Bursitis of the Elbow (Olecranon)

Home care

Your health care provider may prescribe medicine to help relieve pain and swelling. This may be an over-the-counter pain reliever or prescription pain medicine. Take all medicines as directed. To help treat or prevent infection, your provider may prescribe antibiotics. If these are prescribed, take them as directed until they are gone.

The following are general care guidelines:

• Apply an ice pack or bag of frozen peas wrapped in a thin towel to your elbow for 15 to 20 minutes at a time. Do this 3 to 4 times a day until pain and swelling improve.

• Keep your elbow raised above the level of your heart whenever possible. This helps reduce swelling. When sitting or lying down, place your arm on a pillow that rests on your chest or on a pillow at your side.

• Use an elastic wrap around the elbow joint to compress the area while it is healing. Make the wrap snug but not tight to the point of causing pain.

• Rest your elbow to give it time to heal. You may need to wear an elbow pad to help protect and limit the movement of your elbow. During and after healing, prevent leaning on your elbows.

Follow-up care

Follow up with your provider as advised. If you've been referred to a specialist, make that appointment promptly.

When to contact your doctor

Contact your health care provider right away if:

• You have a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, or as advised by your provider.

• You have chills.

• You have increased pain, swelling, warmth, redness, or drainage from the joint.

• You have trouble moving the elbow joint.

• You feel numbness or tingling in the hand.

• You have severe pain or swelling in forearm or hand.

• There's a loss of pink color and slow return of color after squeezing fingertip or hand.