A lump under the skin in the elbow area can indicate several diseases. The diagnosis is made based on the factors preceding the formation of the lump, its nature, location, and the presence of other symptoms (eg pain). Once the diagnosis is made, appropriate therapy is prescribed.

What could it be and how to treat a lump on the elbow?

A fatty tissue, or lipoma, is a lump under the skin. Mostly it is round and small, but there are pathologies of significant size - up to 10 cm in diameter. This lump is a benign tumor of adipose tissue.

It is mobile and does not cause pain. However large lipoma can compress surrounding tissues and nerve endings, causing mild pain syndrome. Fatty deposits tend to grow and sometimes require surgical removal.

If a painless soft lump appears on the elbow and the doctor confirms the diagnosis, then the only treatment method is surgery. Conservative therapy in the presence of lipoma it is absolutely ineffective.

Atheroma is solid seal in the form of a ball on the bend of the elbow or other part of the limb. As a rule, it is painless. Mostly atheromas form on the head, neck, back and inner surface armpits, but it is possible that they may appear on other parts of the body. In the absence of discomfort, patients rarely turn to doctors.

Infection of the tumor forces you to visit the doctor. In such a situation, severe pain occurs and an increase in size may be observed. Inflammation is sometimes accompanied by an increase in body temperature. If such a pathology is present, surgery must be performed.

Hematoma is a consequence of injury. The blow causes small blood vessels to rupture, causing blood to leak into the soft fabrics and forms a tumor-like bluish compaction. The size and shape of hematomas varies significantly (from 1-2 to 15-20 cm and more). The hematoma may be round or have irregular shape. The color of the neoplasm also varies - from reddish to black. Hematoma is very painful.

Sometimes there is a local increase in temperature, limitation of the functions of the affected limb when an arm/leg is damaged. It is the last symptom that is the main difference between a hematoma and a banal bruise. Treatment is usually carried out surgically: the hematoma is punctured, its contents are pumped out and infection is prevented.

A lump on the elbow may appear during certain medical procedures, for example, intensive lymphatic drainage. Enlarged lymph nodes are caused by excessive intensity and errors in the procedure.

Lump on the bend of the elbow from the inside and outside

1. Hygroma is a compaction that is most often localized in the area wrist joint, but it also happens on the elbow. Usually its appearance is associated with the structure of the joint on the hand. Usually, hygroma does not provoke pain, but when it increases in size, it occurs during movement. Conservative methods of treating hygroma are ineffective. The operation is the only the right decision. It is worth noting that if a hygroma appears, then it is removed right down to the joint itself, otherwise it may form again;
2. Lymphadenitis is inflammation of the lymph nodes. The latter may have different size, but almost always painful. Usually this disease is secondary, that is, it occurs against the background of inflammation of other tissues and organs, for example, with a boil, phlegmon, hidradenitis, infectious processes, etc. Treatment is aimed at sanitizing the source of infection or inflammation.

What to do if you hit your elbow and a lump forms on it?

If the damage is serious enough, pain is present, a crack, bone displacement, or pinched nerve may be suspected. In such a situation, hospitalization is required. If a lump has formed, under no circumstances should various local warming agents be used. Traditionally, cold is applied to the bruise: a bottle of cold water, ice pack, piece of ice wrapped in cloth. You can use ointments like “Rescuer”.

If after the blow the consequences are less serious, the first thing to do is to ensure the rest of the affected limb. However, seeing a doctor should also be mandatory. He may prescribe non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. IN diagnostic purposes can carry out needle biopsy. Physical therapy helps speed up the healing process.

Lump on the arm under the skin above or below the elbow: bursitis

The appearance of compaction is always promoted by some reason. Usually the latter is hidden in an injury, blow or bruise, less often as a result of allergies, metabolic disorders, or infection.

Inflammation of the synovial bursa is medically called elbow bursitis. This disease is often observed in drivers and athletes.

In some cases, bursitis occurs as a secondary pathology with gout, tuberculosis or gonorrhea. Therefore, if there is pain above the elbow, you need to urgently contact a specialist to make a diagnosis. The doctor will be able to differential diagnosis arthritis, since the two diseases have similar symptoms.

Treatment for bursitis begins with eliminating the cause of its occurrence. It should be noted that, as with any other pathologies, the earlier therapy is started, the better for the patient. At the initial stage, you can limit yourself to conservative methods, and with prolonged and severe course disease required surgery.

In addition to the bump, elbow bursitis is characterized by a local increase in temperature. In acute inflammation, severe pain is observed, and in chronic inflammation, the thickening resembles a scar.

In case of acute inflammation of the limb, rest is required. A pressure bandage is applied to the arm and warm compresses are made if the presence of pus is excluded. Fixing bandages are also required. Treatment for bursitis after injury involves injections of hydrocortisone for pain relief.

The appearance of a tumor on any part of the body should alert you. You need to visit a doctor and find out the cause of the phenomenon. A lump on the elbow can form under the skin, both on the inside and outside of the joint. Benign formation may develop into a malignant tumor, so you should not delay visiting a medical facility.

Possible reasons

Lump on elbow joint may form after an impact or fall. Other causes of tumors in the elbow area:

• metabolic failures that provoke the development of lipomas;
• inflammation of the lymph nodes leads to lymphadenitis and the formation of bumps on the elbows;
• bursitis. This inflammatory process in the synovial bursa of a human joint, arising due to high physical activity or after injury. With elbow bursitis, a small bump with fluid forms on the elbow. If treatment is not started, the inflammation progresses, the fluid becomes larger and the growth increases.

TO rare reasons The appearance of swelling in the form of compaction under the skin of the elbow includes the following phenomena:

• allergic reaction;
• pathology of viral origin;
• tuberculosis;
• gonorrhea;
• gout.

You can see what a lump on the elbow might look like in the photo.

Clinical picture

Don't expect a lump on your elbow to go away on its own. An unexpectedly appeared lump can pose a danger not only to health, but also to life.

