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One of the only physical liabilities of having an office
job is a hand injury in the form of carpal tunnel. Hands, arms and shoulders
can also be hurt from sports injuries, arthritis, congenital deformities,
and repetitive stress. The most common types of injuries are:
- Fractures and sprains
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Tendonitis
- Arthritis
- Nerve and tendon injuries or lacerations
- Rotator cuff tear
- Shoulder pain and instability
- Ganglion cysts
- Tennis elbow
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Dislocated Shoulder
If you have a dislocated shoulder,
it can either be partially dislocated or fully dislocated. This can happen
from falling or from contact sports like rugby or football. A hard hit
pulls the arm out of the shoulder socket. It will swell up, become numb
and weak, and bruise. A doctor will pop it back into place and then follow
up orthopedic care will be necessary until it regains stability.
Tennis Elbow (Golf Elbow)
Usually caused by overuse but sometimes a sudden impact, tennis elbow
is a result of tiny, painful tears in the ligaments, and muscles around
the elbow. The pain can radiate down the arm and is usually located on
the outside of the elbow bone called the epicondyle. In the case of golfer's
elbow, the pain is on the inside of the epicondyle.
Usually those who experience this type of pain should avoid doing the
activity that caused the pain (not just tennis, it can also be gardening,
painting or any activity that causes repetitive stress on the arm). Continuing
to perform an activity that incited the pain can cause pain to become
worse and in some the cases, the elbow will become inflamed. Time is
the best remedy to allow the tears to heal in the early stages.
Anti-inflammatory medications like Advil can also be used as it helps
to not only alleviate the pain, but also to reduce swelling in the arm.
If pain persists, you may want to visit the doctor. Your doctor will
be able to put you on a plan to help the pain go away and can offer strengthening
exercises to help you get better.
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Elbow Bursitis
Why do cars have bumpers on them? We all
know it is to keep the main part of the car from harm. Between the skin
and our elbow bone our bodies have
"bumpers" that allow help prevent injuries to the elbow joint. The bumper
is known as the bursa, small sacs of fluid that reside between the skin
and the bone to allow easy, pain-free movement.
You may have noticed that when you rest your elbow on the table for too
long of a time period it starts to hurt and may sport a reddish tint.
This is your bursa telling you to lay off the elbows for a while. If
you were to continue to rest weight on the elbows, they would inflame,
and hurt. When irritated, it is a good idea to stop the activity that
is causing the pain, take an anti-inflammatory medication such as Advil,
put ice on the elbow, and elevate to reduce blood flow. If the elbow
hurts a lot of the time, you should have a doctor look at them. He or
she may be able to drain the bursa or inject corticoseroid into the arm
to relieve pain. In some cases, the bursa may need to be removed.
Rotator
Cuff Tears
As the most flexible joint in the body, the shoulder is capable
of performing a wide range of activities. However, with this incredible
range of motion, it is at high risk for overuse and the joint is prone
to tearing over time causing a great deal of pain. Since a rotator cuff
injury stems from a ligament or muscle tear in the shoulder, improper
posture and lifting, falling down, or repetitive strain on the shoulder
can all lead to rotator cuff tears.
A rotator cuff tear is particularly common among those over the age of
40 since this is when collagen does not produce itself as fast in the
body and calcium deposits settle in the shoulder joint though it can
affect people of any age.
Treating a rotator cuff nonsurgically may be appropriate depending on
the severity of the injury. In many cases, the best thing to do is administer
RICE (rest from the activity causing the pain, apply ice to the injured
area, compress the injured area, and elevate the injured area above the
heart to limit blood flow).
When it hurts to sleep on the affected shoulder, lifting the arms is
uncomfortable, the pain resides in the dominant arm or the affected shoulder
continues to make noises, it is a good idea have a doctor give you an
examination.
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