Arthritis of the Elbow
- The most common symptoms of elbow arthritis are:
- Do you have pain in your elbow?
- Are you experiencing a loss of range of motion with your elbow?
- Does your elbow every have a grating or locking sensation?
- Does your elbow ever appear to be swollen?
You may have arthritis of the elbow. Most patients who are diagnosed with elbow arthritis have experienced an injury to their elbow, such as a fracture or elbow dislocation. If elbow arthritis is diagnosed early it can be treated nonsurgically.
Nonsurgical options for treatment of elbow arthritis include:
- Medications to reduce or alleviate pain.
- Physical therapy.
- Activity modification.
- Corticosteroid injections.
- Hyaluronic acid injections.
If you have exhausted all the nonsurgical treatment options for your elbow arthritis you may need to consider surgical treatment. If the wear or damage is limited, arthroscopy can offer a minimally invasive surgical treatment. It may be an option for patients with earlier stages of arthritis. If the joint surface has worn away completely, it is unlikely that anything other than a joint replacement would bring about relief. There are several different types of elbow joint replacements available.
If you are dealing with elbow pain or instability call the Orthopaedic Center of Vero Beach at 772-778-2009 to schedule an appointment. We’ll conduct a thorough examination which may include X-Rays or an MRI, and discuss the best treatment options for you.
