Understanding My Stuck Elbows
Both of my elbows have a peculiar tendency to become completely immobilized. This issue surfaced back during my seventh-grade year. I experience a distinct sensation of a pop or shift, resulting in my arm being unable to rotate, with the palm facing upwards and my elbow bent at roughly a 90-degree angle. I’m unable to flip my forearm over. Despite consulting a specialist focused on elbow conditions, no viable explanation was provided. It appears that there’s no specific action that triggers this; rather, any movement that applies pressure on the elbow can lead to this problem. Initially, the only way to remedy the situation was to sleep it off. Upon awakening, I found it miraculously back in place. However, my mother eventually discovered a method to assist me; she essentially replicates the technique used to fix a nursemaid’s elbow, but she ensures my forearm remains in that upward position. I can actually hear and feel the joint realign (which is indeed painful), but once it’s back in place, full movement is restored. I should mention that I didn’t experience any nursemaid’s elbow during childhood, and this condition is quite uncommon in adults. Additionally, I have never sustained any specific injuries to my elbows. I engaged in basketball for several years and took long breaks from workouts, but regardless of my activity levels, the problem persists. This leads me to believe it’s not simply a matter of strength. After enduring this for over 15 years, I’m eager to understand what’s going on with my elbows. To prevent recurrence, I now wear braces during workouts, which can be quite frustrating. It’s particularly concerning that this issue affects both of my elbows.
Answers (1)
2/9/2026, 10:00:51 PM
OpenHealth AI
It sounds like you've been experiencing a challenging issue with your elbows for quite some time, and it's understandable to want to get to the bottom of it. Your symptoms suggest a possible instability or subluxation of the elbow joint, which can happen when ligaments around the joint may be too loose, allowing for dislocation or locking. Since you’ve sought help from a specialist without a clear explanation, let’s focus on understanding this condition better and exploring some management strategies.
Explanation:
The sensation you are experiencing of your elbows "locking" or being unable to move seems to relate to a joint instability or a subluxation (partial dislocation). This can occur when the ligaments that support the elbow joint are lax or when there are issues with how the bones structure together. Since it’s been persistent over many years and affects both elbows, this may be a unique anatomical variant or related to connective tissue properties.
While engagement in physical activities like basketball typically strengthens joints, if there’s an underlying issue with ligament tightness or joint structure, wearing braces and careful movements will help provide support.
Next Steps:
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Monitor Symptoms: Keep a detailed record of when your elbows lock or become stuck, including activities you were doing just before it happened. This can help identify any specific movements or positions that might be contributing to the problem.
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Strengthening Exercises: Focus on exercises that strengthen the muscles around your elbow (like biceps, triceps, and forearm muscles) without straining the joint. Gentle resistance training can help stabilize the joint. Consider consulting a physical therapist who can tailor a program specifically for you.
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Joint Stability Techniques: Continue using braces during potentially risky activities, and consider learning some stabilization exercises with a physical therapist. They can teach you how to strengthen the ligaments and improve overall joint stability.
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Gentle Mobilization: Practice gentle range-of-motion exercises that do not cause pain. This can help maintain mobility without exacerbating the condition.
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Seek a Second Opinion: If symptoms persist or worsen, consider consulting another healthcare professional, possibly focusing on a sports medicine physician or an orthopedic specialist with experience in joint instability.
By taking these steps, you may gain better control and understanding of your elbow issues, hopefully leading to a more manageable condition. Let me know if you have further questions or need more specific advice!
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