Rheumatoid arthritis is a common issue that affects the elbow, leading to symptoms like pain, swelling and joint stiffness. However, these symptoms can also be caused by other elbow issues. In some cases, you could even feel like you have arthritis in your elbow when you actually have a completely different elbow condition.
- Tennis or golfer’s elbow
Repetitive elbow movements can cause parts of the elbow joint to wear out, and this is consistent with arthritis. However, these movements can also cause tennis or golfer’s elbow, and these conditions can make it feel like you have arthritis in the elbow in question.
Tennis and golfer’s elbow involve overstretched or torn tendons on the inside or outside of the elbow joint, respectively. These conditions are two common sports injuries that affect the elbow, but they can also be caused by repetitive motions you do at work or at home, such as typing or weightlifting. When you have one of these injuries, common symptoms you’ll notice are elbow pain, stiffness in the joint and swelling. Since these symptoms are a match for those of arthritis, you might think you have arthritis if you actually have tennis or golfer’s elbow.
- Bursitis in the elbow
Another condition that might feel like elbow arthritis is bursitis. Bursae are thin, fluid-filled sacs that provide cushioning between muscles and bones. When these sacs become irritated and inflamed, the condition is called bursitis. The elbow contains a bursa called the olecranon bursa, located at the bony tip of your elbow.
Repetitive motions and impacts on this part of your elbow can lead to elbow bursitis, and this condition closely mimics many of the symptoms of elbow arthritis. For example, elbow bursitis causes achy feelings and stiffness in the elbow joint, and the pain of this condition often gets worse with movement or pressure. Elbow bursitis can also cause the elbow to appear swollen. The combination of these symptoms may encourage your belief that you have elbow arthritis when you don’t.
Excel Sports & Physical Therapy can help confirm what is causing your elbow symptoms
It’s easy to feel like you have elbow arthritis when another issue is causing your symptoms. This is why we begin every patient’s treatment process with a free screening. These screenings allow our team to determine precisely what’s causing your symptoms. We can build you a more effective treatment plan for your elbow issue, and we’ll pick the most helpful therapy methods for your needs, such as:
Take a positive step toward treating your elbow issue. Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.
