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 ELBOW PAIN - ulnar collateral ligament
sprain
Ross Hauser, M.D.
A common cause of chronic
elbow pain is an
ulnar
collateral ligament sprain. This
ligament supports the inside of
the elbow. It is responsible for holding the ulnar bone to the distal
end of the humerus. In other words it enables the arm to flex, pivoting
at the elbow. A patient's complaint of pain on the inside of the elbow
will cause a physician to examine the lateral epicondyle's "sister," the
medial epicondyle and not look for the
ulnar
collateral ligament (UCL) sprain. For example, the diagnosing of the
golfer's elbow is often made without examining the ulnar collateral
ligament.
A sprain of the ulnar collateral ligament refers pain to the
little finger
and ring finger. This same pain and numbness distribution is seen
with aggravating the ulnar nerve. The ulnar nerve lies behind the elbow
and is the reason why hitting your funny bone causes pain. Because most
physicians are not familiar with the
referral pattern of
ligaments,
patients with elbow pain and/or numbness into the little finger and ring
finger are diagnosed with an ulnar nerve problem, Carpal Tunnel
Syndrome. A more common reason is ligament laxity in the cervical
vertebrae 6 and 7 or in the ulnar collateral ligament, not a pinched
ulnar nerve.
A patient given the opinion that surgery on the ulnar nerve is needed
for a pain complaint should obtain a second opinion from a doctor who is
competent in the treatment of
Prolotherapy. Surgery should be
performed only after all conservative options, including Prolotherapy,
have been attempted. Prolotherapy to the
ulnar
collateral ligament (UCL) is the most successful way to eliminate
medial elbow pain
Golfer's elbow or
tennis elbow
causes the elbow pain because the muscles that attach to these
areas are attempting to repair themselves, causing
inflammation. The treatment
should not be to "anti-inflame," as is the case with
cortisone or with anti-inflammatories
like ibuprofen. The correct treatment is to strengthen the muscle
attachments which are inflamed due to the body's attempt to strengthen
the area. Prolotherapy to strengthen these muscle attachments is 'very
effective in eliminating chronic elbow
pain.
Hand Pain
When it comes to hand pain, the most common problem involves the
thumb because of its unique role in the hand’s function. Whenever a
doorknob is turned, a screwdriver is used, or something is held, the
thumb is part of the action. When typing, what part of the hand must
continually hit the space bar? The thumb. Because thumbs have to work so
much harder than fingers, it is usually the first to elicit pain. The
thumb ligament that joins the wrist to the base of the thumb is called
the radial collateral ligament, the same name as the ligament inside the
elbow. The thumb ligament that joins the base of the thumb (the first
metacarpal) to the succeeding joint (proximal phalanx) is the collateral
ligament.
These two joints of the thumb, called the carpometacarpal (CMC) and
metacarpophalangeal (MCP), are usually the first areas where pain is
experienced. If the ligaments in these joints are not strengthened,
arthritis
will eventually occur. Arthritis starts the day a joint
becomes loose. The looser the joint, the greater the chance it has of
becoming arthritic. Arthritis in the thumb, as well as other phalangeal
joints in the hand, are a major cause of disability, especially among
the elderly. The progression of osteo-arthritis stops the day the
ligaments become strong and are able to stabilize the joint.
In my opinion, Prolotherapy is the treatment of choice for patients
suffering from stiff, sore hands or thumbs. Once the ligaments are
strengthened, the pain and stiffness in the thumbs and fingers subside.
Again, four Prolotherapy treatment sessions are usually all that is
needed.
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Away! details in common
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back
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Ross Hauser, M.D., & Marion Hauser, M.D.,R.D.
Read more about this book at Amazon.com
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