Advice for your elbow
General guidance for your care journey without replacing medical advice.
This general information does not replace a diagnosis or advice from a healthcare professional.
Essential habits
Match activity to your symptoms. Sharp pain, clear swelling, loss of strength or locking should make you slow down.
Organising daily life
Alternate activity and recovery. Avoid staying for long with the elbow deeply bent without moving.
Safety
Protect the elbow from knocks and prolonged resting on the olecranon. Wear a brace only if prescribed and fitted for you.
Prevention and load
Repetitive wrist and forearm loading can maintain pain. Reduce load temporarily if symptoms increase.
Swelling, fatigue and recovery
Mild swelling or fatigue after activity can occur. Marked redness, heat, fever or rapidly increasing swelling need medical advice.
Cautious exercises
Only perform exercises approved for your situation. Stop and seek advice if unusual pain appears the next day.
Preparing a session or assessment
Note symptom changes. Bring prescriptions, reports and imaging. Prepare two or three specific questions.
Brace, home and relatives
A brace, orthosis or bandage should only be used if advised and fitted for you. Ask for help with heavy arm tasks without relatives doing everything for you.
Signs requiring consultation — 1
Significant or persistent swelling of hand or fingers
Signs requiring consultation — 2
Persistent numbness or tingling
Signs requiring consultation — 3
Loss of sensation in fingers
Signs requiring consultation — 4
Severe pain that doesn't improve
Signs requiring consultation — 5
Redness, warmth or discharge at scar site
Signs requiring consultation — 6
Difficulty bending or extending fingers