Causes of fluid accumulation in the joint and methods of dealing with them

An elbow bruise is a very painful injury. Pain from a bruise can very quickly spread throughout the arm, reaching the cervical spine. Typically, the elbow joint is injured after a fall, compression or blow to the elbow. The damage causes bleeding into the soft tissue.

Symptoms of a bruised elbow

The first symptom of a bruise is severe pain, which can even lead to painful shock. Subsequently, the clinical picture of a contusion of the elbow joint is determined by the force of the impact and the presence of hemorrhage in the joint. The main symptoms of a bruised elbow include:

• pain in the elbow when moving;
• redness of the skin or the appearance of a bruise in the area of ​​the elbow joint;
• swelling in the elbow joint;
• limited mobility of the elbow joint.

If the joint is injured repeatedly, or treatment is not provided in a timely manner and incorrectly, complications such as bursitis (inflammation of the joint membrane) or hemarthrosis (accumulation of blood in the joint cavity) may occur. These pathologies lead to tissue malnutrition, which can subsequently cause deforming osteoarthritis and limit the mobility of the elbow joint.

Concept and structure of the elbow joint

The elbow joint (EL) is a mobile articulation of the humerus with the radius and forearm. The joint is complex: a large joint is formed from three smaller ones, enclosed in a single capsule. Highlight:

• Humeral-ulnar. Formed by the humerus block and a portion of the ulna. Visually represents a block with surfaces built like a screw. There is a characteristic groove in the form of a screw stroke, as well as a ridge that fits into the notch of the humerus.
• Brachioradial. Connection of the head of the condyle of the humerus and the fossa of the radius. A ball-and-socket joint that moves along two axes. Movement in other directions is limited by the connection with the ulna.
• Proximal radioulnar. The connection of the radius with the notch of the ulna, as well as with the articulation of the articular circumference. It has a cylindrical shape. Responsible for flexion, extension and rotation.

The structure of the elbow joint

All three joints are surrounded by a single periarticular bursa and synovial membrane. The latter contains a thick mass - synovial fluid. Its composition is identical to blood plasma. The main component is hyaluron.

A deficiency of fluid within the synovial membrane leads to the appearance of a specific creaking sound. Friction leads to a gradual thinning of the cartilage and accelerates its destruction. The accumulation of fluid in the cavity also negatively affects well-being. It leads to stretching of the joint capsule and difficulty in the movement of the knee joint.

Specific pathologies leading to the accumulation of synovial fluid include:

1. Bursitis. The course of the inflammatory process in the joint capsule, leading to the appearance of exudate. There are serous, hemorrhagic, purulent bursitis. The pathology is most often found in professional athletes.
2. Synovitis. It is an inflammation of the synovial membrane, in which fluid accumulates inside the lining cavity. It affects the junctions of tendons and bones, sometimes large muscles.

Pathologies can be either an independent phenomenon or a consequence of other diseases that negatively affect the condition of the synovial bursa and the drug as a whole. This article discusses in detail diseases associated with the accumulation of fluid in the cavity of the elbow joint.

Therapy for a bruised elbow

In case of severe injury, you should consult a doctor as soon as possible. A bruised elbow can be extremely dangerous, as there is a nerve joint in this area. Therapy for a bruised elbow is as follows:

• drug treatment;
• immobilization of the injured elbow with a bandage;
• physiotherapy;
• physical therapy and massage;
• surgical intervention.

The nature of the resulting injuries and complications determine the choice of optimal therapeutic tactics.

Causes

Fluid in the elbow is only a symptomatic manifestation. It can be due to various reasons: trauma, previous surgery, the course of certain diseases and metabolic disorders. Identifying the cause of fluid accumulation is important for developing a therapeutic strategy.

Appearance after injury

Synovitis and bursitis of the elbow joint are usually associated with a traumatic effect on the joint or tendon itself. Bruises, sprains, and dislocations lead to rupture of the periarticular bursa. As a result, blood and serous fluid enter the cavity. Intensive synthesis of synovial mass leads to the development of edema. The acute condition results in severe pain. In the absence of treatment and repeated traumatization, the disease becomes chronic. Bursitis can develop not only after a bruised elbow or sprained ligaments. Drugs injure:

• excess weight;
• lifting loads;
• regular intense exercise.

The risk of developing bursitis after injury in people with weak immune systems is significantly higher.

After operation

Endoprosthetics of any joint can lead to an inflammatory process. Proper preparation for surgery and following the rehabilitation program significantly reduce the likelihood of complications. However, even after professional surgery, pain, swelling, and limited mobility are likely to occur. In some cases, damage to the joint capsule is detected as a result of infectious penetration, an allergic reaction, and poor blood clotting.

