Elbow injury at work or in a car accident: medical supplies a doctor may prescribe for home recovery

Common work injuries to the elbow

Tendon injuries around the elbow often build up gradually. Gripping and twisting — using hand tools, operating a drill, cutting meat, lifting with the palm down — strains the tendons on the outside or inside of the elbow. People often notice pain when gripping, shaking hands or lifting light objects.

Sudden injuries tend to come from falls. Landing on an outstretched arm or directly on the elbow can cause fractures and dislocations, and these need prompt medical attention.

Leaning on the elbow for long periods, or repeated bumps, can irritate the area at the back of the elbow. In car accidents, the elbow can strike the door or be jarred while bracing.

Many elbow problems at work are linked to a particular task or tool, so it helps to tell your doctor exactly what you do during a shift: how often you grip, what you lift, and whether tools vibrate. That detail can matter as much as the examination.

• Tendon pain from gripping and tool use
• Fractures and dislocations from falls
• Irritation from leaning or repeated bumps
• Door and bracing injuries in car accidents

Devices a doctor may prescribe

Elbow braces and straps are common doctor-recommended supports, used to reduce strain on irritated tendons or to protect a healing joint. Heat, light and stimulation devices may be prescribed for home use during recovery, and cold compression may be part of the plan after an injury or surgery.

Your doctor decides which, if any, suit your injury and when to use them.

These are the elbow-related devices in the Prescriptions.plus program, by their program names. Each is prescribed by a doctor and supplied through our medical-supply partner.

• Prescriptions.plus SupportLine Bracing — elbow braces to support and limit movement
• ColdFlow Compression System — wireless, ice-free cold compression with a universal wrap
• DualStim TENS/NMES Unit — nerve and muscle stimulation used as your provider directs
• PulseWrap PEMF Recovery Wrap — an elbow garment combining a pulsed electromagnetic field with heat
• LumaHeal Red Light Pad — infrared heat and low-level red light shaped for the wrist and elbow

Questions to ask your doctor

Elbow tendon problems often come back if the same tasks continue unchanged. Ask your doctor what changes at work might help, alongside any device.

If you've been given a brace or strap, ask exactly where it should sit and how tight it should be — placement matters.

And ask how long to use heat or stimulation, and whether to use them before or after activity.

If you work with both arms, mention whether the other elbow is taking on more of the load. Doctors sometimes want to know about strain on the uninjured side, too.

• Should I wear an elbow brace or strap, and where exactly?
• Is heat, cold or stimulation right for my injury?
• How long should each session last?
• Should I use the device before or after work?
• What tasks should I change or avoid?
• When should I come back if it isn't improving?

When to get care right away

Get care promptly for the warning signs below, particularly after a fall.

Medical emergency? Call 911.

To request more information about these devices, patients, doctors and clinics, and employers or adjusters can use the form on this page. Whether a claim or policy covers a device is a question for your adjuster or insurer.

• The elbow looks deformed or you can't bend or straighten it
• Numbness, tingling or coldness in the hand
• Rapid swelling after a fall
• Fever, or a red, hot, swollen elbow