A new growth on the bend can appear on the inside or outside of the joint. It is necessary to pay attention to following symptoms sudden appearance small bump:

• nagging, constant pain;
• local or general increase temperature;
• impaired joint mobility.

If the neoplasm is a lipoma or a wen, then such a compaction does not cause discomfort and there is no pain. In the photo, a person has a small lipoma above the fold.

If the growth formed on the joint begins to grow, then nearby nerve fibers are compressed, and pain occurs.

When the provoking factor is inflamed lymph nodes, but the seals do not cause inconvenience, but the symptoms can worsen at any time.

If a lump suddenly appears on your elbow, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible. medical assistance, and treat the disease. Regardless of how a small tumor was formed, the characteristics pain and the presence of discomfort, the compaction under the skin cannot be ignored. The growth can suddenly develop into a malignant tumor.

The lump is soft and does not hurt

A soft lump on the elbow is usually the main symptom of developing bursitis.
Reasons for the development of ulnar bursitis in humans:

1. Inflammation occurs against the background of injury: dislocation, sprain, blow. After an impact, inflammation begins to develop in the joint tissues, resulting in a sharp increase in the amount of synovial fluid. Swelling forms on the bend, and as you can see in the photo, a lump the size of a chicken egg grows on the elbow under the skin.
2. Severe strain and tissue damage to the elbow joint resulting from sports loads, with frequent bending, elbow position for a long time in one position.

Bursitis can develop in an infectious form. There are specific and nonspecific infectious bursitis elbow:

1. A specific form of inflammation develops against the background of diseases such as syphilis, gonorrhea, and brucellosis.
2. A nonspecific type of elbow bursitis occurs after an injury when infection occurs open wound. IN synovial fluid purulent contents enter and soft seal under the skin. The joint hurts above the elbow.

The appearance of a soft lump on the elbow joint can be caused by some articular pathologies, for example, arthritis or gout.

hard lump

A hard lump in the elbow area usually appears after a sudden blow. But a hard lump may also be the beginning of malignant tumor.

A tumor in the area of ​​the elbow joint usually forms in bone tissue located close to the vessels. Malignant seals may not cause discomfort for a long time, and at the same time disrupt the functions of the joint. If upper limb changed shape, then cancer may appear at an early stage.

Due to the large number of vessels located in the elbow joint, cancer cells can quickly spread through the bloodstream to nearby tissues.

When a lump-shaped seal deforms the elbow joint, the following signs appear:

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• pain that does not subside after painkillers;
• protrusion of hard tissue under the skin;
• it is difficult and painful to bend and straighten your arm;
• the lymph nodes of the elbow joint are enlarged;
• general fatigue, weakness, lack of appetite;
• temperature rise.

If you do not start treatment for the listed symptoms, spontaneous fractures will begin to appear on the elbow joint in addition to the lump.

Diagnostics

To determine the cause of a growth on the elbow, it is prescribed comprehensive diagnostics. The following activities are carried out:

1. By interviewing and examining the patient, an anamnesis is collected.
2. The seal can be felt by palpation.
3. An x-ray is ordered.
4. Laboratory testing of blood and urine.
5. CT and MRI procedures are indicated to clarify the diagnosis.

If a joint tumor is suspected, a biopsy is taken for examination.

Treatment methods

When a soft lump appears on the elbow and a diagnosis is made, the choice of treatment method depends on the diagnosis and the severity of the pathology.

Regardless of the diagnosis, if there is a lump on the skin of the elbow, treatment can be conservative or surgical.

Conservative methods

Conservative treatment for diagnosed elbow tumors consists of the following procedures:

• chemotherapy;
• if chemotherapy is contraindicated, then the method of irradiation of tissues affected by metastases is used.

A malignant neoplasm can be successfully treated if a visit to doctors occurs at the initial stage of tumor development. The survival rate of patients directly depends on the time they seek medical help. Therefore, it is so important to consult with doctors in a timely manner if a seal occurs on the joint.

Elbow bursitis is treated as follows:

1. First, pain is eliminated. Prescribed drugs from the category of non-steroids with anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. Medicines are used in tablet form, as well as for external use, in the form of ointments, gels and creams.
2. Hormonal medications are prescribed when non-steroids do not cope with the task.
3. Drugs from the corticosteroid category are prescribed for a short course and give good results.
4. For purulent bursitis of the elbow joint, antibiotics are prescribed.

Drug therapy successfully combined with physiotherapeutic sessions prescribed both during the treatment process and during the rehabilitation period.

If necessary, to restore joint mobility and strengthen muscle tissue, exercise therapy classes are recommended.

Operation

When a lump forms on the inner or outside elbow can be performed surgical treatment.

Surgical intervention is used in advanced stages of development of elbow bursitis, or when chronic course inflammatory process. After the operation, the patient is prescribed treatment for the rehabilitation period, consisting of: therapeutic exercises, massage and physiotherapeutic procedures.

If a benign seal in the form of a wen or lipoma has formed on the elbow, then only surgical treatment is performed.

The fatty tissue is removed by laser excision or using an electrocoagulator. Lipomas must be removed because when they grow, they begin to pinch nearby tissues and blood vessels.

Traditional treatment

Folk remedies for the formation of a seal on a joint are used as additional method treatment. You need to understand that you won’t be able to get rid of the seal on your own. Application of any home remedy possible only after excluding the malignant nature of the formation of an elbow growth.

Typically, a cabbage leaf is applied to the elbow to relieve pain and reduce inflammation. Cabbage leaf apply as a compress and replace with a fresh one every 4 hours.

Cabbage leaves can be soaked vegetable oil. In this form, microelements will reach the diseased area faster.

You can make baths from pine cones, infusions of St. John's wort and chamomile.

Important: if the lump is a malignant neoplasm, then compresses can lead to the progression of the pathology.

