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What To Do If Your Elbow Hurts

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If you have recently started to experience elbow pain, either from an injury or seemingly out of the blue, you may be wondering what you can or should do about the situation. After all, elbow pain can affect many of your daily activities and your life overall, and you want to be sure you are dealing with it in the best way possible. Get to know some of the steps you can take if you are dealing with elbow pain. Then, you can start treating the condition right away. 

Rest Your Arm

One of the best ways to deal with elbow pain is to simply give your arm a rest. If you injured your elbow playing sports or working out, now is a good time to take a break from those activities for at least several days. Try to give your arm a break so that your injured elbow can heal properly.

Refrain from strenuous or repetitive motion activities as much as possible. If you work a job where these actions are necessary, you may want to use some of your sick days or time off to allow your elbow to heal. Otherwise, talk to your supervisor about cutting down on the physical demands of your job temporarily to give yourself time to feel better. 

Ice Your Elbow

Another great way to deal with elbow pain is by icing it several times a day. Place ice on the area for 15 to 20 minutes three or more times a day. This can help reduce pain, inflammation, and swelling. 

If the elbow joint becomes stiff, you could also alternate heat packs and ice packs to help with that situation as well. Heat can be applied for the same amount of time as ice. 

See an Orthopedic Specialist

There are several scenarios in which elbow pain should send you to seek the treatment of an orthopedic specialist. One is if the pain is severe or if you notice there is significant bruising on the elbow joint. Another is if you experience significant pain even when you have been resting the elbow extensively. 

And of course, if you have been doing all of the home remedies you can think of to help your elbow but it still hurts, you should schedule an appointment with an orthopedic doctor. Orthopedists specialize in joint care and can help to determine the extent of your elbow injury and the best course of treatment for it. Immobilization (such as using a sling or cast) or even surgery may be necessary to correct the issue if the injury is severe. 

Now that you know some of the steps to take when you have elbow pain, you can get started treating your elbow condition right away. 


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