What Does a Sprained Elbow Feel Like?
When you sprain your elbow, you might hear or feel a pop and have immediate pain in your elbow. Repetitive use injuries develop gradually, and your elbow pain might begin with specific movements before progressing to constant pain.
Bruising emerges and your injured elbow swells, reddens, and stiffens. You may have difficulty bending or straightening your elbow. Your affected elbow might feel loose or unstable, depending on the severity of your injury.
How Painful Is a Sprained Elbow?
Elbow sprain pain varies depending on the severity of your elbow sprain. For example, a severe elbow sprain with torn ligaments is much more painful than milder elbow sprains.
You should make an appointment with the expert orthopedic surgeons at OrthoNeuro in Columbus, Ohio, if you have severe elbow pain, can’t extend or bend your elbow fully, have joint instability, or know that you’ve injured your elbow during a sports (or any other type of) accident.
How Do You Know If the Elbow Is Sprained or Broken?
Elbow injuries, including sprains, strains, and fractures, cause similar symptoms.
The best way to get an accurate diagnosis of your elbow injury is to call your doctor at OrthoNeuro and schedule an appointment to assess your damage.
After reviewing details about your elbow sprain, medical history, and lifestyle, our orthopedic surgeons complete a comprehensive physical exam, which may include X-rays, MRIs, and other diagnostic tests.
How Do You Know If You Tore a Ligament in Your Elbow?
Our doctors use imaging studies and other tests to evaluate the severity of your elbow sprain and tissue damage. They can identify torn ligaments and grade your elbow sprain correctly.