Physiotherapeutic sessions

Physiotherapeutic sessions are prescribed for the chronic form of the disease. The following procedures are shown:

• electrophoresis;
• applications with ozokerite;
• magnetic therapy;
• phonophoresis in combination with drugs from the category of hormones.

Complete remission is possible if you follow all medical prescriptions.

Prevention

You can prevent the development of bursitis and other inflammatory processes in the elbow joint if you adhere to the following recommendations:

1. Before playing sports, be sure to warm up.
2. If you have to frequently load the elbow joint area, you need to wear special orthopedic braces.
3. Dose physical activity.
4. You can avoid overstraining the joint tissues by alternating physical activity and rest breaks.
5. If symptoms of inflammation and thickening appear on the elbow, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible. medical care.

Many, most dangerous diseases treatable if started timely treatment. Diagnosis of any disease at the initial stage almost always gives good results during treatment.

The formation of a lump, soft or hard to the touch, is an unpleasant and dangerous phenomenon. Early diagnosis And further treatment will prevent progression even cancer, and will allow you to avoid operational methods to eliminate the problem.

How to forget about joint pain forever?

Have you ever experienced unbearable pain in your joints or constant pain in the back? Judging by the fact that you are reading this article, you are already familiar with them personally. And, of course, you know firsthand what it is:

• constant aching and sharp pain;
• inability to move comfortably and easily;
• constant tension in the back muscles;
• unpleasant crunching and clicking in the joints;
• sharp shooting in the spine or causeless pain in the joints;
• inability to sit in one position for a long time.

Now answer the question: are you satisfied with this? Can such pain be tolerated? How much money have you already spent on ineffective treatment? That's right - it's time to end this! Do you agree? That is why we decided to publish, which reveals the secrets of getting rid of pain in the joints and back.

Many people panic when they notice a lump on their elbow. Should I worry or not? Some believe bursitis is not dangerous. In fact, this is not true! A small bump can later lead to purulent arthritis, lymphadenitis, and lymphangitis. How to get rid of a tumor?

Reasons

Most often, tubercles on the elbow joint appear in athletes and bakers, because their profession involves constant physical activity. Doctors, seeing such bumps, diagnose. The disease is characterized by a serious inflammatory process. Please note that bursitis is dangerous because at first it occurs without symptoms, then due to the bump, mobility in the joint is completely impaired, and in severe cases the shape of the arm changes. At the initial stage, a person does not feel pain at all, then his temperature rises sharply, weakness appears and the tissues swell.

Often a lump is a consequence of an injury, blow, or bruise. Rarely, a neoplasm occurs due to allergies, infections, or metabolic problems. Particularly dangerous elbow bursitis which occurs due to tuberculosis, gout.

Attention! If you find a lump on your elbow, consult a doctor immediately, otherwise it may result in disability.

Symptoms

In addition to the fact that you can notice roundness on the elbow, the following unpleasant symptoms appear:

• The temperature rises.
• The pain is unbearable.
• A scar forms on the joint.

Treatment methods

In case of acute bursitis, the patient should be at rest, this way you can get rid of the pain. A tight seal is applied to the bump pressure bandage. In addition, a warm compress helps a lot. In case of an elbow injury, a fixing bandage is required. First, the doctor injects Hydrocortisone to numb the affected area. The procedure is repeated several times.

Attention! It is not recommended to apply a bandage yourself, otherwise you may get an infection.

With chronic bursitis, you first need to get rid of the accumulation in the effusion, then the doctor prescribes antibiotics - most often these are macrolides and antiseptic drugs. To cure purulent bursitis, the puncture method is used. In this case, the lump is opened and then cleared of pus.

Sometimes you can't do without complete removal bumps. After the operation the following is prescribed:

• UHF.
• Dry heat.
• X-ray therapy.
• Radiation therapy.

These treatments help you recover quickly damaged tissue, relieve inflammation.

• When the elbow is very inflamed, it is best to put an elastic bandage on the bend; it will limit mobility in the joint and relax it.
• Try not to use the joint when moving so that inflammation does not develop.
• To relieve elbow pain, apply a cold compress first, then a hot compress.
• Anti-inflammatory and painkillers will help alleviate the condition.
• Has the severe pain subsided? You can move your elbow a little.

If you follow these recommendations when a lump appears, you can avoid various complications. It is also very important to see a doctor right away. The specialist will collect a medical history, carefully examine the patient, and analyze the exudate (for timely detection of infection). In addition, an x-ray will be prescribed.

Traditional therapy

The effectiveness of treatment will increase if you additionally use traditional methods.

Raw potatoes

Before you go to bed, you need to cut it thinly raw potatoes on gauze, then wrap it around the cone, apply cling film on top and wrap it with a warm scarf. This compress must be kept overnight. The next day you need to make a compress with raw beets, and the next day with white cabbage.

Celery infusion

With this medicine you can relieve inflammation, strengthen immune system. Preparing the product is not difficult: take the seeds from and pour boiling water (200 ml) over everything. Drink a glass in the morning and before bed.

Propolis tincture

Take propolis (10 grams) + vodka (60 ml). The bottle is sealed and placed in the dark for 5 days. Then the tincture should be used in the form of a lotion, apply it to the bump until it completely disappears.

Pine needle extract

Prepare pine needles (2 kg), fill it with water (10 liters), boil and wait for the product to infuse for 12 hours. Add the infusion before bathing.

Vishnevsky ointment

Buy ointment at the pharmacy, take a cotton cloth, moisten it with vodka, alcohol or cologne, and apply it to the bump for a day. After some time, replace the compress with a new one.

Juice from Kalanchoe leaves

Tear off the Kalanchoe leaves and put them in the refrigerator, then scald them so that they actively begin to secrete juice, apply to the damaged area. The more often you use this method, the will heal faster damaged area.

