They can often be lumped together as “tennis elbow,” but elbow injuries are not all the same, and they’re not all leisure-time traumas. They can happen at work, both from single traumatic events and from repeated stress. Being familiar with these types of injuries can help you better prepare to get them covered by workers’ compensation benefits, when appropriate.
The elbow injury that is actually guilty of earning the name “tennis elbow” is lateral and medical epicondylitis. Similarly, an injury commonly called “golfer’s elbow” is medical epicondylitis. These injuries involve pain with the elbow joint, one on the outside, one on the inside of the joint. The pain can make it difficult to grip objects.
There are elbow joint injuries that are caused by nerve compression. Radial tunnel syndrome (which is also called “resistant tennis elbow”) causes pain around the elbow, and also affects the use of your wrist and hand. Cubital tunnel syndrome involves pain around the elbow joint, but also shooting down the forearms and affecting the fingers.
Elbows can be affected by tendonitis and bursitis as well. The biceps and triceps tendons frequently cause elbow pain, one in the front and one in the back of the joint. Behind the elbow joint, is a bony area-the olecranon-which can develop bursitis causing swelling and tenderness.
The different elbow injuries seem similar, but they are each distinct in terms of the care and treatment that are needed to fully recover. Seeing a doctor when you experience symptoms is an important first step. Often you will be referred for an MRI scan to help in the diagnosis and pinpoint the right treatment plan.
If you notice any of these symptoms, it’s best to go see a doctor:
· • loss of use of your arm, making it difficult to carry objects;
• inability to flex or straighten you arm;
· • bruises or swelling around your arm or elbow;
· • fever, or redness or warmth around your arm or elbow;
· • pain in your elbow when it’s at rest;
· • pain in your elbow lasting more than a few days;
· • deformity in your elbow after an injury;
· • other new or unusual conditions of your elbow.
After diagnosis, your doctor will recommend a course or courses of treatment. Often the most basic, but effective, is rest. If you have swelling, resting and putting ice and heat on the area can help. Sometimes, though, keeping the joint gently stretched is what helps. Physical therapists also can create a plan which helps to bring your strength back to normal.
Additionally, your doctor may prescribe medications to reduce the swelling and ease your pain. Cortisone injections may also help in more severe cases.
Where your elbow injury needs more intervention to repair the damage, surgery may be recommended by your doctor although under Illinois law you can never be required to have surgery.
We are workers’ compensation attorneys that help people with Illinois work injuries anywhere in IL via our statewide network of attorneys. Contact us and we will answer your questions or find the right lawyer for your situation.
