The elbow is made up of bones, ligaments, tendons, and muscles. The elbow is also held together by cartilage at the end of each bone to allow the bones to move against each other and absorb shock. The ligaments are the tissues that connect the bones, and the tendons attach the muscle to the bones. More information about the specific anatomy and functions of your elbow are listed below:

The Bones in your elbow are:

  • The Humerus bone, which is your upper arm bone 
  • The Ulna and Radius bone make up your forearm 

The Muscles in your elbow are:

  • Extensors that are located on the inside of the arm and help extend the arm outward they are; Triceps brachii, Anconeus, and Pronator teres.
  • Flexors are at the back of the elbow and pull it closer to the body by bending the elbow. They are biceps brachii, Brachioradialis, and Brachialis. 

The Ligaments in your elbow are: 

  • An ulnar-collateral ligament connects the humerus and ulna and is located on the inside of the elbow 
  • The lateral collateral ligament also connects to the humerus and ulna but is located on the outside of the elbow 
  • Annular ligament connects to the top of the radius, holding it together against the humerus 

The Tendons in your elbow are: 

  • Bicep tendon which connects the bicep to the radius allowing you to bend your elbow
  • Triceps tendon, which connects the triceps to the ulna, allowing you to straighten your elbow

Common Elbow Pain

The two most common causes of elbow pain are inflammation in one or both of the elbows tendons, known as Tendinitis. Tendinitis can be caused by either exhaustion and irritation of the extensor tendon, which would mean you have a Tennis Elbow. Or the exhaustion of the flexor tendon, which is known as Golfer’s elbow. 

Here at New York Sports Medicine Institute, our orthopedic doctor in Paramus, NJ, commonly treats patients with Tennis elbow and Golfer’s elbow. Those who suffer from Tennis and Golfers’ elbow usually have difficulty grasping objects, lifting objects, and doing certain motions with your arm. This is because your elbow is weakened and strained, and this will result in less support for your arm and hands. 

The best course of action recommended by our orthopedic specialist is over-the-counter pain relievers and rest. If these options do not alleviate any symptoms, we recommend seeking an appointment with an orthopedic physician to assess the pain and provide treatment options.

Common Elbow Injuries:

Fractures and dislocations of the elbow tend to be more serious than strained muscles and ligaments. The injuries usually require physical therapy and depending on the severity; surgery may be necessary. Common elbow injuries include: 

  • Tennis Elbow
  • Bursitis
  • Cubital Tunnel Syndrome
  • Stress fractures
  • Elbow fractures, dislocations, sprains and strains

Determining Injury vs. Soreness

The main factor in determining if your elbow is injured or just sore is the type of pain. Injuries usually involve sharp pain in a specific area. This pain usually lasts longer than three days and is still present even when you are resting. On the contrary, muscle soreness usually does not last longer than three days and can be present on both sides of the body. This pain will typically not be bothersome when resting and covers a larger surface area on the body instead of one pinpointed area. 

Elbow Treatment 

Here at New York Sports Medicine Institute, our orthopedic doctor in Paramus, NJ, offers the following treatments for the most common elbow pain and injuries:

  • Evaluation and treatment of elbow conditions, such as tennis elbow, bursitis, tendonitis, arthritis, and stiff elbow
  • Arthroscopic surgery
  • PRP platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections
  • Elbow arthroscopy and other minimally invasive approaches

Visit our website page dedicated to elbow pain and treatments to see how we can best help you!

Our Orthopedic Doctor in Paramus, NJ Is Here To Help! 

Are you struggling with elbow pain that you’ve determined is an injury?  Our orthopedic doctor in Paramus, NJ, here at New York Sports Medicine Institute is here to assist you. For more information, visit our website or contact us to schedule an appointment consultation today! 

NYSMI