Joint treatment6 min read
Elbow joint pain: arthritis, arthrosis and treatment without surgery
The elbow is not the first joint people think of when they hear the word arthritis, yet elbow pain is common. It can come from wear of the joint, from inflammation or from overloaded tendons around it. This article explains how to tell these apart, what causes them, how the diagnosis is made, what non-surgical treatment includes and why it is not worth ignoring a stiff, painful elbow.
The main points in 30 seconds
- Elbow pain comes from joint wear, joint inflammation or overloaded tendons.
- Arthrosis of the elbow often follows an old injury or years of heavy load.
- X-ray shows joint wear; ultrasound shows tendons and fluid; MRI shows cartilage.
- Rehab is the basis; PRP and SVF are added in suitable cases under ultrasound.
- Untreated elbow problems often lead to lasting loss of movement.
Elbow joint pain: arthritis or arthrosis?
The two words sound alike but describe different processes. Arthrosis, also called osteoarthritis, is gradual wear of the cartilage that covers the ends of the bones. Arthritis in the narrow sense means inflammation of the joint, for example in rheumatoid arthritis or gout. In everyday language both are often called arthritis.
There is also a third, very common source of pain: the tendons that attach to the bony points on the inner and outer side of the elbow. Overloading them causes the conditions known as tennis elbow and golfer's elbow. They hurt at the elbow but are not a disease of the joint itself. Telling these three apart is the first step, because the treatment differs.
Causes of elbow arthrosis and arthritis
The elbow carries less weight than the knee or hip, so primary wear from age alone is relatively uncommon. More often there is a clear reason:
- An old injury. Fractures, dislocations and damage to the cartilage can lead to arthrosis years later.
- Heavy manual work or sport. Repeated loading, for example in throwing sports, weightlifting or work with vibrating tools.
- Inflammatory conditions. Rheumatoid arthritis often affects the elbows together with the hands and wrists; psoriatic arthritis and gout can also involve the elbow.
- Infection. A rare but urgent cause, usually with a hot, red and swollen joint.
Tendon problems, by contrast, are mostly caused by repetitive gripping and wrist movements, such as racket sports, typing, painting or using tools.
Symptoms and stages
Typical signs of joint wear or inflammation in the elbow are:
- pain deep in the joint during and after use;
- stiffness, especially in the morning or after rest;
- difficulty fully straightening or fully bending the arm;
- clicking, grinding or a feeling that the joint catches or locks;
- swelling, which is more typical of inflammatory arthritis;
- tingling in the ring and little fingers, if the swollen joint presses on the nerve.
Tendon problems feel different: the pain sits on the outer or inner bony point, spreads along the forearm and is triggered by gripping, lifting a cup or turning a door handle, while the joint itself moves freely.
- Early
- Ache after load, slight loss of the last degrees of straightening
- Moderate
- Pain in daily tasks, clicking, noticeable stiffness
- Advanced
- Pain at rest, marked loss of movement, locking
Diagnosis step by step
- Conversation and examination. The doctor asks about injuries, work and sport, checks where exactly it hurts and measures how far the arm bends and straightens.
- X-ray. Shows joint space narrowing, bony spurs and loose fragments. It is the basic test for arthrosis.
- Ultrasound. Shows tendons, fluid and inflammation, and helps confirm tennis or golfer's elbow.
- MRI. Added when cartilage damage, ligament injury or loose bodies need a closer look.
- Blood tests. Used when inflammatory arthritis or gout is suspected. In that case a rheumatologist is involved.
Recent scans and reports from home are often enough for a first assessment, including an online one.
Non-surgical treatment: rehab, PRP and SVF
Load management and rehabilitation
Reducing the activity that provokes pain gives the tissues time to settle. A physiotherapist then works on range of movement and strength of the forearm and shoulder muscles. For tendon problems, a gradual loading programme is the core of treatment, and improvement usually takes weeks to months. Adapting grip, tools or sports technique helps prevent a relapse.