Aloe and horse chestnut tincture

The fruits and leaves of aloe need to be filled with 500 ml of alcohol. Then take a linen napkin and lower it into the finished medicine and applied to the bump. You need to put a piece of wool on top and secure the bandage. It is recommended to undergo a 10-day course of therapy.

Prevention

It is easier to prevent a lump from appearing than to get rid of it; to do this, you need to follow these simple rules:

• In case of any damage, treat the wound antiseptic, use a bactericidal dressing.
• During physical activity, use special protective bandages.
• Treat infections promptly.

Have you noticed a suspicious growth on your elbow? You should not try to remove it yourself; first go to the hospital and find out the cause. Then you can begin treatment. Only complex therapy will help get rid of the bump. It includes taking antibiotics, using antiseptic dressings, physiotherapeutic procedures, traditional methods of treatment, and a special set of exercises to develop the elbow joint.

If a soft lump appears on the elbow joint, as shown in the photo, then many people believe that such a formation is absolutely harmless to health. However, a tumor located on any joint can be dangerous to the body.

If the treatment of bumps on the arm or back is not timely, then various complications. This tumor contributes to the development of:

• purulent arthritis;
• phlegmon;
• lymphadenitis;
• lymphangitis.

Types and symptoms of bursitis

This disease is popularly called “athletes’ disease” or “baker’s hand.” Formations in the spine, toes, feet, knees and elbows often “select” their owners according to professional characteristics.

The fact is that the tumor occurs precisely on the joint that bears the greatest physical load. Bursitis is characterized by constant inflammation. So, this process occurs in the synovial bursae of the joints of the fingers, toes and spine.

The development of the disease is invisible. That's why many people don't take it into account initial symptoms. People with lumps on the hand, foot or back begin to realize the seriousness of the disease when their joints lose their mobile function.

Often, forms of the disease are classified based on the location of the formation:

• chronic;
• acute;
• recurrent.

Depending on the location of the tumor, there may be different condition body. So, there are bumps on the elbow and hand various symptoms. Sometimes the formation does not cause severe pain.

In this case, the nature and intensity of pain can be different. These growths often change the shape of the knees, fingers, arms and hands.

The disease may not contribute to the deterioration of well-being or, on the contrary, manifest itself as an inflammatory process in the joints: general malaise, elevated temperature, swelling

As a rule, chronic bursitis does not interfere with the functioning of the limb on which the tumor has formed. Unpleasant sensations arise in the diseased joint. The disease is often localized in the area:

1. feet;
2. spine;
3. knee;
4. elbow;
5. brushes

The peculiarities of the chronic form of bursitis primarily lie in its painful manifestations: for a long time the patient suffers from mild pain in the shoulder or other joints.

Education with chronic bursitis does not always develop so strongly that it becomes large and visually noticeable. But the lump can be felt, as a result of which a dense formation is felt.

The symptoms of acute bursitis are slightly different. The size of the tumor is rapidly increasing. The pain becomes cutting, in addition, it is more intense when a person is in motion.

A lump on the shoulder, knee or wrist joint can cause general intoxication of the body. A person's body temperature suddenly increases and the functioning of certain areas of the body deteriorates.

Recurrent bursitis of the elbow joint can appear on the hand, spine, fingers, elbow and other joints where there are suitable conditions for its development. This form of the disease is characterized by repeated damage to the joints, as a result of which their function is disrupted and inflammatory processes appear.

Synovial fluid

A lump on the elbow and other joints can be specific or nonspecific.

1. A specific form develops in case of intense physical activity.
2. A tumor on the back often appears in people whose professional activity involves carrying and lifting heavy objects.

But specific bursitis can appear on the joints even due to minor damage. Sometimes it is formed due to an infectious disease.

In addition, bumps on the spine often appear in people who have tuberculosis. By the way, treponema and gonococcus can also provoke the appearance of the disease.

The synovial substance with which the tumor is filled is also classified due to the heterogeneity of the composition of the substances that are included in it.

So, if the formation on the hand, spine, elbow or foot has a serous composition, then it is the safest. This form of pathology is easier to treat than others and almost does not provoke significant complications.

Over time, the substance in the tumor acquires a serum consistency, which is much more dangerous. With this type of disease, complications may develop that have negative impact on the work of the spine, arms and legs.

Reasons for the appearance of a lump

If the injury to the elbow is serious, then there may be a bone fracture, so the patient needs to receive immediate medical attention.

The occurrence of bursitis on the hand, spine or elbow joint is associated with various disorders fabrics. If there is damage to the spine and elbow, in most cases a lump may appear.

But the nature of the damage to the joints itself is of no small importance. If in the process of injury the skin has been damaged and as a result an infection has entered the wound, then nonspecific bursitis occurs.

The infectious form of the disease is often caused by a simple violation of hygienic and sanitary standards, including everyday life. In some cases, an infection gets into the wound when unqualified medical care is provided, and the disease begins to develop on the elbow and spine.

The primary symptom for the appearance of a tumor in the spine is arthritis. Features of the course of the disease are often associated with the nature of the disease. Lupus, rheumatoid, psoriatic arthritis backs contribute to the onset of the development of bursitis on the spine.

Basically, gout is characterized by the presence of tumors in the affected joints. Bursitis on the spine, elbow and hand is quite dangerous phenomenon, since it entails various complications.

The infection can spread to the elbow joint from another part of the body. This is how elbow bursitis appears. In addition, the causes of this disease are brucellosis, tuberculosis, syphilis and gonorrhea. It is such diseases, and not the tumor, that contribute to the development of subsequent complications.

Surgery

Visually, as shown in the photo, on the spine, elbow, hand and other parts of the body on early stage The development of the disease is almost imperceptible.

Often the diagnosis is made in the presence of obvious compaction.

To accurately determine the disease, the doctor prescribes bacteriological tests and serological tests.

If the tumor is in an advanced state, then a puncture of the inflamed substance is done. The presence of bursitis in a joint can be determined using magnetic resonance imaging and x-ray diagnostics. And if the pathology was not cured on time, then the patient is scheduled for surgery.

