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5 Common Causes for Elbow Pain

5 Common Causes for Elbow Pain - El Paso Chiropractor
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The elbow is a hinge type joint found between the end of the humerus in the upper arm and the nearest ends of the ulna and radius in the forearm. The elbow functions by allowing flexion and extension of the arm, as well as functioning to rotate the forearm and wrist. Because the elbow is an origin and insertion point for several muscles, it's not uncommon to in injury. Below are 5 common causes for elbow pain. 
Tennis Elbow
The first of the 5 common causes for elbow pain is best known as tennis elbow. Medically referred to as lateral epicondylitis, tennis elbow is a sport-related injury where the sides of the elbow become swollen and inflamed. This type of injury is caused by overuse from repetitive movements of the arm, forearm, and wrist during sports such as tennis, badminton, and golf.  The irritation and stress exerted during these physical activities begins to cause irritation to the muscles surrounding the elbows and may over time result in small tears of the tendons. The common symptoms of tennis elbow include pain and soreness surrounding the elbow, followed by limited flexibility or restricted mobility of the arm.
Cubital Tunnel Syndrome
Cubital tunnel syndrome occurs when the ulnar nerve suffers an impingement as it passes through the inside, back portion of the elbow. Due to its location, the ulnar nerve is not surrounded by muscle to cushion it from other tissue and can sometimes become trapped in a tunnel between the bone and the skin of the elbow, called the cubital tunnel. Cubital tunnel syndrome can develop gradually over time through impingement of the ulnar nerve for extended periods of time. Symptoms include decreased and tingling sensations extending from the elbow down to the forearm and hand. More serious cases of the condition may cause difficulty gripping and holding on to objects.
Elbow Bursitis
Elbow bursitis, also known as olecranon bursitis, is a condition where fluid begins to collect in the sac found behind the elbow, called the olecranon bursa. The role of the bursa is to allow the joints to move smoothly around bones but trauma from an accident, such as falling on the back of the elbow, or resting the elbows against hard surfaces for long periods of time, can begin to irritate the olecranon bursa and eventually develop into bursitis. The symptoms of elbow bursitis include inflammation and swelling together with pain around the posterior side of the elbow which can restrict mobility and affect the range of motion of the elbow.
Ulnar Collateral Ligament Injury
The ulnar collateral ligament, or UCL, is the most commonly injured ligament in athletes of throwing sports, such as baseball. The UCL is located on the inside of the elbow, running from the inner side of the humerus to the inner side of the ulna in the arm. The ligament endures great amounts of stress during overhand throwing to stabilize the elbow. Different variations of an ulnar collateral ligament can occur from minimal irritation to a complete tear. Symptoms for ulnar collateral ligament injury include direct pain over the area, inflammation, numbness and a popping sensation as well as a decreased ability to throw.
Elbow Fracture
The last of the most familiar of the 5 common causes for elbow pain are elbow fractures. The elbow joint sits directly under the skin without much protection from muscles or other soft tissues and can be more prone to easily break if an individual experiences a direct blow to the elbow or fall on the bent elbow. An indirect fracture of the elbow may also occur while landing on an outstretched arm with the elbow locked. Symptoms of an elbow fracture include sudden, intense pain, inability to straighten the elbow, swelling and bruising, as well as numbness in the surrounding area of the elbow.
By Dr. Alex Jimenez

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Professional Scope of Practice * The information on this blog site is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified healthcare professional or licensed physician and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make healthcare decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified healthcare professional. Blog Information & Scope Discussions Welcome to El Paso's Premier Wellness and Injury Care Clinic & wellness blog, where Dr. Alex Jimenez, DC, FNP-C, a board-certified Family Practice Nurse Practitioner (FNP-BC) and Chiropractor (DC), presents insights on how our team is dedicated to holistic healing and personalized care. Our practice aligns with evidence-based treatment protocols inspired by integrative medicine principles, similar to those found on dralexjimenez.com, focusing on restoring health naturally for patients of all ages. Our areas of chiropractic practice include Wellness and nutrition, Chronic Pain, Personal Injury, Auto Accident Care, Work Injuries, Back Injury, Low Back Pain, Neck Pain, Migraine Headaches, Sports Injuries, severe sciatica, Scoliosis, Complex Herniated Discs, Fibromyalgia, Chronic Pain, Complex Injuries, Stress Management, Functional Medicine Treatments, and in-scope care protocols. Our information scope is limited to Chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicine, wellness, contributing etiological viscerosomatic disturbances within clinical presentations, associated somatovisceral reflex clinical dynamics, subluxation complexes, sensitive health issues, and/or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from various disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate to and directly or indirectly support our clinical scope of practice.* Our office has reasonably attempted to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research studies or studies supporting our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies that are available to regulatory boards and the public upon request. We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how they may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to discuss the subject matter above further, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez, DC, APRN, FNP-BC, or contact us at 915-850-0900. We are here to help you and your family. Blessings Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, APRN, FNP-BC*, CCST, IFMCP*, CFMP*, ATN* email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com Licensed as a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) in Texas & New Mexico* Texas DC License # TX5807 New Mexico DC License # NM-DC2182 Licensed as a Registered Nurse (RN*) in Texas & Multistate  Texas RN License # 1191402  Compact Status: Multi-State License: Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, APRN, FNP-BC, CFMP*, IFMCP*, ATN*, CCST