Shoulder & Elbow

Elbow pain can be a frustrating and debilitating condition that affects people of all ages and activity levels. It can make even simple tasks like getting dressed or lifting objects difficult, and can severely impact a person’s quality of life. There are many different causes of elbow pain, ranging from overuse injuries to fractures and dislocations. In this article, we will explore some of the most common causes of elbow pain and their associated symptoms, as well as discuss some of the most effective treatments for alleviating elbow pain and restoring function to the joint. Whether you are an athlete dealing with a sports-related injury or simply someone experiencing chronic elbow pain, this article will provide you with the information you need to understand your condition and find relief. My Elbow Hurts When I Bend and Straighten It: What Gives? Elbow pain can cause difficulty when getting dressed, cooking, lifting and of course when playing racket sports. Because the elbow is a complex joint, made up of bones, muscles, ligaments (connecting the bones) and tendons (connecting muscles to bone), it isn’t always easy to determine what is causing elbow pain. Some of the most common causes for elbow pain are: 1. Tendonitis When the tendons in the elbow become inflamed, most often due to repetitive or overuse, the result is tendonitis. Tendonitis can cause pain that radiates from the elbow up the arm or down the arm, depending on which of the two tendons are affected. 2. Tennis Elbow and Golfer’s Elbow These conditions are also a form of tendonitis, resulting from overuse of the tendons in the arm. Tennis elbow is a result of inflammation of the outer arm, while Golfer’s elbow results in pain along the inner arm. These conditions are not restricted to those who play golf or tennis

If you’ve had a “frozen shoulder”, you know this is an extremely painful condition where you are unable to move your shoulder or lift your arm upward or backward, either on your own or with the help of someone else. It’s scary when everyday activities such as sleeping, dressing, washing dishes, combing hair, clasping and unclasping a bra, or reaching for a wallet in a back pocket can become difficult or impossible. What is a frozen shoulder? First, to clear up a misconception, frozen shoulder is sometimes confused with arthritis, but the two conditions are unrelated – whereas signs of a rotator cuff tear could be instead a frozen shoulder. Sometimes called “adhesive capsulitis”, a shoulder “freezing” occurs when the shoulder’s joint capsule membrane thickens. This tissue band surrounding the joint becomes stiff and tight and can also grow new adhesions making mobility even more difficult. View OrthoConnecticut’s animation from ViewMedica, which illustrates this process well. Why does this happen? It’s not well understood why the shoulder “freezes”, but these situations make it more likely to happen: Who does this most often affect: What are the symptoms and stages? Signs and symptoms typically begin gradually, worsen over time and then resolve, usually within one to three years. The stages are fairly typical across patients: What can you do for a frozen shoulder? See a physician for a diagnosis which may include a review of symptoms, physical exam of arms and shoulder, and x-ray or MRI to identify structural issues. For 9 out of 10 patients, time and treatment bring relief. Here are some options to help reduce pain and improve functionality: Here is an interesting takeaway from OrthoInfo that reviews some of the basics of a frozen shoulder. OrthoConnecticut Can Help Our physicians and physician assistants are available to help