To avoid the appearance of formation on the body, it is necessary not to forget about prevention. Therefore, if a person’s work involves a risk of injury, then it is necessary to use protective equipment.

In addition, before playing sports, you need to do a warm-up and warm up your muscles, and at the end of the workout you should do stretching. Compliance correct mode work and sleep, moderate physical activity is optimal preventive measures, preventing the appearance of bursitis.

Source: http://sustav.info/travmy/opuhaet/shishka-na-lokte.html

What to do if you find a lump on your elbow?

page » Anatomy » Elbow joint » What to do if you find a lump on your elbow?

What we call a bump, for doctors, is a semicircular bulge above the bone, in the place where the elbow is not covered by muscles and fatty tissue, but only by skin.

The elbow is the place where the arms bend, and the joint itself is active and functional.

To ensure its mobility, between the skin and bones there are three mucous bursae (bursae) filled with synovial fluid in small quantities.

Normally, this fluid, due to its properties, provides friction and shock absorption in the joint. But under the influence unfavorable factors the amount of liquid can increase sharply, and its composition can change. This is how bumps on the elbow grow.

Causes

We present a classification of the causes of occurrence in descending order from common to rare.

1. Injuries and microtraumas of the elbow joint. This could be a bruise, a sharp blow on a hard surface, or a fall on a bent arm. Microtraumas occur with constant frequent support on the elbow during professional activities(chess players, draftsmen, students). With this impact, the soft tissues and blood vessels of the joint are injured, hemorrhage occurs in the mucous bursae, and a hematoma appears. Next, the blood in the hematoma coagulates, and a hard lump forms on the olecranon. This is a seal when proper treatment most often it resolves, but sometimes it degenerates into a hygroma, in which aseptic inflammation can occur. With an inflammatory process in the hygroma, they speak of chronic bursitis.
2. Inflammation that spreads to the bursa during rheumatoid, gouty, reactive and any other type of arthritis is called bursitis. As a result of the inflammatory process, it accumulates in the synovial bursa. large number fluid, which leads to the characteristic formation of the olecranon under the skin. With bursitis, the bump on the crook of the arm is quite soft.
3. Infection and suppuration. May occur when damaged skin in the elbow area, and internally - through the blood or lymph, if you are sick infectious disease. In this case, the composition of the fluid in the bursae is purulent, and they speak of purulent bursitis.
4. Lipoma is benign neoplasm from adipose tissue (wen). Appears and grows in people, regardless of weight and physique. It can be on both the outer and inner side of the elbow joint.
5. Oncology in the elbow area. It is rare and can occur in a formation after an injury if it does not resolve for a long time and leads to immobility of the hand. In addition to chronic injuries, risk factors for the appearance of a malignant tumor include genetic predisposition, the influence of chemically harmful substances, and ionizing radiation.
6. Metabolic disorder diabetes mellitus may also cause a growth on the elbow.

Associated symptoms

In case of an elbow injury, when a person knows where the lump came from, the following symptoms are observed: first - swelling of the joint, and the formation under it may not yet be visible. When the swelling goes down, a hard lump appears, at first a little painful, then it doesn’t hurt at all.

A completely different picture may arise for other reasons for the formation of the growth. To recognize the nature of your lump on the elbow, let’s look at the symptoms in each individual case.

• If a post-traumatic hematoma has turned into a hygroma, then it will become softer to the touch, but will increase in size and become painful. Sometimes villi appear inside the affected bursa - “rice bodies”, products of the inflammatory process in the cyst.
• Inflammatory processes are characterized by the following symptoms of bursitis: swelling appears at the site of the olecranon process, then a soft lump, which gradually increases. Without treatment, pain increases, discomfort when bending the arm, and body temperature rises. As a result, signs of general intoxication arise - weakness, aches, headaches, loss of appetite. IN advanced cases the pain is very severe, the lymph nodes are enlarged.

• Purulent bursitis can occur as a result of external damage and infection, for example, streptococcus, and as a result of advanced inflammation. The swelling on the elbow joint becomes hot, the pain is twitching and throbbing, the body temperature rises to values ​​above 38. General condition severe, nausea, fever present. Without treatment, infectious bursitis can cause complications in the form of subcutaneous and muscular phlegmons and fistulas. Also, with concomitant damage to the bones in the joint, purulent arthritis occurs, and the lymph nodes react with dangerous lymphadenitis.
• Lipoma, unlike inflammatory formations, is painless and quite mobile. It only causes aesthetic inconvenience, including rubbing during large sizes growth (about 10 cm). The density can be either hard or soft. The only complication is that when it reaches an impressive size, it can compress nerve endings and nearby vessels.
• In case of oncology of the olecranon process, the main distinctive feature- night aching pain that cannot be relieved with painkillers. The tumor takes on the appearance of a sac with fluid inside. As you grow cancer cells observed frequent fractures bones of the elbow joint due to increased fragility. On late stages illness present severe intoxication body in the form of fever and fever, lack of appetite, increased fatigue.

Diagnostics

Any experienced doctor can make a preliminary diagnosis by examining the lump on the joint and palpating it. However, to clarify the pathology and to find out the composition of the fluid inside the affected synovial bursa, there are precise methods research:

• X-ray of the formation site. If cancer is suspected, an x-ray is taken with the introduction of a radiological drug, which accumulates in cancerous tissues and glows in the image. This allows you to determine the exact location of the lesion.
• MRI or CT scan of the joint provides information about the exact boundaries of the tumor and the structure of the lesion.
• IN difficult cases, if the olecranon process and the growth itself hurt for a long time, if the already prescribed treatment does not give the desired result, a biopsy is prescribed. This is the collection of pathological tissues through microsurgery. Next, the sample is examined for cytology and histology, as a result of which information is obtained about the exact composition of the biological material from the growth.

