Are you experiencing an internal burning-like sensation on or around your elbow? You aren’t alone. Many children and adults experience elbow pain at least once throughout their lives, but determining its cause on your own can be rather difficult.
A number of disorders can directly affect the elbow. Many of them are caused by overuse and sports injuries. This burning feeling could be the inflammation and irritation of your arm muscle, tendons, ligaments, or the bone itself.
Conditions with “burning” symptoms linked to them include but are not limited to:
Tennis Elbow: Tennis elbow is the inflammation of the tendons that join the forearm muscles right near the elbow. This condition is caused by repetitive motions of the arm, hence the name “tennis elbow,” but is by no means limited to this sport. A carpenter could get tennis elbow from swinging a hammer routinely day after day. A common symptom is pain or burning on the outer part of your elbow.
Tendonitis: Tendonitis is the inflammation, irritation, and/or swelling of a tendon. Tendons are fibrous structures that join muscles to bone, and if you have tendonitis of the elbow you may be experiencing pain alongside a burning sensation within your arm.
Arthritis: Arthritis of the elbow, particularly rheumatoid arthritis can ache and continue throughout the night when you aren’t actually utilizing your elbow or arm.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Although CTS is usually caused by repetitive hand and wrist motion, radiating pain throughout the arm and up to the elbow can be a symptom.
As you can see, several conditions can cause your elbow to feel as if it’s “on fire!” An orthopedic doctor can properly diagnose what is causing this burning sensation. Dr. Rehman is highly experienced at assessing conditions of the arm and elbow and prescribing a treatment regimen to alleviate pain, build strength and rehabilitate the elbow. In addition to proper assessment and diagnosis, Midwest Hand Therapy educates patients about their condition and the best options for restoring full function.
If you’re experiencing elbow pain or a burning-like sensation it is recommended to seek professional help as soon as possible. Many conditions will worsen over time if left untreated.
Fluid-filled Bumps on the Hand or Wrist
If you’ve noticed a fluid-filled and raised bump on your wrist or hand, it may be a ganglion cyst. While the name sounds a bit scary, ganglions are a common condition, often found on the tendons and joints of the wrists or hands.
They are usually benign and harmless; however they bother many patients from a cosmetic standpoint. If you have a bump that is painful, it may be because it’s positioned very closely to a nerve.
So, what exactly is a ganglion and why did this bump arise out of nowhere? Ganglions often occur spontaneously when the soft sheath around a tendon or joint swells and fills with mucus. The specific cause of ganglions is unknown, although they may often grow with increased wrist and hand activity. With rest, the lump will typically start to shrink on its own.
Treatment is not always necessary, but it is recommended that you have any type of lump or growth on your body properly examined and diagnosed by a medical professional. A hand specialist will want to discuss your medical history and symptoms. He or she may ask you how long you’ve had the bump, whether or not it’s changed in size, and if it’s painful or interferes with your everyday activities.
Treatment for ganglions varies and often depends on the size and location of the bump. Your doctor may recommend a wrist splint to immobilize the wrist and hand so that it will disappear on its own. Cysts can also be removed with a syringe, and for complicated cysts that interfere with joint movement, the cyst may need to be removed surgically.
Note that it’s never safe to self-diagnose or leave something on your body untreated. If you’ve noticed a bump on your wrist or hand, schedule an appointment to have it checked out – even if it’s not bothering you!
We encourage you to contact Midwest Hand Therapy and Dr. Rehman if you have an undiagnosed bump or growth. A comprehensive evaluation and consultation will help to determine the best treatment plan possible.
