James C. Cassandra, DO
Orthopedic Hand & Elbow Surgeon
Our elbows have a major impact on our lives. We use our elbows every day without thinking. They make getting things done easier, so we want to protect them and keep them in good shape for as long as we can.
With that said, did you know there’s something that can affect our elbows, possibly without any signs or symptoms? Or maybe you have been feeling a little elbow stiffness but haven’t given it much thought.
It could be a bone spur or, more specifically, an elbow bone spur. At OrthoNeuro, our trained specialists can help you to detect and treat an elbow bone spur.
Our goal is to provide you with the proper insight and treatment so that you can give your elbow the care it requires. Contact one of our offices in the Greater Columbus area today to learn more.
An elbow bone spur is a bony growth that protrudes from the bone and can be found in the elbow joint.
While these bony growths may not be visually seen and can present without symptoms, some bone spurs can irritate your tendons, nerves, and muscles. This irritation in your elbow can result in pain.
Bones spurs (also called osteophytes) can become loose bodies within your elbow joint if they break off from the bone.
Elbow bone spurs are commonly found in pitchers and other athletes who participate in sports requiring a lot of throwing.
These bone spurs can also be found in those with elbow arthritis.
Several factors can contribute to the development of bone spurs.
These causes can be found below:
It is important to note that inflammation also plays a significant role in the formation of elbow bone spurs.
When the elbow joint has become inflamed, our bodies naturally begin repairing themselves. This repair can cause the formation of bone, which can result in a bone spur.
Although there are noticeable elbow bone spurs symptoms, it is common for bone spurs to go on undetected unless noticed on an X-ray.
If your symptoms are noticeable, you may experience the following:
Your doctor will examine your joint to see if there are any signs of subtle loss of movement. An X-ray may also be taken to look for bone spurs.
Many treatment options are available to treat bone spurs and alleviate elbow pain. If your symptoms are mild and infrequent, conservative nonsurgical treatment may be all that is needed.
Your doctor may recommend an outpatient procedure called elbow arthroscopy to remove bone spurs if they have failed to respond to conservative treatment or in other specific situations.
For example, this may be especially true if your symptoms interfere with sports or work.
Conservative treatment options include:
The surgical treatment option includes arthroscopic surgery (elbow arthroscopy).
Arthroscopic surgery is non-invasive, and our specialists have extensive experience performing arthroscopic elbow surgery.
Your doctor may highly recommend physical therapy to help you regain your strength and range of motion post elbow arthroscopy surgery.
If you have been experiencing elbow pain caused by bone spurs or suspect that there may be something wrong with your elbow, please feel free to contact OrthoNeuro today!
We would love to help you get the relief you want and deserve.
If you have been experiencing the symptoms of an elbow bone spur, schedule an appointment with one of our Board Certified Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Specialists at one of our 7 convenient locations throughout Greater Columbus.
Best of all, most patients can be seen within 24 hours of making an appointment.
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