Treatment methods

If a hematoma in the elbow area is associated with an injury, then it may well go away on its own.

It is necessary to limit the mobility of the sore arm (for example, with a scarf), and to relieve swelling with inflammation, apply cold for 3 days for 10-15 minutes 4 times a day.

If the tumor continues to grow and discomfort increases, it must be removed surgically. Since post-traumatic bumps harden, they are removed not with a needle, but through a micro incision with a Volkmann spoon.

Conservative methods

When was it diagnosed? acute inflammation(bursitis) of the olecranon - NPS are prescribed for oral and external use, for example, Nimesulide with Diclofenac. For infectious purulent bursitis, an antibiotic is needed.

If treatment does not work and fluid continues to accumulate in the lump, a puncture (aspiration of this fluid through a needle) is prescribed. As a result, pain and pressure on tissues close to the tumor are instantly reduced.

During puncture, either an antibiotic or steroidal NPS is injected into the diseased bursa to relieve inflammation.

In severe cases, especially with purulent bursitis, an operation is needed to suction out the harmful contents of the bursa cavity.

After relief of the acute condition, restorative physiotherapy is prescribed - ultrasound, electrophoresis, paraffin treatments, massage, exercise therapy.

Surgical intervention

Lipoma is a painless lump, so the only way to get rid of it - removal surgery.

This can be the classic method - complete excision, or more humane methods: laser removal, electric cauterization.

Lipoma recurrence can only occur after poor-quality surgery.

Cancerous tumor of the elbow is subjected to radiation therapy and in the absence of stable remission, surgical removal of the formation and nearby tissues is performed. Cytostatic drugs are prescribed depending on the stage of the disease.

Traditional medicine

• Propolis tincture. 10 grams of propolis are poured with 60 ml of alcohol and left for 5 days in the dark. Use as a lotion on the bump until recovery.
• Raw vegetables. Before going to bed, cut potatoes into thin slices, place them on your elbow, and wrap them in cling film and a warm cloth. Keep it until the morning. Wrapping with raw beets and cabbage leaves is done in the same way.
• Pine bath. Boil 2 kg of pine needles in 10 liters of water, leave covered for 12 hours. Take a bath with the decoction for 20 minutes.
• Tincture for horse chestnut and aloe. Half a bottle of raw material is filled with 500 ml of alcohol and left for 2 weeks. Moisten a linen napkin, place it on the cone, and wrap it woolen fabric. Once fixed, leave for 2-3 hours.

“Treatment of bursitis with folk remedies”

About what olecranon bursitis is and how to treat this disease traditional methods- watch in our video.

Do you have any questions? Specialists and readers of the website Portal about human joints will help you ask a question

Source: https://prospinu.com/anatomija/loktevoj-sustav/shishka-na-loktevom-sustave.html

What to do if a lump appears on your elbow

• Bursitis
• Malignant tumors
• Lipoma and hygroma
• on topic

Elbow joints are exposed to significant stress every day, this is especially true for people who perform monotonous movements with their hands due to their professional activities - handymen, athletes, hairdressers. Even slight discomfort causes a lot of inconvenience, and a lump that appears on the elbow can cause panic.

It should be noted that malignant formations in this area occur infrequently; the joint capsule of the elbow is mainly inflamed. However, you will not be able to cope with this problem by self-medication; you must definitely visit a doctor and undergo diagnostics.

Bursitis

The inflammatory process in the tissues that surround the elbow joint is called bursitis. Bursa next to the joint, called the bursa, provides elbow joint normal functioning.

The fluid inside the bursa acts as a kind of lubricant, preventing friction articular surfaces about each other. Thanks to this structure, natural human activity does not injure the joint.

The elbow has three bursae - the interosseous, ulnar subcutaneous and ulnar interosseous. Each bursa contains synovial fluid, which, when inflamed, changes its composition and volume - this is how bursitis appears.

Classification of bursitis:

• by location - in which bursa the damage occurred;
• by severity - acute, subacute, chronic;
• according to the composition of the fluid - purulent, serous, fibrous and hemorrhagic.

Reasons

Inflammation of the joint capsule of the elbow is a common phenomenon; it can occur for the following reasons:

• A lump on the elbow joint most often appears due to arthritis. Acute inflammation of the cartilage is accompanied by the accumulation of joint fluid;
• microtraumas are the second most common cause leading to bursitis. Injury occurs as a result of repeated movements of the hands, especially in cases where the elbows rest on a hard surface. The joint capsule may become inflamed some time after mechanical injury, for example, if a person fell on his elbow or hit himself.
• infection when the skin near the elbow is damaged. In this case, the culprit of inflammation may be panaritium, which affects the bones and soft tissues of the fingers. Thus, pathogenic microorganisms enter the synovial bursa not from the outside, but from the inside - either with the blood flow (hematogenous path) or with lymph (lymphogenous);
• idiopathic bursitis. In some cases, the exact cause cannot be determined. The idiopathic form of bursitis is diagnosed extremely rarely.

A risk factor is also considered to be the presence of diabetes mellitus and some other metabolic disorders, as well as a general weakening of the immune system and long-term use hormonal drugs.

Symptoms

The insidiousness of the disease lies in its asymptomatic course at first, but meanwhile the inflammatory process progresses, and a soft lump appears on the elbow joint. The mobility of the joint is impaired, the person feels severe weakness, body temperature rises, the elbow hurts and swells.

What happens next is sharp deterioration states with characteristic symptoms intoxication - lethargy, headaches, sweating and loss of appetite.

If a person has not yet sought medical help, now is the time. Otherwise, the disease will go into a purulent stage, and fistulas and subcutaneous phlegmon will appear on the elbow.

They often increase in size and lymph nodes.

Purulent bursitis

Purulent bursitis is characterized by incessant pain of a tugging or bursting nature, the skin near the elbow turns red and becomes hot.

