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Elbow Pain Causes, Symptoms, and Chiropractic Relief Options

skull illustration showing TMJ Pain location

Causes of Elbow Pain

Elbow pain is often caused by the overuse of the muscles surrounding the elbow. These muscles include the biceps muscle and the triceps muscle, which both help in the mobility of the elbow. The biceps muscle helps by flexing the forearm at the elbow, and the triceps muscle helps to extend the forearm at the elbow. From there, tendons help to attach the muscles to the elbow bone. If either of the muscles or tendons are injured, strained, or torn, elbow pain can occur.

Tennis Elbow

Tennis Elbow or Lateral Epicondylitis occurs if the tendon that attaches the muscles to the outer portion of the elbow bone is injured. Once the tendon is injured, inflammation or tendonitis can occur, which is commonly called tennis elbow.

Golfer’s Elbow

Golfer’s Elbow or Medial Epicondylitis occurs when the tendons that are attached to the inner portion of the elbow are injured. When golfer’s elbow occurs, the muscles in the forearm can be strained, which may cause pain and possibly a feeling of numbness in your hand.

Triceps Tendonitis

Triceps Tendonitis occurs due to strains in the triceps muscles that can eventually cause microscopic tears in the tissue. Triceps Tendonitis is often seen in athletes and individuals who overuse and injure the triceps muscle.

Arthritis

Arthritis can occur due to a disease of the joint linings. Arthritis of the elbow typically can cause individuals pain in their elbow when they bend it, and also when they straighten it.

Activities That Cause Elbow Pain

Activities that can lead to elbow pain are sports like tennis, racquetball, fencing, golf, or weightlifting. When the elbow is overused the muscles usually become strained due to repetitive motions of gripping a racquet, golf club, or another type of item like a hammer. Therefore, you can also experience elbow pain by performing tasks such as carpentry, typing, painting, raking, or knitting. Anytime you are performing a task that has a repetitive motion where your thumb and two fingers are involved; there is a chance that elbow pain might occur. That said, elbow pain does occur over time, and there are many symptoms of elbow pain you can look out for so that you can catch your pain before it becomes serious.

Symptoms of Elbow Pain

Symptoms of elbow pain include pain and tenderness of your elbow, which can cause further pain throughout your upper and lower arm, wrist, shoulder, or hand. Elbow pain can also lead to feeling a sense of numbness or tingling within your hand.

Specific symptoms of elbow pain may include pain at the lateral and medial elbow, pain at the back of the elbow, snapping or popping of the elbow joint, or a painful range of motion when using that particular arm.

If you or a loved one experience any elbow pain when lifting something, making a fist, gripping an object, opening a door, shaking someone’s hand, or raising your hand, elbow pain treatment might be necessary to relieve your symptoms.

Elbow Pain Chiropractic Treatment in Omaha, NE

If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, please contact your trusted chiropractors near Omaha, NE. Our chiropractors are professional and always welcoming new patients. We can conduct several tests to analyze the causes of your elbow pain and formulate a chiropractic treatment plan fit just for you. Through our various types of chiropractic treatments, we can provide relief to your elbow pain or discomfort. Please contact us today or call us at (402) 292-1450 to schedule an appointment.

Content written by Dr. Adam Behm, DC, CCSP®

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