Our elbows play an important part in daily activities such as writing, typing or even wearing a shirt. As such, elbow pain should not be ignored as unnatural movements to reduce pain may end up causing injury to other parts of the arm like the shoulder. Elbow injuries are often complex and require personalized care and treatment for an effective resolution. We recommend that you consult a trusted orthopaedic specialist as soon as possible to minimize greater injury to your arm.
Some common elbow conditions that professional athletes and casual sportspeople suffer from are tennis elbow, fractures and dislocation.
Tennis elbow is inflammation or, in some cases, microtearing of the tendons that join the forearm muscles on the outside of the elbow. The forearm muscles and tendons become damaged from overuse — repeating the same motions again and again.
Initial treatment is usually non-operative. If non-operative treatment fails, one of the options include a Radiofrequency microtenomy procedure under local anaesthesia (skin incision about 2-3cm)
Most elbow lumps and swellings are benign in nature. If there is any pain, increase in size over time or overlying skin changes, it is better to see a doctor for further assessment.
Trigger finger is a painful condition that makes your fingers or thumb catch or lock when you bend them. It can affect any finger, or more than one.
A tendon usually glides easily through the tissue that covers it (called a sheath) thanks to the synovium, a membrane that surrounds joints and keeps them lubricated. Sometimes a tendon gets inflamed and swollen. Long-term irritation of the tendon sheath can lead to scarring and thickening that affect the tendon's motion. When this happens, bending your finger or thumb pulls the inflamed tendon through a narrowed sheath and makes it snap or pop.
MBBS (Singapore), MRCSEd, MMED,
FRCSEdOrth (Gold Medal Award)