What is elbow arthritis?
The joint region of the elbow helps to do regular activities such as bending and straightening using your hand. If your elbows get affected with arthritis, you will undergo pain, discomfort, as well as restricted range of motion while performing routine activities.
Causes
There are varied causes of elbow arthritis such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, as well as accidental trauma.
Osteoarthritis damages the cushioned cartilage that aids to move the bones smoothly. Henceforth, the bones may rub each other, which causes bone degeneration.
Rheumatoid arthritis damages the joint linings called synovia. When these linings swell, the joint space narrows followed by the destruction of bones and soft tissues.
This disorder can affect anyone. Still, elders are more prone to develop this condition. Furthermore, mid-aged people with a history of osteoarthritis, and whoever performs strenuous activities may also develop the same condition.
Signs and Symptoms
The initial major symptom of this arthritis will be the pain that begins on the external side of the joint. In the later period, you will undergo constant pain even while taking rest.
Other symptoms of this condition include:
Swelling of the elbow region
Stiffness
Instability
Numbness
Catching/locking sensation
Bone spur
Test and Diagnosis
Once you are having constant pain in the elbow region, it is time to consult the physician. He/she will inspect the elbow for any sign of injury, followed by the range-of-motion test to examine the joint mobility. He may recommend an X-ray test to figure out cartilage loss or fracture if any. A blood test may predict the occurrence of rheumatoid arthritis. If its result confirms to be negative, the physician will finally diagnose the condition as elbow osteoarthritis.
Conventional treatment
The conservative home-based therapeutic modalities aim to improve the elbow movement along with the reduction in symptoms. These initial methods include activity restriction, heat pad application, as well as wearing braces and splints. Next, the physician will prescribe NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) to get relief from the pain as well as the associated symptoms. However, their extensive consumption may cause a few complications, such as gastric ulcers, kidney damage, and gastrointestinal bleeding. Regarding the administration of corticosteroid injections, you may find relief from the elbow pain and discomfort only for a short duration. Moreover, they have side effects like infection as well as skin degeneration at the elbow region. If the above listed non-surgical therapies fail in giving permanent relief from the symptoms, the physician may at last recommend surgery. The surgery options include synovectomy, arthroplasty, arthroscopy, as well as an osteotomy. Again, there are many post-surgical complications such as elbow tenderness, numbness, or limited range of motion in several patients. The post-surgical recovery also involves an extensive rehabilitation period.
Regenerative Cell Treatment
This is where regenerative cell treatment acts as the appropriate alternative in giving permanent relief from the symptoms. Regenerative medicine heals the underlying cause and not just mask the symptoms. It repairs and revives the injured part naturally. This non-surgical day-care procedure is minimally invasive along with a reduced recovery period. This therapy is safe as it utilises your own cells, and there will be no risk of rejection or allergy.
Refer to the website http://www.medicastemcells.com to know more about the regenerative cell treatment for an arthritis problem in your elbow. At Medica Stem Cells, we provide nutritional therapy and physical therapy as standalone services. Else, they may be offered in combination with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy, prolotherapy, and mesenchymal cell therapy. Consult our medical team from Medica Stem Cells clinic in Ireland at 01 298 8000 or in London at 020 8 168 2000, to understand these novel modalities in detail.