Treatment of Elbow Bursitis

About the disease

Elbow bursitis is the inflammation of elbow tissues. Each joint has special synovial bursae, which contain a certain amount of fluid. They are designed for lubrication to ensure minimal friction between joints while performing any kind of movement. Therefore, they do not suffer any damage, when a person moves.  

The causes of elbow bursitis include: 

• Arthritis. The development of the inflammatory involves accumulation of different fluids. It can contribute to the development of elbow bursitis
• This disease can be as a result of injury or trauma. The injury can occur due to a constant load on the elbow joint, when the elbow comes into contact with a solid surface and is injured, e.g. during a strenuous activity or altercation with another person. 
• In some cases, the disease can develop as a result of some old injury. After a certain period of time, a person may recall  a light blow,  or falling on that part of the body and by adding more pressure to the already injured elbow.
• When an infection develops and there is some skin lesion close to elbow bursitis, which can affect the process, if the infection gets inside.  
• Some chronic disease, e.g., diabetes
• Immune disorders, metabolic disorders 
• Taking medications without consulting a doctor  that can aggravate the disease

Symptoms 

• Swelling in the ulnar area. In some cases swelling can develop without any reason. It usually does not ache and does not hinder movement at this point.
• If you do not take any measures to get rid of the swelling in time, it can increase quickly. The person will feel discomfort and pain.
• The disease can also be accompanied by a fever, when the bacteria has advanced. The patient’s condition can be accompanied by severe pain and general weakness.
• The patient can have intoxication, headache, sweating, apathy, loss of appetite.
• The hand is difficult to move. When you bend it, you can feel severe pain. 
• If you do not pay attention to the first symptoms of the disease and do not seek medical attention in time. A purulent form of the disease can develop. 
• Lymph nodes can get swollen. 

Diagnosis 

If you have some of the above-mentioned symptoms, do not start self-treatment. This disease can easily be confused with other illnesses, such as arthritis, gout and polyarthritis. Each form of the disease requires an individual treatment approach considering all the symptoms that occur in patients. Therefore, upon noticing the first symptoms of elbow bursitis, you need to make a special bandage that can fix it properly and have complete rest. Then immediately seek professional help. The diagnosis includes elbow x-ray, blood test and, in some cases, puncture of the inflamed area. 

Treatment 

• If the cause of the disease is a minor injury and it has no further complications, it can resolve on its own. To that end, it is necessary to apply a special cold compress on the painful area and to limit hand movements. Then it is necessary to use a special solution for resorption - dimexide.
• If there are other symptoms, expert help is required. The doctor will examine the patient and then prescribe him/her special anti-inflammatory drugs or cortisone injections. If bacteria affected the development of the disease, it is necessary to use antibiotics. If the patient does not feel better after these drugs, it is necessary to make a puncture. It helps to relieve pain, reduces loads of the adjacent tissues. This procedure is performed using antibiotics and steroid anti-inflammatory drugs.
• If all the above methods do not give positive results, then the patient requires surgical treatment. 

Authors: Dr. Nadezhda Ivanisova, Dr. Sergey Pashchenko