ELBOW ARTHRITIS

Causes

Osteoarthritis occurs when the cartilage surface of the elbow is damaged or becomes worn. This can happen as a result of a previous injury such as elbow dislocation or fracture. It may also occur due to degeneration of the joint cartilage from age or from diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis.

Prevention

The best way to prevent elbow arthritis is to avoid injury to the joint. When injury does happen, it is important to recognize it right away and get treatment. Individuals involved in physically demanding work or sports activities should maintain muscular strength around the elbow. Always use proper conditioning and technique. Most patients who are diagnosed with elbow osteoarthritis have a history of injury to the elbow.

Treatment

Treatment options depend on the stage of the disease, prior history, overall medical condition, and what X-rays show. For early stages, the most common treatment is nonsurgical, including oral medications such as Tylenol® or Advil®, physical therapy, and activity modification. Sometimes corticosteroid injections are used to treat arthritis symptoms. When nonsurgical interventions are not enough to control symptoms, surgery may be needed.