Medication
Painkillers and anti-inflammatory medicines chosen by a doctor can ease flare-ups. Inflammatory arthritis requires treatment prescribed by a rheumatologist. Steroid injections are sometimes used for short-term relief; these are general options, and whether any of them suits you is decided at a consultation.
PRP and SVF
PRP is platelet-rich plasma prepared from a small amount of your own blood. SVF is the stromal vascular fraction, a mix of cells isolated from a small sample of your own adipose tissue. They are injected into the joint or the affected area under ultrasound guidance to reduce pain and inflammation and support the tissues. PRP can be given as a course; SVF combined with plasma is usually chosen when joint changes are more pronounced. Neither replaces a rheumatologist in inflammatory arthritis. The procedure is described on our joint treatment page.
Risks of leaving elbow pain untreated
An untreated elbow problem rarely stays the same. People start to protect the arm without noticing, and the joint gradually loses the last degrees of movement, which are hard to regain later. Other risks include:
- further wear of the cartilage and growth of bony spurs;
- loose fragments that cause locking;
- pressure on the ulnar nerve, with numbness and weakness in the hand;
- overload of the shoulder and wrist on the same side;
- in inflammatory arthritis, damage to other joints if the disease is not controlled.
Surgery, such as arthroscopy to remove loose fragments and bony spurs or, rarely, elbow replacement, is considered when non-surgical treatment no longer helps. This is general information; the choice is made by a surgeon. See a doctor urgently if the elbow is hot, red and swollen with a fever, or if it is deformed after a fall.
Getting a personal plan at City Medical Centre
City Medical Centre works with international patients and treats the elbow without surgery: with PRP from your own blood and SVF cell therapy from your own adipose tissue, injected under ultrasound guidance. The clinic does not perform arthroscopy, elbow replacement or steroid injections; if your scans show that one of these is the better option, the doctor will tell you so openly.
The first consultation is free and can be held online: send your X-rays, ultrasound or MRI with a short description of your symptoms. If PRP or SVF suits your case, the doctor explains the plan and names the cost, which is then fixed in the contract. A personal coordinator stays with you from the first message to the follow-up visits, and scans and questions can be sent by Telegram. Read more on the joint treatment page.
Sources
Frequently asked questions
What causes elbow joint pain without injury?
Most often overloaded tendons from repetitive gripping, as in tennis or golfer's elbow. Other causes are wear of the joint after years of heavy work or sport, and inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis or gout. Sometimes pain spreads to the elbow from the neck or shoulder.
Can PRP help elbow arthritis?
PRP can reduce pain and inflammation in joint wear and in overloaded tendons, especially together with rehabilitation. It works best in early and moderate stages. In inflammatory arthritis it does not replace treatment from a rheumatologist. A doctor decides after reviewing your scans whether it suits you.
How is elbow arthrosis diagnosed?
With an examination and an X-ray, which shows narrowing of the joint space and bony spurs. Ultrasound helps assess tendons and fluid, and MRI is added when cartilage, ligaments or loose fragments need a closer look. Blood tests are used if inflammatory arthritis is suspected.
What happens if elbow arthritis is not treated?
The elbow often gradually loses movement, especially the ability to straighten fully. Cartilage wear and bony spurs can progress, loose fragments may cause locking, and swelling can press on the nerve. Uncontrolled inflammatory arthritis can also damage other joints.
How long does elbow treatment take?
Tendon problems usually improve over several weeks to a few months with rehabilitation. After PRP or SVF, pain often eases during the first month and the full effect develops over several months. How long it lasts differs from person to person.
Have a question about your case? Get a free consultation
Message a coordinator on Telegram: we reply right in the chat, and you can send photos and questions there too.
- The first consultation is free, online consultations are available
- The doctor names the cost after the assessment, and it is fixed in the contract
- A personal coordinator guides you from the first message to recovery
Message our coordinator on Telegram
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