What is the reason for elbow joint soreness

The elbow joint is a very important joint. The flexible movement of our upper limbs depends on this part. Therefore, if there is a problem, it will have very serious consequences. In daily life, some people will experience soreness and swelling in the elbow joints. If it is due to fatigue, this is a normal phenomenon and will recover after sufficient rest. But if it happens frequently, you should be careful. So, what is the cause of elbow soreness and swelling?

Frequent soreness and swelling in the elbow joint may be caused by tenosynovitis.

Clinical manifestations of tenosynovitis

1. Radial styloid stenosing tenosynovitis

Also known as de Ouervains disease, it is characterized by pain on the radial side of the wrist that is closely related to thumb movement. This disease is more common in women over 40 years old, but it can also occur in breastfeeding women.

2. Stenosing tenosynovitis of the flexor tendon

It often occurs on the thumb, middle and ring fingers, and the age of onset is generally over 40 years old. In the early stage of the disease, snapping and pain occur when the fingers are flexed and extended, so it is also called "trigger finger". Patients often report inflexible joint movement and swollen joints. In severe cases, the joint is locked in flexion or extension, and the joint cannot be straightened or flexed. This disease occasionally occurs in children, with the thumbs on both sides in a flexed position and unable to be actively straightened. In mild cases, the thumb can be straightened through local massage when the child is asleep. In severe cases, the thumb cannot be straightened even passively.

3. Myosinitis

Also known as gravel myothelial myociitis. When wrist activity increases, redness, swelling, heat, and local tenderness appear on the proximal side of the back of the wrist, and pressure may produce crackling or snow-stepping sounds.

4. Ulnar extensor carpi tenosynovitis

It is one of the causes of ulnar wrist pain. The extensor carpi ulnaris tendon and surrounding sheath play an important role in supporting the distal radioulnar joint and the triangular fibrocartilage complex of the wrist. When the wrist is too active, repeated pulling or spraining may induce pain on the ulnar side of the wrist, especially soreness and weakness in the wrist when exerting force.

diagnosis

1. Radial styloid stenosing tenosynovitis

If the above symptoms are present and the thumb is flexed during physical examination and the other four fingers hold the thumb, and the pain worsens when the wrist deviates ulnarially, that is, Finkelsteins test is positive, the diagnosis can be made.

2.Stenosing tenosynovitis of the finger flexor tendons

The above symptoms are present, with obvious tenderness at the beginning of the sheath at the distal end of the palm, and most patients can feel a nodule there.

3. Ulnar extensor carpi tenosynovitis

If the above symptoms are present and the ulnar side of the wrist is extended, pressing along the ulnar extensor tendon can induce severe pain on the ulnar side of the wrist, which can be diagnosed.