Elbow Pain
Alternate Names : Pain - Elbow
Elbow Pain: Home Care & Treatment
The following steps can be helpful to treat many cases of elbow pain:
-
When you first notice the pain, apply ice for 15 minutes every hour for the first day. Continue to apply ice every 3 to 4 hours for up to 3 days. Wrap the ice in a cloth -- do not apply ice directly to the skin.
-
Wrap the elbow with a bandage, such as an ACE bandage. You may need an air splint to keep the elbow immobilized.
-
Keep the elbow elevated (above your heart), if possible.
-
Give the elbow joint complete rest for at least 2 days. DO NOT return to the activity that caused the problem for at least 3 weeks. Then, gradually strengthen the muscles around your elbow. A physical therapist can teach you how to do this properly.
-
While you are resting the joint, take pain relievers such as aspirin, acetaminophen, or ibuprofen.
-
After the initial rest period, you should begin to gradually strengthen the muscles around the elbow through gentle flexibility exercises.
For nursemaid's elbow, it is usually best to have the child seen immediately by someone trained in re-aligning the elbow joint.
|
