Treatment for elbow impingement can involve surgical and non-surgical options. Your doctor will decide the best option based on the condition of your elbow.
Nonsurgical treatment options may include :
- Ice: Application of ice packs on the elbow to decrease swelling and pain
- Activity Modification: Avoiding activities that trigger symptoms and changing one’s habits
- Physical Therapy: Regular exercise regimen to improve range of motion and strengthen elbow muscles
- Anti-inflammatory Medication: Medications like naproxen and ibuprofen to relieve inflammation and pain.
- Cortisone Injection: If physical therapy, medications, rest, and activity modification do not yield the desired results, a cortisone injection may be helpful. Cortisone is a very effective anti-inflammatory medicine for bursitis and long-term pain reliever for tears and structural damage.
Surgical treatment options may include:
- Arthroscopy: Your doctor will be able to repair damage to soft tissues of the elbow by using this technique. Arthroscopy is a minimally invasive surgical procedure that involves making small keyhole incisions to pass a fiber-optic tube with a tiny camera called an arthroscope and miniature instruments into the elbow joint. The camera displays pictures of the affected region on a monitor and the doctor is guided by these images to carry out the necessary repair.
- Open Surgery: A traditional open surgery approach would require a large surgical incision to be made to repair the affected region if the injury is large and complex. Open surgery has been utilized for joint debridement (removal of damaged cartilage or bone) or removal of osteophytes (bone spurs).