Epicondylitis is a tissue lesion in the area of the elbow joint. Such a disease is inflammatory in nature. The disease begins to develop at the points of attachment of the tendons of the forearm to the humerus. The main cause of the pathology is chronic muscle overload in the region of the forearm. Consider in more detail what this disease is, and, in addition, we learn how its treatment is carried out. Among other things, at the end of the article we will get acquainted with an effective method for the treatment of epicondylitis of the elbow joint according to Bubnovsky.
Basic disease information
With epicondylitis of the elbow joint, pathological processes affect the bone, tendon and periosteum. In addition to the external and internal condyle, the process of the radial bone can be affected, which leads to pain in the area of attachment of the tendon muscles, due to which the thumb is retracted and unbent.
Elbow joint epicondylitis is a very common disease of the musculoskeletal system, but there is no accurate statistics of the disease, as it often proceeds in a mild form and most patients do not go to medical facilities.
Kinds
In its localization, epicondylitis can be external and internal. External epicondylitis is observed ten times more often than internal, and it mainly occurs in men. Against this background, right-handed people mostly suffer from the right hand, and left-handed people, respectively, left.
Age range
The age range of this disease is from forty to sixty years. The risk group primarily includes patients whose occupation is associated with the regular repetition of the same movements, for example, drivers, pianists, athletes, and so on.
Treatment of elbow joint epicondylitis should be comprehensive.
What medications are suitable for therapy?
Since the cause of pain in epicondylitis of the elbow joint is an inflammatory process, patients are prescribed non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs of local use in the form of Diclofenac, Nurofen, Indomethacin, Nimesil, Ketonal, Nise, and so on. As for the treatment of elbow joint epicondylitis with tablets of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, in this case it is not justified.
In the presence of very strong, and at the same time, unremitting pains, blockade with corticosteroids is carried out, they are introduced into the area of inflammation. For this, "Hydrocortisone" or "Metiprednisolone" is used. But you need to keep in mind that during the first days this can cause increased pain.
How fast will the pain go?
As part of the conservative treatment of elbow joint disease, epicondylitis without glucocorticosteroids usually relieves pain within a month. And in the case of a drug blockade for three days. Additionally, drugs may be prescribed in the form of “Nikoshpan”, “Aspirin” or “Butadion”. In order to change tissue trophism, they can carry out blockades with bidistilled water, they are quite painful, but effective. In the treatment of chronic elbow joint epicondylitis, Milgamma injections are prescribed.
It should be noted that in relation to this disease, it is often not so much various medicines that are very effective as conventional alternative methods of therapy. Get to know him in more detail.
Alternative treatment methods
Treatment of epicondylitis of the elbow joint can be carried out using effective folk techniques. Most often, to eliminate the symptoms of this disease in folk medicine, special ointments are used along with compresses, which very well help eliminate inflammation. Let's start with a review of the compresses.
Folk remedies: compresses
Treating elbow joint epicondylitis at home can be very effective.
In order to cope with this pathology, you can use the following recipes:
- The use of a compress based on buckwheat honey. In order to eliminate inflammatory processes, this product must be heated, after which it is necessary to lubricate the forearm with it, starting from the elbow up to the wrist. Next, wrap the hand with a cloth and put on a bandage. This compress should be kept all night, and then in the morning it should be removed and wash your hand with warm water. Honey is an excellent anti-inflammatory medicine. In order to cope with the disease, the procedure should be carried out several times.
- The use of vinegar compress. To prepare the mixture, a spoonful of vinegar is mixed with water (you need half a glass). In the resulting liquid, flaxseed is moistened and applied to the affected area. Next, you need to put on a bandage. Thanks to this manipulation, acute pain can be overcome. After using the vinegar compress, you can turn to the use of other alternative methods.
- Onion treatment using laundry soap. This remedy helps eliminate the chronic type of epicondylitis. To prepare a medicinal composition using a grater, first chop the onion, and then a quarter of the laundry soap. The resulting composition is boiled in a steam bath, and then applied to the elbow. On top of the compress is fixed with gauze and put on a bandage. The procedure is done in the evenings. Its duration should be two hours. What else is used in the treatment of elbow joint epicondylitis at home?
- Treatment with dandelion leaves. This tool is used in the warm season. To prepare a compress, you need to pluck the leaves of the plant, then they are beaten off with a hammer until the juice is secreted and applied to the affected area. Fix with a bandage and put on a bandage. This compress can be held all night. Helps better than pills.
Treatment of epicondylitis of the elbow joint with ointments will be considered below.
Folk recipes for ointments
There are many really effective ointments that help relieve inflammation and improve muscle tissue nutrition. But they can be used only after stopping an exacerbation of the disease. So, the following recipes are considered the most effective means in the people:
- Treatment with comfrey ointment. For cooking, you need 100 grams of fresh leaves of the plant. You will also need 50 grams of beeswax and 200 milliliters of vegetable oil. The leaves are crushed, mixed with oil and boiled in a steam bath for half an hour. Next, you need to add wax, mix the medicine and remove from the stove. The finished mass is cooled, filtered and put in the refrigerator. Such an ointment should be treated with an elbow daily, and then a bandage can be put on. A similar treatment of internal epicondylitis of the elbow joint continues until the condition normalizes.