The synovial bursa contains purulent contents caused by bacterial infection. The causative agents are staphylococci or streptococci that enter the bag through an abrasion or scratch.

Any injury with damage to the skin can serve as an entry point for infection if the synovial bursa is affected.

Early diagnosis is the best protection against suppuration of the joint, since in the presence of appropriate conditions, bursitis inevitably turns into a purulent form.

A characteristic symptom of purulent bursitis is a lump below the elbow, at the very top.

Depending on the severity of the disease, the size of the lump may vary, but the pain syndrome is intense, the skin is red and swollen, and body temperature can rise to high values.

The signs of purulent bursitis are very similar to the signs of purulent arthritis, the only difference being the greater degree of joint mobility. Arthritis makes it almost impossible to move your arm.

Treatment is only surgical; sometimes excision alone is not enough, since healing is slow, and repeated surgery is performed.

Treatment

If the bursitis is not complicated and occurs after a minor blow, then it is enough to temporarily limit the mobility of the hand and apply an absorbable ointment:

• Dimexide. This drug has antibacterial, analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects. Compresses with Dimexide diluted 1:4 are applied to sore spot 2-3 times a day, and keep for several hours. If an allergic reaction occurs and your hand itches, the drug needs to be replaced. Dimexide is also available in the form of ointment and gel, which can be applied directly to the skin, secured on top with a bandage;
• Collagen Ultra. The ointment acts quickly, restoring connective tissues and significantly reducing cell regeneration time. Even if the lump does not hurt, using this remedy will help normalize the function damaged joint and prevent further inflammation.

How to treat bursitis folk remedies, has been known for a long time. Some recipes have not lost their relevance today. Here are the most effective ones:

• vegetable compresses. Finely chop or grate potatoes, cabbage or beets (separately), place the mixture on a bandage or gauze, and wrap the joint. You can wrap it with fabric or a scarf on top for a warming effect and additional fixation;
• hot sugar compress. Heat the sugar in a frying pan without allowing it to melt. Then pour it into a cotton bag and apply it to the sore spot. Tie a towel on top. The procedure can be done daily until the pain stops;
• propolis tincture. Combine 25 g of propolis and a glass of vodka and leave for a week. Lotions with tincture are made twice a day;
• baths with pine extract. To prepare the infusion, you need to take natural raw materials - pine branches, cones and needles. They are washed and soaked in cold water for 30 minutes, then boil. Boiling time is 30–40 minutes, infusion time is 10 hours. Strain the infusion and add to a hand bath or a general bath. In the latter case, you will need a fairly large amount of raw materials - about 2 kg. Alternative method is a pine extract for baths, which is sold in pharmacies.

Malignant tumors

Neoplasms of the musculoskeletal system originate in most cases in bone tissue.

Most often, tumors of bones and joints occur at a young age, up to 35 years, more than half of them are diagnosed in bone segments located in close proximity to the joints.

Articular tumors under the elbow may not manifest themselves for quite a long time, while actively disrupting the functioning of the joint. It is the changes in the functioning of the limb that the patient experiences that make it possible to diagnose cancer and sarcoma at an early stage.

There are a lot of blood vessels and nerve endings in the elbow, and therefore even a small sarcoma quickly invades nearby areas, destroying them and promoting the spread of metastases through the bloodstream.

When a sarcoma in the form of a lump on the arm damages the joint itself, symptoms appear:

• paroxysmal pain that cannot be relieved with analgesics;
• deformation of the elbow joint and protrusion of hard tissues;
• the mobility of the articular head is severely limited, sometimes the arm does not bend at all;
• lymph nodes near the elbow become enlarged;
• the patient feels unwell - gets tired quickly, eats poorly, loses weight, body temperature rises;
• in the absence of adequate therapy, spontaneous fractures in the elbow joint are possible.

To make a diagnosis, the area where the soft lump appears on the elbow is palpated and X-ray examination. To clarify the diagnosis, MRI or CT is prescribed. Blood and urine are donated to mandatory. Next, the biomaterial is collected by puncture or incision - biopsy.

Magnetic resonance imaging is one of the most informative diagnostic methods

Until recently, in cases of cancer, if a tumor appeared on the elbow, the entire limb was amputated.

Now a more gentle method is used to remove a bone segment and replace it with an implant. Chemotherapy is used to eliminate metastases.

Before surgery, chemotherapy is also carried out to reduce the size of the tumor and also to prevent relapses.

If for some reason chemotherapy and surgical treatment are not possible, radiation is used. However, this is undesirable, since sarcoma and cancer are not susceptible to such effects. The only exception is Ewing's sarcoma.

Survival rate for elbow cancer is 60–70–80% of cases total number sick, depending on the time of presentation. That is, cancer detected at an early stage is cured in 8 out of 10 patients.

Lipoma and hygroma

Lipoma, or wen, is a benign neoplasm of adipose tissue that is prone to rapid growth.

Patients note that this formation is absolutely painless and does not cause any discomfort.

However, conservative treatment methods in this case are absolutely useless, and the lipoma can only be removed surgically.

To eliminate wen it is used as classic method complete excision, as well as modern methods - laser and electrocoagulating.

Lipomas must be removed, since when they grow, blood vessels and nerve endings are compressed.

In addition, when rubbed or injured, the wen can become inflamed and form abscesses.

Ulnar hygroma is cystic formation With serous fluid inside, which has a benign course. The development of hygroma can occur from the joint capsule or from the tendons.

With regular stress on the elbow tendons, bumps appear with inside elbow, the motor ability of the joint is impaired.

As the watery tumor grows, it begins to press on the blood vessels, causing throbbing pain and swelling.

Previously, the treatment method for hygroma was limited to crushing them, when the water tumor was subjected to mechanical stress.

This method is extremely painful and absolutely ineffective, as the percentage of relapses is high.

Today, excision of the hygroma under local anesthesia or endoscopic removal is used.

