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Is Sudden Sharp Pain In Left Elbow A Cause For Concern?
Question: sir, I have sudden pain in left elbow that I can't even open my full hand. Is it any symptom of something or please suggest what can be done?
Brief Answer:
Needs to be examined by an orthopedic doctor in person.
Detailed Answer:
Hello Mr XXXX,
Thank you for writing in with your health concern.
From your description, it seems like you have some sort of nerve or muscle related issue, but it the provided information is not sufficient to be sure what it is.
The best thing to do is to consult an orthopedic surgeon and get yourself examined.
A sudden sharp pain in the back of the elbow could be due to trauma (even minor) to the elbow from behind because there is a nerve located very superficially behind the elbow and even a minor trauma can cause severe pain and will result in inability to clench the fist or open the fist completely.
Your description fits this, but you have not mentioned if you sustained any trauma to the elbow, so it is imperative that you consult an orthopedic surgeon at the earliest and get yourself properly evaluated and treated appropriately.
I sincerely hope this answers your query, you are most welcome to write back to me if you have any further queries or doubts, I will be happy to oblige.
Wishing you speedy recovery.
Best regards.
Needs to be examined by an orthopedic doctor in person.
Detailed Answer:
Hello Mr XXXX,
Thank you for writing in with your health concern.
From your description, it seems like you have some sort of nerve or muscle related issue, but it the provided information is not sufficient to be sure what it is.
The best thing to do is to consult an orthopedic surgeon and get yourself examined.
A sudden sharp pain in the back of the elbow could be due to trauma (even minor) to the elbow from behind because there is a nerve located very superficially behind the elbow and even a minor trauma can cause severe pain and will result in inability to clench the fist or open the fist completely.
Your description fits this, but you have not mentioned if you sustained any trauma to the elbow, so it is imperative that you consult an orthopedic surgeon at the earliest and get yourself properly evaluated and treated appropriately.
I sincerely hope this answers your query, you are most welcome to write back to me if you have any further queries or doubts, I will be happy to oblige.
Wishing you speedy recovery.
Best regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Dr XXXXXXX thanks for your time and answer.
nothing happened to the elbow or hand. I will visit orthopedic surgeon. also would like to mention that m feeling some heaviness in hear for last few months. Once I felt a pain line type near to the heart and once some bubble type movement feeling. What it may be? due to this only I assigned my query to cardiac expert.
nothing happened to the elbow or hand. I will visit orthopedic surgeon. also would like to mention that m feeling some heaviness in hear for last few months. Once I felt a pain line type near to the heart and once some bubble type movement feeling. What it may be? due to this only I assigned my query to cardiac expert.
Brief Answer:
It is unlikely to be related to heart, that is why I answered it.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again Mr XXXX,
Thank you for writing back with more details.
I can understand your concern, after going through your query, I did not think it should be assigned to a cardiologist because the description does not fit a heart related problem, so I answered your query.
The heaviness in the ear is not related to this, it is best to consult an ENT surgeon to find out if there is any issue with the ear.
A fleeting pain near the heart area associated with some "bubble type of movement" is most likely due to some gastric irritation (irritation in the stomach, or reflux of stomach contents into the esophagus)... These do not however present with difficulty in opening or closing the fist.
Heart related pain may radiate to the left upper arm and elbow, but at the same time you will also have pain in the chest.
And we have to consider your age as well before presuming any heart related issue. So relax, I do not think it is related to the heart.
I suggest you to kindly consult an orthopedic surgeon, an ENT surgeon and for your peace of mind, you can ask for an ECG as well.
I hope this clears your doubts as of now.
Wishing you good health and best regards.
It is unlikely to be related to heart, that is why I answered it.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again Mr XXXX,
Thank you for writing back with more details.
I can understand your concern, after going through your query, I did not think it should be assigned to a cardiologist because the description does not fit a heart related problem, so I answered your query.
The heaviness in the ear is not related to this, it is best to consult an ENT surgeon to find out if there is any issue with the ear.
A fleeting pain near the heart area associated with some "bubble type of movement" is most likely due to some gastric irritation (irritation in the stomach, or reflux of stomach contents into the esophagus)... These do not however present with difficulty in opening or closing the fist.
Heart related pain may radiate to the left upper arm and elbow, but at the same time you will also have pain in the chest.
And we have to consider your age as well before presuming any heart related issue. So relax, I do not think it is related to the heart.
I suggest you to kindly consult an orthopedic surgeon, an ENT surgeon and for your peace of mind, you can ask for an ECG as well.
I hope this clears your doubts as of now.
Wishing you good health and best regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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