Treatment for Elbow Arthritis: Managing Joint Pain
Do you have pain in your elbow joint?
Do you find it difficult to fully extend your arm?
Or maybe you have trouble folding it?
At first it hurt only when you moved your elbow and now it hurts at rest?
Do you even hear a crackling or popping sound every time you move the joint?
If you have any such problems, please contact us.
We are specialists in orthobiological treatments (PRP, serum rich in cytokines ….) that will help you recover your quality of life.
Take the first step towards a full and pain-free life with Regenerative Medicine.
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Specialists in Elbow Arthritis Treatment in Valencia and Denia
I am Miguel Alfonso Porcar, recognized specialist in the diagnosis and treatment of osteoarthritis in elbows with bioregenerative therapies of platelet-rich plasma, growth factors, cytokine-rich serum…
Our objective is to:
- Determine the cause of your pain ,
- Perform appropriate diagnostic tests to determine the extent of the elbow injury,
- and apply the treatment of regenerative traumatology or orthopedic surgery to achieve maximum comfort as soon as possible.
We aim to help our patients by using the safest, most successful, and least invasive treatments possible!
English-Speaking Orthopedic Doctor for International Patients
Dr. Carlos Mairal, an orthopedic surgeon and trauma specialist in regenerative medicine, provides expert medical care in English for international patients.
He specializes in ultrasound-guided infiltrations using platelet-rich plasma (PRP) for the treatment of elbow conditions such as tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow, osteoarthritis, and bursitis, promoting faster healing and long-lasting relief.
If you’re seeking advanced, non-surgical treatment for elbow pain and prefer to communicate in English, Dr. Mairal offers personalized care in a professional and welcoming environment.
Book your appointment today and receive expert care from an English-speaking orthopedic doctor.
What is elbow arthritis?
The elbow is a joint formed by three bones: the humerus, the radius and the ulna.
The bones are held together by ligaments, muscles and tendon insertions to give stability and mobility to the joint.
Elbow osteoarthritis occurs when the cartilage surface of the elbow is worn or damaged. This may be due to a previous injury, such as a dislocation or elbow fracture, for example.
Most commonly, however, it is the result of normal wear and tear of the joint cartilage as we age and from years of activity.
- Overuse injuries are common in people who repeatedly use their arms for work, such as manual laborers, or for sports, such as tennis players and golfers.
- Acute elbow injuries are less common, but can occur in some situations, such as contact sports, falling on an outstretched arm or some other accident.
Causes of elbow arthritis
Osteoarthritis is caused by degeneration of the articular cartilage of a joint.
- Primary osteoarthritis is characterized by degenerative changes that occur without a specific cause.
- Post-traumatic or secondary arthritis occurs after an injury, which may have occurred many years before the onset of osteoarthritis.
A pathology can even damage the cartilage directly.
Occasionally, elbow osteoarthritis associates free bodies within the joint(the result of joint wear and tear), which can cause a lot of pain and further damage the articular surfaces, thus decreasing the range of motion.
Any injury to the elbow joint can also change the function of the joint.
For example, after an elbow fracture the bone fragments may not line up exactly. They heal slightly differently than they did before the injury.
Even this slight difference can cause the joint to begin the wear cycle.
It is like a machine; if the mechanism is out of balance, it wears out faster.
Symptoms of osteoarthritis of the elbow
Pain and stiffness are the main symptoms of osteoarthritis of any joint.
At first, the pain is related to activity.
- Most of the time the pain decreases while you are doing the activity, but after the activity and with rest afterwards the pain and stiffness increases.
- As osteoarthritis worsens, you may feel pain even when resting, sometimes interfering with sleep.
- You may have a swollen elbow with an obvious deformity.
- On the other hand, when all the articular cartilage on the joint surface wears away, you may start to hear noises and feel a crunching sound when you move your elbow.
Osteoarthritis eventually affects the natural movement of the elbow.
- Difficulty for the complete extension of the arm.
- Later, it becomes difficult to flex it.
- The loss of movement leads to weakness and decreased function, due to a deficit of muscular work.
Diagnosis of osteoarthritis of the elbow
Dr. Alfonso Porcar, an expert in elbow pathologies and injuries, diagnoses osteoarthritis of the elbow based on the clinical history and physical examination of the elbow.
Dr. Alfonso Porcar will ask you questions about your pain, how it affects your daily activities and any injuries you have suffered in the past. Since osteoarthritis develops over a long period of time, he may ask you about hobbies, occupation, usual activity …
During the physical examination we will perform mobility and stability tests that will give us more information about elbow dysfunctions. Functional tests are used to check mobility and pain reactions using manual maneuvers directed by the orthopedic surgeon.
We can also use imaging techniques to examine the condition of the elbow joint, and the cartilage in particular.
X-rays are usually the best way to assess the damage and follow the evolution of the joint over time. They can also show the size of the joint space and the amount of healthy articular cartilage.
Elbow osteoarthritis treatments
Although there is no definitive cure for osteoarthritis, there are several treatment options for osteoarthritis of the elbow.
In most cases we will start with the most conservative (non-surgical) treatments first, which aim to help control pain and use the elbow without causing further damage.
Conservative treatment of osteoarthritis of the elbow
- Exercises to strengthen the stabilizing muscles of the elbow.
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may also be used to relieve pain and reduce inflammation.
