Elbow/Foot Pain
Elbow/Foot Pain
Most elbow pain has a very simple cause and clears up within a few days. The pain usually comes from strained or inflamed soft tissues such as tendons. You can normally treat this pain yourself with over-the-counter painkillers and a few days’ rest, and you may not need to see your doctor.
It’s important not to rest for too long as lack of movement causes your joint to stiffen and the muscles around your elbow to weaken, which increases the chance that you’ll have further symptoms. Simple exercises can help to reduce the risk of future problems. Long-term elbow pain can be caused by arthritis.
Causes
Most cases of elbow pain are due to strained or inflamed soft tissues such as tendons or ligaments.
These tend to get better after a few days with simple self-care you can do at home.
Sometimes elbow pain may be caused by a medical condition.
A number of things can cause stiffness in your elbow, including arthritis (arth-rye-tus). Arthritis simply means a joint that is painful and swollen, and there are a number of types of arthritis.
Stiffness can happen due to problems with the elbow joint itself or with the muscles, covering of the joint, or ligaments.
Managing symptoms
There are several ways you can help yourself if you have elbow pain. These include taking painkillers, applying heat or ice packs, changing your movements and exercising.
Drugs to Reduce Pain
Painkillers, such as paracetamol may help to ease pain. You should use them as and when you need them, but it’s best to take them before the pain becomes very bad.
If you have stomach problems after using pain relief or NSAIDs, you should stop taking the tablets and see your doctor. There are also anti-inflammatory creams or gels you can rub onto your elbow, which don’t cause stomach problems.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are a group of drugs that can help ease pain, swelling and stiffness. A common NSAID is ibuprofen, which you can buy at chemists and supermarkets.
