A sprain is an injury to the ligaments around a joint. A ligament is a band of tissue that connects bone to bone. The ligaments in your elbow help connect the bones of your upper and lower arm around your elbow joint. When you sprain your elbow, you have pulled or torn one or more of the ligaments in your elbow joint.

More About Your Injury

An elbow sprain can occur when your arm is quickly bent or twisted in an unnatural position. It can also happen when the ligaments are overloaded during regular movement. Elbow sprains can happen when:

• You fall with your arm stretched out, such as when playing sports
• Your elbow is hit very hard, such as during a car accident

What to Expect

You may notice:

• Elbow pain and swelling
• Bruising, redness, or warmth around your elbow
• Pain when you move your elbow

Tell your doctor if you heard a "pop" when you injured your elbow. This could be a sign that the ligament was torn.

After examining your elbow, your doctor may order an x-ray to see if there are any breaks (fractures) to the bones in your elbow. You may also have an MRI of the elbow. The MRI pictures will show whether tissues around your elbow have been stretched or torn.

If you have an elbow sprain, you may need:

• A sling to keep your arm and elbow from moving
• A cast or splint if you have severe sprain

Self-care at Home

Your health care provider will likely instruct you to follow RICE to help reduce pain and swelling:

• Rest your elbow. Avoid lifting anything with your arm and elbow. Don't move the elbow unless you're instructed to do so.
• Ice your elbow for 15 to 20 minutes at a time, three to four times a day. DO NOT place ice directly on the skin. Wrap the ice in a clean cloth first. Cold from the ice can damage your skin.
• Compress the area by wrapping it with an elastic bandage or compression wrap.
• Elevate your elbow by raising it above the level of your heart. You can prop it up with pillows.

You can take ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), or naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn) to reduce pain and swelling. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) helps with pain, but not swelling. You can buy these pain medicines at the store.

• Talk with your provider before using these medicines if you have heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney or liver disease, or have had stomach ulcers or internal bleeding in the past.
• DO NOT take more than the amount recommended on the bottle or by your provider.

Activity

You may need to wear a sling, splint, or cast for about two to three weeks while your elbow heals. Depending on how badly it is sprained, you may need to work with a physical therapist who will show you stretching and strengthening exercises.

Most people recover completely from a simple elbow sprain in about four weeks.

When to Call the Doctor

Call your doctor if:

• You have increased swelling or pain
• Self-care does not seem to help

Elbow Wrist and Hand Conditions

• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• Cubital Tunnel Syndrome
• De Quervain Tendinitis
• Dupuytren Contracture
• Elbow Sprain
• Golfer's Elbow
• Mallet Finger
• Tennis Elbow
• Thumb Arthritis
• Trigger Finger

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Contact One of Our Elbow, Wrist and Hand Specialists

If you have experienced an elbow, wrist or hand injury or are experiencing joint or nerve pain, call 1-855-NH-SPORT to schedule an appointment with one of our orthopedic sports medicine hand specialists to discuss how we can help you improve your quality of life or enhance your athletic performance.