FreeMD® Elbow Sprain Home Care

Elbow Sprain

Home Care

Elbow Sprain Home Care

Home care for an elbow sprain includes:

Avoid activities that cause pain.
Rest the arm
With some elbow injuries you may wish to wear a sling for comfort:

Long term immobilization in a sling can lead to frozen shoulder.
If you wear a shoulder sling for longer than two weeks make sure you perform shoulder range of motion exercises twice a day to avoid frozen shoulder.

Apply cold compresses to elbow:

Wrap ice in a moist hand towel. Do not apply ice directly to the skin.
Apply for 20-30 minutes, every 1-2 hours, for the first few days.

Apply an ACE wrap to support the elbow.

Re-wrap the elbow every 2 hours.

Perform elbow stretching exercises.
Acetaminophen for pain
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications for pain
Take prescription medications as directed.

Continue to Elbow Sprain Home Care: Pain In Adults

Related Topics:

Elbow injury

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Last Updated: Apr 17, 2008 References

Authors: Stephen J. Schueler, MD; John H. Beckett, MD; D. Scott Gettings, MD

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