Why the ulnar muscle aches: causes, diagnosis

Pain in the ulnar muscle or myalgia can occur both in a stressed state and in a relaxed state. The causes of pain are many. To begin treatment, it is necessary to establish what exactly caused it.

A little anatomy

The upper limbs consist of several muscles. The main ones are:

• Deltoid. It passes through the acromial process of the scapula in the direction from the clavicle to the middle third of the shoulder. Its functions are flexion, retraction and extension of the hand.
• Biceps. It reaches the upper third of the ulna from the beginning of the shoulder joint. Function - flexion of the forearm.
• Folders of fingers. They are located on the inside of the forearm.
• The ulnar muscle. It starts from the axillary zone and extends to the back surface of the elbow. Its function is pulling the joint capsule and extending the forearm.

With myalgia (inflammation of the muscle), this or that function of the hand is lost, which makes it possible to determine which particular muscle can be damaged.

Why does the ulnar muscle ache?

The causes of the pain can be different. If the ulnar muscle is damaged, then the function of extension of the forearm, as well as the joint capsule, is impaired. This occurs for various reasons. Among them:

• Polymyalgia;
• Polymyositis;
• General intoxication;
• Muscle parasites;
• Convulsions;
• Trauma and stretching;
• Rheumatism of muscle tissue;
• Amyloidosis and other pathologies.

The ulnar muscle can ache with varying intensity, depending on the degree of damage and the type of pathology that led to the onset of the syndrome.

Poliomyositis

The ulnar muscle can get sick with polymyositis. This pathology is manifested by the following symptoms:

• Skin lesions;
• Subcutaneous tissue damage;
• Defeat of mucous membranes;
• A syndrome of the general intoxication;
• Somatic disorders.

When lesions with polymyositis, the elbow muscle begins to ache, movements become limited, there is swelling, condensation, weakness.

Injuries

The injuries include a rupture and stretching of the muscles in the elbow joint, bruises. This causes pain, swelling, bruising. Depending on the degree of injury to the muscles, the pain may be mild, acute, intolerable. In the latter case, it is recommended to take any non-narcotic analgesic. The limb becomes swollen. If there is a rupture of the muscular apparatus, then hematomas can be observed.

Muscle rheumatism

After 50 years, muscle rheumatism is often diagnosed. This type of pathology is characterized by stress, pain, weakness, joint loss and muscle atrophy . The affected elbow muscle stops performing its functions.

Nervous pathology

Pain in the upper limbs can be triggered by diseases of the nervous system. With various types of neuralgia, pain arises periodically, and it will be more pronounced along the course of the nerve end, but the farther away from it, the quieter the pain.

Pain syndrome in neuralgias arises paroxysmally. It can last several minutes, and can last only a few seconds.

Myositis

The ulnar muscle of the shoulder can become inflamed. This pathology is called myositis. It is treated under the constant supervision of specialists.

Myositis is a pathological inflammation of the muscles. It can arise as an independent disease or be a complication of some pathology, for example, ARVI. In half of cases of diagnosing myositis, muscle inflammation occurs due to excessive physical exertion on the elbow muscles.

With myositis, pain is aching, it increases several times during movement. On inspection, the doctor can detect seals.

When the infection is associated, purulent myositis may occur. There is a syndrome of general intoxication, the hand swells up, the skin becomes hyperemic.

Parasitic myositis is a rare form of pathology of the elbow muscle. It occurs when the tissues of various kinds of parasites are affected: toxoplasma, cysticerci, etc. With this form of the disease, fever develops, the pain in the hand. Chewing muscles, tongue, thorax are affected.

Spontaneous reduction

The ulnar muscle of the forearm can hurt with spontaneous muscle contraction. Usually, such spasms occur in women. Spontaneous contractions can increase during physical exertion, in a damp, cool place. They not only lead to failure of limb function, but also disturb sleep.

Styloiditis and tendinitis

When styloid pain painful, aching, with small loads greatly increases. With tendinitis occurs not only pain, but also swelling, hyperemia.

With these pathologies, mobility of the elbow joint is impaired.

Diagnostics

To determine the cause of the pain, it is necessary to carry out a diagnosis. It includes:

• Examination of a neurologist, traumatologist;
• Radiography of the upper limb;
• MRI;
• CT.

If necessary, the doctor may appoint additional methods of examination aimed at identifying hidden infections that caused pain.

Treatment

Treatment of the ulnar muscle depends on the cause that caused the pathology. The doctor can appoint:

• Painkillers (non-narcotic pain medications are prescribed);
• Compresses (selected individually in each case of pathology);
• Drugs that eliminate inflammation;
• Means for improving blood supply;
• Fixation of joints (impose gypsum or bandage).

According to the indications, physiotherapy, massage, exercise therapy can be prescribed. To maintain the muscles of the upper limbs in excellent shape, you need to exercise and follow the general health, on time to visit the doctors, without waiting for the manifestation of complications in the form of pain in the elbow muscle.