- To eliminate the pain, it is possible to modify or limit your activities, avoiding any kind of heavy and repetitive movements with the elbow.
Corticosteroid injections
Steroid injection into the joint cavity can be considered, always through an ultrasound-guided process, in order to locate the exact point of the lesion.
A corticosteroid injection provides temporary relief, as it is a potent anti-inflammatory drug and very effectively relieves pain and inflammation .
It is not a measure that is advisable to repeat habitually. Despite the relief, its effects are temporary and usually last for weeks.
Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Infiltrations
Multidisciplinary pain management for complex cases with elbow osteoarthritis may include platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections and other forms of regenerative medicine as options prior to surgery.
- Use a concentrated dose of platelets prepared from your own blood.
- The extracted blood is processed and a concentrated Platelet Rich Plasma is obtained, which has a great reparative and regenerative capacity.
- It is a safe technique, since the substance is derived from the patient himself, so it is very difficult for adverse effects to occur after infiltration.
- We perform the PRP infiltration with the help of ultrasound.
It implies a more effective benefit in the long term and with the security of being a substance that derives individually from each patient. It has been shown to delay and even avoid surgery.
Cytokine Rich Autologous Serum (Autologous Citokyne-Rich Serum)
QREM citokine infiltrations are a novel treatment for elbow osteoarthritis.
Thus we will inject inside the damaged joint, an adequate amount of platelet concentrates associated with anti-inflammatory cytokines responsible for reducing inflammation and initiating the regenerative cycle.
Autologous serum rich in cytokines achieves up to 75% pain reduction for more than one year in patients with osteoarthritis.
Hyaluronic Acid Infiltrations
Intra-articular injection of high molecular weight hyaluronic acid stimulates the production of better quality synovial fluid, which helps protect the damaged joint.
It generates an artificial cushion that allows the patient’s cartilage damage to be reduced.
Hyaluronic acid injections may be the long-term solution you need.
They are applied directly to the joint lubricating the structures, acting as a shock absorber on the cartilage and reducing inflammation.
Indicated in patients with osteoarthritis or degenerative changes of the cartilage, delaying its evolution and even the need for a joint prosthesis.
Arthroscopic surgery
Surgical treatments, such as implantation of an elbow prosthesis, are a last chance and should only be considered if conservative and bioregenerative therapies have been unsuccessful and pain is persistent and severe.
We will consider many factors when deciding which procedure is best for you, including the severity of joint degeneration, age, activity level and usual activity.
- At an early stage of osteoarthritis, arthroscopic surgery may be the best solution. Through a small incision we insert a camera to see the elbow joint and through 2 or 3 other small incisions we remove bony overgrowths, free bodies and treat the articular surface.
- Sometimes acapsular release is necessary. An incision is made in the tissue and the anterior (front) part of the capsule is removed.
- If the osteoarthritis is more advanced, a larger incision may be necessary to perform the surgery.
Elbow prosthesis
Osteoarthritis in the elbow is not as common as osteoarthritis in weight-bearing joints (such as the hip or knee).
- Elbow joint replacement is a good option for patients who need to improve motion rather than strength.
- Older patients who do not need as much strength will probably prefer the results of elbow replacement surgery. They should be willing to accept low levels of activity involving the elbow.
- Patients with advanced rheumatoid arthritis are also good candidates for total elbow arthroplasty.
Why Regenerat Clinic to treat your elbow osteoarthritis in Valencia?
Referents in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the elbow in Valencia
In the field of treatment of pain and pathologies such as osteoarthritis of the elbow, Regenerat clinic is your reference center.
State-of-the-art technology
We perform ultrasound-guided techniques and less invasive cutting-edge treatments that relieve and in many cases eliminate your elbow pain in Valencia, offering better health and quality of life.
Patient Testimonials
Our patients value our experience and multidisciplinary treatment for osteoarthritis in the elbow, eliminating pain and recovering your activity after treatment.
Causes of elbow pain
Causes related to elbow injuries include damage to parts of the elbow, such as bones, cartilage, ligaments, tendons or muscles.
- Elbow joints pain: occurs when the cartilage surface of the elbow is worn or damaged by previous injury, such as a dislocation or elbow fracture, or by degeneration.
- Tennis elbow injections: For pain on the outer side of the elbow. It is the result of a repetitive effort that causes an injury in the insertion of the tendons in the epicondyle of the elbow.
- Golfer’s elbow: It causes pain in the internal face of the elbow (the medial epicondyle), which can radiate towards the internal face of the forearm.
- Bursitis of the elbow: Bursitis is the inflammation of the elbow bursa (a fluid-filled sac-like structure that reduces friction between bones, muscles and tendons). Direct trauma, a localized infection or an overuse, can be causes of the same one, among others.
The most effective treatment for most of these ailments is often the infiltration of the elbow with prolotherapy or PRP.
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Regenerat is a paediatric and adult trauma clinic, specialising in regenerative medicine treatments that delay and, in many cases, avoid orthopaedic surgery.
Our patients get an unbiased diagnosis and we offer you various surgical and non-surgical treatment options.
The most common pathologies treated at our medical center are osteoarthritis, back pain, tendon injuries, and sports injuries.
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We are located at C/ Ciutat de Laval, 23, 46702 Gandia, Valencia, Spain.
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