If you notice a suspicious tumor on your elbow, you should not wait for pain and tumor growth. Consult a doctor, get diagnosed and follow all recommendations.

Lumps on the elbows bother many people because the elbow joints are subject to constant increased loads. Usually the lump is a benign neoplasm; an oncological tumor on the elbow is diagnosed quite rarely.

The seal can deliver severe pain, or may not cause any discomfort. Only a doctor can diagnose pathology based on a visual examination and the necessary studies (radiography, ultrasound, computed tomography).

Causes of seals

There are various factors, affecting the formation of cones. These include the following:

• The consequences of arthritis are acute inflammation of cartilage tissue. Arthritis causes a bursitis (large internal lump) to develop on the elbow.
• Receiving microtraumas - if a person constantly performs monotonous movements with his elbows or, due to work, he often has to keep his elbows on a table or other hard surface, then this leads to microtraumas. Over time, they lead to the appearance of bursitis or hygroma.
• Severe bruises, dislocations, fractures - any serious injury to the elbow joint can cause inflammation and cause a painful lump to form under the skin of the elbow.
• Infection of the skin near the elbow leads to the fact that the panaritium enters the synovial bursa. This causes inflammation and the appearance of bursitis.

TO indirect factors factors that influence the appearance of a lump on the elbow include: diabetes mellitus, long-term use of hormonal drugs, long-term bed rest, weak immunity caused by chronic diseases.

Types of seals

In medicine, there are several types of bumps on the elbows. They may appear by various reasons, differ in symptoms, nature of the disease and methods of treatment.

Among the balls on the elbows, slightly above or below the elbow joint, the following are distinguished: bursitis, hygroma, lipoma, or those that form after a blow or severe injury, malignant neoplasms. The latter are rarely diagnosed. If detected at an early stage, it is possible to fully recover, even without amputation of the limb.

You can look at different types of seals in photos online, on thematic websites and forums. But diagnosing yourself based on photographs is strictly prohibited.

Why does bursitis appear?

This is the most common disease, characterized by the appearance of lumps under the elbows. Next to the elbow joint is a bursa or bursa. It contains fluid that prevents friction of the joints. When the fluid becomes inflamed (its consistency and composition changes), we are talking about bursitis.

The first stages of the disease occur without symptoms. Then a soft lump appears on the elbow. Severe pain and swelling of the joint begins. A person quickly gets tired, feels general weakness and fever.

If treatment measures are not taken, purulent bursitis will develop. In this case, prompt surgical intervention is performed. Sometimes one operation is not enough, then repeated excision is performed.

What causes lipomas and hygromas?

Lipoma is a soft and movable ball on the elbow. Represents benign tumor consisting of adipose tissue. Lipoma does not cause any discomfort other than psychological. The fatty tissue can only be removed surgically.

A lump on the inner or outer bend of the elbow may be a hygroma. This is a benign neoplasm. Inside the shell contains watery serous exudate. Most often, a hygroma is a hard swelling that is firmly attached to the bone. Hygroma usually forms as a result of injury or daily monotonous work.

Previously, surgeons crushed hygromas, but this was a painful method. Moreover, it has proven to be ineffective. The fact is that the shell remained in place, over time, liquid began to accumulate in it again, and the hygroma appeared again.

When it comes to malignant tumors

Cancerous tumors are extremely rare on the elbows. But a lump on the outside or inside of a joint may be oncological. In this case, the tumor grows quickly and is very painful.

Moreover, standard painkillers do not help relieve discomfort. The patient suffers due to constant fatigue, he gets tired quickly. Body temperature is always elevated to subfebrile. There is a decrease in body weight and a decrease in appetite.

Doctors diagnose obvious deformation of the elbow joint, increased fragility of other bones, and enlarged lymph nodes. In case of a malignant tumor, emergency surgery and courses of chemotherapy are indicated.

Bumps due to impacts

There is practically no subcutaneous fat in the area of ​​this joint. As a result of the impact, blood vessels and capillaries burst, blood accumulates directly under the skin, causing lumps to form.

Gradually, the hematoma resolves on its own, and the blood flow returns to normal. But this is possible in the absence of further trauma. If a joint regularly succumbs to bruises or microtraumas, the healing process will take a long time.

How are seals treated?

Treatment measures depend on the disease. If the tumor is very painful and there is no indication for emergency surgery, then it is necessary to relieve inflammation and relieve pain. After this, doctors prescribe surgical intervention.

• Drug therapy includes taking drugs from the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory group. Additionally, doctors prescribe lubricating the tumor with absorbable ointments. But this treatment effective for bursitis or bumps resulting from a blow. Therapy does not work on hygroma or lipoma.
• Physiotherapeutic methods are effective in the treatment of non-purulent bursitis and hygroma on initial stages. Therapeutic measures include: magnetic therapy, electrophoresis, dry heat treatment, radiation therapy.
• Surgical intervention depends on what kind of disease we are talking about. With bursitis or hygroma, it is possible to puncture the skin in the center of the ball and suck out the exsuadat through a syringe. Sometimes the lump on the skin is completely excised and removed along with the membrane. In this case, relapse is excluded. Sometimes surgeons remove the tumor with a laser beam.
• At malignant formations doctors remove the affected part of the bone, replacing it with an implant. Then courses of chemotherapy or radiotherapy are carried out.

Prevention

Preventive measures will help reduce the risk of tumors. These include management healthy image life, limiting high physical activity (if you want to exercise, you must wear a special orthopedic brace).

Doctors also advise promptly treating injuries, bruises and other diseases to avoid possible complications.

Conclusion

Sometimes people notice that they have a lump on their elbow. Many begin to panic, believing that they have a terrible disease and dangerous disease. If a compaction is detected, you should not engage in self-diagnosis. You need to see a surgeon.

The doctor will examine the tumor and conduct necessary research and make a diagnosis. He will tell you what kind of lump it is, how to treat it and what to do next. Surgery is most often indicated.