- Use of ointment based on mustard. To prepare it, mix two tablespoons of mustard powder, then camphor oil is added. It is also necessary to add egg white with a small spoon of honey. The composition is mixed until smooth and applied to the elbow. A foil is wrapped around the arm and a bandage is put on. After a few hours, it is necessary to remove everything and rinse the elbow with water.
- Application of ointment from clover grass. In equal parts, the grass of the plant is mixed with interior fat. Next, the mixture is cooked for an hour in a steam bath, and then it is cooled and rubbed into the affected area. In parallel, other tools are also used, which significantly speeds up the recovery process.
- Treatment with ointment from bay leaves. To prepare it, six tablespoons of bay leaf powder are mixed with crushed juniper. Next, put four tablespoons of butter. This ointment should be used in the same way as in previous cases.
To increase the effectiveness of therapeutic ointments, it is recommended to rub them into the affected area using massage movements. Thanks to this, you can perfectly warm the skin.
What else is used in the treatment of medial epicondylitis of the elbow joint?
Folk remedies in the form of herbal poultices
With the help of such means, it is possible to quickly defeat the inflammatory process. The most effective methods include the following recipes:
- The use of a poultice of cabbage. Cook two leaves of cabbage in a certain amount of wine. For this, vinegar solution is also suitable instead of wine. The resulting medicine is applied hot to the affected elbow. In this case, certain care must be taken in order not to get a burn in the end.
- Mulberry leaf treatment. They are boiled in a small amount of water. Then gauze is moistened in a warm broth and applied to the affected area. Wrap the hand from above with polyethylene.
- Herbal application. St. John's wort, hops and birch leaves are mixed in equal parts. This mixture is boiled in a small amount of water. Next, warm cake is applied to the elbow and wrapped with a film. Repeat this procedure several times a day.
- Use pads with herbs. A small pillow made of fabric is filled with clover grass, and, in addition, cherry leaves, chamomile and pine shoots. Boil it in water for about half an hour, and then apply it warmly to the affected area. The procedure must be repeated several times a day.
Further we learn about such methods of treatment of elbow joint epicondylitis as massage and physiotherapy exercises.
Physiotherapy exercises and massage
During the treatment of external epicondylitis of the elbow joint, they are obligatory engaged in therapeutic exercises and do massages. The fact is that many exercises with this disease can be done only if the pain is eliminated. First, movements aimed at stretching the muscle tissue of the forearm are performed, and then exercises are done to strengthen it.
Classes are conducted on their own or turn to specialized specialists. By the way, therapy according to the Bubnovsky method allows achieving an excellent result. We will talk about it a little later.
In order to cope with the disease, first a sick limb is bent with a healthy hand. In this position, it must be kept for about ten seconds. Then it will be possible to return to the original position. Repeat such movements need fifteen times. In total, three approaches are required.
Muscle strengthening
When the pain disappears, you can go to special exercises aimed at strengthening muscle tissue. As part of the supplement to therapeutic exercises, massage is used. With its help, microcirculation can be restored in the affected tissues and significantly accelerate the healing process.
It is worth noting that epicondylitis is a rather unpleasant pathology, accompanied by pain. This disease often leads to a decrease in the quality of life. In order to avoid negative consequences for your health, you need to contact a specialist in a timely manner, who will certainly help to defeat this ailment. As an addition to standard treatment, it is quite possible to use effective alternative methods. Next, we consider the treatment of elbow joint epicondylitis with the Bubnovsky method.
The technique of Dr. Bubnovsky
Now we present a set of exercises according to the method of Dr. Bubnovsky:
- It is necessary to take the dumbbells and raise your hands up, and then to part them in different directions.
- With the thumb of one hand, all fingers of the other are touched in turn and vice versa.
- They lay their hands on the table and cover it with another. Next, overcoming the resistance of the lower palm, one must try to raise it.
- Hands are laid on the table and alternately raise their fingers.
- Fists clench, slowly bending and unbending their hands in the wrist.
- The elbows need to be placed on the table, after which they are smoothly spread apart to the side until the palms can touch each other.
- One hand grabs the other and the brush gently rotates.
- Hands are locked in a lock, and then bred in different directions.
- Palm press on a small ball, which lies on a solid surface.
Reviews on the treatment of epicondylitis of the elbow joint
Reviews about the treatment of pathology by the Bubnovsky method are most often positive. A month of classes guarantees an improvement in the condition of this disease. So say those patients who followed the advice and recommendations of a doctor Bubnovsky. All these exercises can serve well for the prevention of elbow joint epicondylitis.
Particularly careful should be those who have already crossed the forty-year milestone. I must say that it is precisely in adulthood that this disease is most often diagnosed. Representatives of such professions as a milkmaid, driver, plasterer, painter, tractor driver and so on must be very careful. Athletes also belong to this category. Such people more than others load their tendons, receiving microtrauma of tissues, which leads to the development of this disease.