Elbow Arthritis
What are the symptoms of elbow arthritis?
Common symptoms of elbow arthritis include pain, stiffness, swelling, clicking, catching and locking in the elbow joint. You may experience creaking and grinding sensations, which occur because the cartilage of the joint surface is worn and the bones on the two sides of the joint rub together.
With rheumatoid arthritis, you may experience worse pain in the mornings. With osteoarthritis, you may experience more pain in the evening or when attempting physical activity.
Treatment
What are the treatment options for elbow arthritis?
When treating elbow arthritis, many factors have to be considered, including age, activity level, expectations and other medical conditions. You and your physician will discuss which treatment will work best for you. Treatment options include:
- Physical rehabilitation.
- Oral analgesic and anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs).
- Injections of steroids or viscosupplements.
- Surgical treatment, such as arthroscopic debridement, synovectomy, interposition of a membrane between the bones, partial or total joint replacement, or joint fusion or joint removal.