The Elbow
Although your elbows are not the largest joints of your body, they are among the most important to your ability to do everyday activities – particularly tasks required to take care of yourself.
Consider this: Without your elbows you could not comb your hair, brush your teeth, scratch your head, clean your ears, button your shirt, or lift a fork or glass to your mouth. You could not reach into your wallet or turn your palm upward to accept change from a cashier. You could not pull a loved one close to you, drape your arm across a friend's shoulder or blow a kiss.
Like virtually all joints of the body, the elbows can be affected by arthritis, and repetitive use, abuse or traumatic injuries can lead to ongoing pain. Pain can persist not only when you are bending the elbows, but also when you extend them – for example, to carry a briefcase or shake a hand.
Here's what you need to know about your elbows and how to care for them.
Anatomy
An inside look at the structure of the elbow
Elbow Injuries
Common and some not-so-common elbow injuries
Diagnosing Elbow Problems
Tests your doctor uses to find the cause of elbow pain
Lab Tests for Elbow Problems
Tests that tell what's going on inside your body
Imaging Tests
Noninvasive tests that help your doctor see inside your elbows
Medications to Treat Elbows
What you need to know about the many medications used for elbow problems
Surgery
Arthroscopy, elbow replacement and other surgeries for elbows
