Very often people suffer from collisions or injuries. Bruising of the elbow joint is a fairly common occurrence in medical practice, since this part of the body is most involved in the daily activities of an active person.
Although this is a fairly mild injury, it can have serious consequences. After such injuries, you need to be very careful about the symptoms that arise, so that you can timely detect the problem and consult a doctor for treatment. Most often, such an injury is observed in professional athletes, as well as in young children.
Reasons for bruised elbow joints
It can be at any age: children, adults and even the elderly. However, if in children and adolescents damaged bones and joints recover very quickly, then in old people bruises can become a serious problem, since there is a possibility of developing osteoporosis.
The main causes of damage to the elbow can be:
- direct hit;
- a fall;
- squeezing joints.
Elbow injury must be taken with full responsibility and immediately consult a doctor at the first sign of serious violations.
Symptoms of bruised elbow joint
Bruised elbow joints (ICD 10) have many different symptoms. The main ones are strong painful sensations, which are significantly amplified by any movements of the hand. They can gradually pass into the fingers and forearm. Another sign may be a swelling of the elbow immediately after the injury. The increase in the area of injury can be slight or pronounced, it all depends on the intensity of the damage and the characteristics of the body. If a hematoma forms at the site of the lesion, this indicates that blood vessels have been affected. The mobility of the elbow joint is limited for some time, and a strong blow can trigger complications.
What to do with an elbow bruise
If the patient has a bruise of the elbow joint, it is necessary to carry out a number of measures that will help get rid of pain and minimize the effects of trauma. Therapy implies:
- first aid;
- taking painkillers;
- the use of local drugs to eliminate pain;
- bandage application;
- treatment with folk remedies.
Each method has its pros, cons, indications and contraindications, so you must first consult with your doctor.
Timely provision of medical care can significantly reduce the unpleasant consequences of injury. First of all, it is necessary to fix the elbow joint, thereby ensuring immobility and complete rest. To lower blood flow, the arm must be locked in a raised position. To slow down bleeding, reduce pain and swelling, you need to work on the bruised area with cold. All further actions for the treatment of a bruised elbow should be entrusted to the doctor.
Treatment of bruised elbow joints
If there is a bruise of the elbow joint, how to treat it so that you can reduce pain and prevent complications? It is necessary to carry out therapeutic measures immediately after the onset of the first signs, since the recovery rate of the damaged area largely depends on this, and this will prevent the occurrence of complications.
After a medical examination and diagnosis, the following treatment methods are prescribed to the patient:
- drug treatment;
- physiotherapy;
- massage and exercise therapy;
- application of folk methods;
- surgical intervention.
The choice of the most appropriate treatment method depends largely on the nature of the lesions and the presence of complications. Only a doctor can determine the complexity of the damage and find the most appropriate way to eliminate the symptoms.
Drug treatment
Bruising of the elbow joint is very often treated with the use of medications that help eliminate acute manifestations and accelerate tissue healing. As a rule, the following groups of drugs are used for therapy:
- anti-inflammatory;
- decongestants;
- chondroprotectors;
- vitamins;
- drugs to improve microcirculation.
Initially, injectable drugs are used, and then, as the inflammatory process subsides, tablets and ointments are prescribed.
A bruise of the elbow joint (ICD code 10) is always accompanied by painful sensations and an inflammatory process. To eliminate all available symptoms, drugs in the form of tablets will help. To eliminate pain, it is recommended to take "Ketonal", "Nalgesin", "Celebrex" and others. The safest remedy that does not cause the development of complications is Celebrex. This medication can be used at any time.
A good remedy is the drug "Wobenzym", which helps to eliminate pain, swelling and inflammation. When cartilage tissue is destroyed, chondroprotectors and hyaluronic acid are used, which contribute to rapid recovery. The effectiveness of these funds increases if they are used in combination with alternative methods.
From the second day, treatment can be continued not only with tablets and injections, but also with ointments, gels, creams. A limitation can only be tissue damage.
Drugs such as
Febrofid gel, indomycin ointment, and Ketonal cream can reduce painful manifestations, the inflammatory process, and other signs. Tumor and swelling in the area of injury will help remove drugs such as Dolobene and Indovazin. These remedies will help eliminate the hematoma. To enhance the action of local drugs, it is necessary to use an elastic bandage and an elbow bandage.
Folk remedies for treatment
In ICD medicine, an elbow bruise has a code of 10 and is considered a rather serious injury. You can eliminate painful sensations and other symptoms of a bruise with the help of folk remedies. In particular, "Badyaga" helps well. The finished powder should be poured with a small amount of water and put the resulting slurry on the site of the bruise or make a compress using gauze or a bandage.
To reduce bruising and eliminate the inflammatory process, you can make decoctions of Arnica flowers and take this remedy inside. For a good local effect, an iodine grid, burdock leaves or alcohol tinctures of medicinal plants are very suitable.
Fresh potato gruel compress will help reduce swelling and eliminate inflammation. Only complex, well-thought-out therapy will help to quickly get rid of existing symptoms and protect against complications.
Physiotherapy for treatment
A bruise of the elbow joint, the treatment of which must be started immediately, also implies physiotherapeutic procedures. Such measures are indicated not only in the acute period of trauma, but also at the recovery stage, since this method has a very good effect, especially in combination with the use of medications.
To get a good result, you need to carry out procedures such as:
- electrophoresis;
- laser therapy;
- paraffin treatment;
- magnetotherapy;
- wave therapy;
- balneotherapy.
In order to accelerate the patient’s recovery, it is necessary to conduct a set of physiotherapeutic procedures.
Massage and exercise therapy for treatment
Therapeutic gymnastics must be carried out during the recovery period, provided that the joints are intact. After removing the bandage, a set of massage procedures and the development of damaged areas are shown. For the hand, special exercises are used, which, as the damaged joint is restored, become more complicated, and then it is necessary to gradually introduce exercises with exercise machines and weighting materials. For each patient, the doctor selects the optimal complex of exercise therapy.
Surgical intervention for bruised elbow
If there is a bruise of the elbow joint, fluid accumulates in the damaged area, then it is necessary to puncture the affected area. After this, excess fluid and blood are pumped out, and then the cavity formed is washed with antiseptic agents.
In the event of a fracture, it may be necessary to fix the resulting fragments using special metal screws.