Bursitis after injury

Due to pathologies

The development of bursitis is associated with the course of other diseases. Most often the condition develops for the following reasons:

1. Against the background of rheumatoid arthritis. A systemic disease of unknown etiology that causes damage to small joints by erosion and destruction. Occurs in a chronic form.
2. Gout. A pathological disorder of the metabolism of purines (derivatives of uric acid), causing the accumulation of salts. Gouty arthritis provokes pain, swelling, and cyanosis of the skin.
3. Systemic scleroderma. Autoimmune damage to the body, leading to disorders of the skin, musculoskeletal system, and internal organs.
4. Purulent inflammation. Purulent fluid in the joint area is associated with osteomyelitis, phlegmon, and rupture of the boil.
5. Infectious diseases. Prerequisites for the development of bursitis are: Staphylococcus aureus, syphilis, tuberculosis. Yersiniosis, an intestinal infection that can occur as an articular type, leads to acute and chronic forms of accumulation. It is transmitted through water, carried by rodents, and is likely to be transmitted from person to person. Brucellosis, a disease transmitted from cattle, is associated with fluid accumulation. If is infected, it is important to rule out Lyme disease, which is transmitted by ticks. It is manifested by increased body temperature, chills, pain, and weakness.

These are just some of the diseases that cause fluid accumulation in the elbow joint. Only a doctor can assess the condition and prescribe treatment.

Metabolic disease

Fluid in the elbow joint can accumulate due to salt retention in the body. Metabolic disorders in the elbow area may be associated with:

• diabetes mellitus or other endocrine pathology;
• pregnancy;
• unbalanced diet;
• stress or psycho-emotional overload;
• menopause;
• insufficient physical activity;
• alcoholism and drug addiction.

Main manifestations

The symptoms by which you can determine what fluid is entering the joint are very diverse. It depends on the cause of the pathology and its location. Common features are:

• red spots on the skin;
• high temperature - throughout the body or only in the area where the pathology develops;
• stiffness or limited movement (manifests itself when there is a large amount of fluid in the synovial bursa);
• mild or clearly noticeable swelling at the site of pathology development;
• dense formations near the joint;
• dull, sharp or constant nagging pain;
• in some cases, headaches and chills (mainly if the cause of the illness is an infection).

Bystrumgel is a modern remedy for the symptomatic treatment of bruises

Before starting a course of treatment, you first need to contact a traumatologist, orthopedist or physiotherapist. The specialist will carry out the necessary diagnostics to exclude a fracture of the bone structures, and will also tell you what to do if you bruise your elbow and what medications can be used for local treatment of the injury.

For the symptomatic treatment of various injuries of the musculoskeletal system, the drug Bystrumgel can be prescribed. This is a ketoprofen-based product that has anti-inflammatory, anti-exudative, and analgesic effects.11

Gel for external use Bystrumgel provides local therapy for ligaments, tendons, joints, and muscles. It can reduce inflammation and eliminate pain4.

Features of diagnosing diseases whose symptom is elbow pain

During the consultation, the doctor listens to the patient’s complaints and conducts an examination, during which he finds out the area of ​​pain and its nature. He palpates both elbows and often detects changes in the anatomical structure of the joint. To make an accurate diagnosis, he prescribes the following diagnostic tests to the patient:

• Radiography - makes it possible to visualize the consequences of injury or generative processes;
• Neurological tests - identify existing neurological problems (for example, pinched nerve endings);
• Computer or magnetic resonance imaging - prescribed for chronic degenerative pathologies or suspected neoplasm of malignant etiology;
• Electrocardiography - for burning pain;
• Ultrasound scan of the elbow joint.

In addition, the patient will have to undergo a general blood test and a rheumatic test, as well as undergo arthroscopy. This comprehensive approach will allow you to accurately identify the cause of the problem and take action to eliminate it.

Symptoms of the disease

Not all elbow injuries can be serious. However, if the pain after the injury does not go away for a long time, there is obvious swelling and bruising, it means that fluid has accumulated in the joint. The bump can be either small or quite extensive, and a burgundy or blue bruise is a sure sign of damage to the blood vessels. Under no circumstances wait until the lump resolves on its own - you may encounter the above complications.

[wpmfc_cab_si] You should immediately contact a clinic, where an experienced doctor will make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe the necessary treatment. [/wpmfc_cab_si]

Establishing diagnosis

With all the clear evidence of a possible disease, self-diagnosis can only do harm. When the swelling is visible to the naked eye, it not only indicates fluid accumulation, but also hides possible more serious problems. For this reason, you should definitely go to a hospital or trauma center.

An X-ray or MRI can reveal internal injuries that, if ignored or even left untreated, can have very serious consequences, including disability.

Ulnar bursitis

The sac is a periarticular sac filled with a small amount of fluid to lubricate the joint, reduce friction and prevent microtrauma.

Bursitis is an inflammation of the synovial sac that can occur for several reasons.

• In first place among the causes of this disease, of course, is injury caused by an unsuccessful fall, blow, prolonged pressure on the joint, as well as as a result of playing sports.
• Another type of injury is a cut or other break in the skin that affects the joint and causes inflammation.
• Another reason is the increased load, which has a systematic order. Prolonged, constant and repeated stress on the elbow joint or repetitive monotonous movements of the hands can lead to changes in the bone structure as well as in the joint.
• People with certain diseases, such as syphilis, gonorrhea, brucellosis, tuberculosis, arthritis and gout, are also at risk.

Treatment for elbow pain

Treatment tactics are determined individually, depending on the identified disease that provokes pain symptoms. It may involve taking pharmacological medications, physiotherapy and professional massage.