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ELBOW PAIN
- ulnar collateral ligament sprain
Ross Hauser, M.D.
Another common cause of chronic elbow pain is an
ulnar collateral ligament
sprain. This
ligament supports the inside of the elbow. It is responsible for holding
the ulnar bone to the distal end of the
humerus. In other words it enables the arm
to flex, pivoting at the elbow. A patient's complaint of pain on the inside of the
elbow will cause a physician to examine the lateral epicondyle's "sister," the
medial epicondyle and not look for the
ulnar collateral ligament
(UCL) sprain. For example, the diagnosing of the
golfer's elbow is often made without examining
the ulnar collateral ligament.
A sprain of the ulnar collateral ligament refers pain to the
little finger and ring
finger. This same pain and numbness distribution is seen with aggravating the ulnar nerve. The ulnar nerve lies behind the elbow and is the reason why hitting
your funny bone causes pain. Because most physicians are not familiar with the
referral
pattern
of ligaments, patients with elbow pain and/or numbness
into the little finger and ring finger are diagnosed with an ulnar nerve problem, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. A more common reason is
ligament laxity in the
cervicalvertebrae 6 and 7 or in the ulnar collateral ligament, not a pinched ulnar
nerve.
A patient given the opinion that surgery on the ulnar nerve is needed for a pain
complaint should obtain a second opinion from a doctor who is competent in the treatment of
Prolotherapy. Surgery should be performed only after all
conservative options, including Prolotherapy, have been attempted. Prolotherapy
to the
ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) is the most successful way to eliminate medial
elbow pain
Golfer's elbow or
tennis elbow
causes the elbow pain because the muscles that
attach to these areas are attempting to repair themselves, causing
inflammation.
The treatment should not be to "anti-inflame," as is the case with
cortisone or with
anti-inflammatories like ibuprofen. The correct treatment is to strengthen the
muscle attachments which are inflamed due to the body's attempt to strengthen the area. Prolotherapy to strengthen these muscle attachments is 'very effective
in eliminating chronic elbow pain.
RELATED ARTICLES
Elbow
Pain and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Elbow
Pain
The
Use of Elbow Braces
Tennis
Elbow, Golfer's Elbow and Prolotherapy
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