Major elbow pain...

Yesterday when I woke up I noticed I had a very sharp pain in my left elbow if I tried to straighten my arm...not from flexing. I've been looking online since lastnight and I'm still not sure what it is. I thought maybe it was some sort of Carpal Tunnel since I'm on my computer almost all day everyday. I just wondered if anyone has ever had this before. My Fiancee mentioned tennis elbow...most of the research I've done has described the pain when I flex/bend not when I straighten. My aunt said this happened to her a while back, but it lasted for several months...there's no way I can handle this that long...I'm not really sure how to take care of this either. Grandma wanted me to take some Tylenol, but I'm afraid if I do I wont feel the pain and use it more causing more injury. It doesnt hurt at all to bend it. Also, if my fist is clenched when I straighten my arm it doesnt hurt hardly at all. It's just when my hand is open and the arm is straight. Oh and I've not been lifting or doing anything lately except work on my website. I am right handed also. If you guys have no clue, then I guess I'll have to go to the doc. I dont want to cause my insurance ran out when I turned 19...I'm hoping I can find another remedy or solution. Thanks!

I've got the solution... Bring in the sledge hammer!
(End of joke)

Ok, it may be some kind of strain that you don't remember... who knows, you may have been sleeping on some bad position. If its that then it will be allright, but I suggest you to take some medicaments like Tylenol, because otherwise it will be Troy for you. I know of a cream called Maslac which is used here a lot as a painkiller. Its very gooey and stinks a lot, but I've heard that it is good.

I don't know if you can find it in Kentucky, but its name is precisely Maslac, and it comes in a can identical to shoe polish.My father likes it a lot, but I will rather stick to Tylenol, thank you

Anyway, if that doesn't appear try Bengay. (I presume you know what's Bengay, haven't you?)

Now, if the pain keeps on, then it may be a very bad thing, such as a joint or cartilage... in such a case the best and only option is the doctor... and spending a lot of money for one is better than having a worser problem.

Anyway, sending vibes to you from Puerto Rico.

It sounds like tennis elbow to me. I've had it before, and so has Tybalt. The main thing to do if it is, is rest it. You can buy a tennis elbow strap in your local drug store, they sell them wherever the ace bandages are. It should cost less than $10. It wraps around your arm and usually tightens with velcro. The pressure it exerts on your arm at that point will keep the pain under control and also take pressure off of the nerve that is irritated. As far as taking medicine, Tylenol will help with pain, but Motrin/Ibuprofen is better, since it will also reduce inflammation and actually help resolve the problem. The amount of pain relief you'll get from taking it is not enough that you would be able to hurt yourself inadvertently from overusing your arm. It should resolve completely within a few weeks.

Thanks for both of your ideas.
Tennis elbow? Well atleast this has a name other than ouch! I was afraid it wasnt something common and I should worry! I've been trying to not bend or move it today. Typing I'm keeping it on my chair armrest. Ok I'll see if my aunt can pick me up one of those wraps after work. I have some Icy/Hot from my last back injury...will that be anygood to use? I'll go ahead and start taking something then. I've never taken any pain killer other than tylenol, but if you think motrin/ibuprofen is better I'll try that. A few weeks...oh I hope so! I had a heck of a time taking a shower tonight! Thanks for your help and now maybe I can get some relief. I've really been worried that I had done something major or that I would hurt it more! I just wonder what caused this. I've done nothing except be on my computer all week.

Sounds like a bit of tendonitis. You may have been holding your arm, in a bad position or, as Victor said, slept on it the wrong way. Because of my left shoulder and hip being arthritic, I sleep with a king-sized pillow next to me and prop my arm on it. Try sleeping with it propped and see if you get any relief.

Originally posted by katl8e
Sounds like a bit of tendonitis. You may have been holding your arm, in a bad position or, as Victor said, slept on it the wrong way. Because of my left shoulder and hip being arthritic, I sleep with a king-sized pillow next to me and prop my arm on it. Try sleeping with it propped and see if you get any relief.

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I usually sleep that way because it hurts my shoulders if I dont have my arm propped up. I had to go to the chiropracter a couple years ago thanks to my uncle dropping the other end of a roll of carpet I Was helping him with and he didnt tell me he was gonna drop it. So since then I have to sleep that way because my injury was between my shoulderblades and in my lower back. I've been wondering if maybe sleeping that way TOO long could cause it? It's alittle better today, but it still hurts if I straighten it and it's kinda throbbing. Most likely it's something to do with my computer because I've not been nothing else lately.

Your elbow and my right clavical! Hope yours is feeling better soon. Mine is sleep related. I think I must really work out in my sleep!

Originally posted by mzjazz2u
Your elbow and my right clavical! Hope yours is feeling better soon. Mine is sleep related. I think I must really work out in my sleep!

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I have no clue what a right clavical is, but that sounds painfull so ouch! Actually today it's alittle better. I think everyone's advice is working! Yeah!

I think clavical=collar bone.
Sorry I can't really help. Only thing Ive done is mess up my shoulder lifting. Took like 4 months to heal, and its still bothering me!

Peace,
Brandon

Originally posted by Cougar
I think clavical=collar bone.
Sorry I can't really help. Only thing Ive done is mess up my shoulder lifting. Took like 4 months to heal, and its still bothering me!

Peace,
Brandon

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Collar bone! Yep that's definately an ouch for her!
It's ok. Sorry I cant help with your injury!
My back injury was several years ago and I've still got problems. my chiropracter said I probably always will unless Ive got the money to see him regularly! Yeah right! Those places are expensive!

Well today my elbow is finally feeling better enough I can function. I dont know who's advice helped, but someone did! So thank you so much my elbow was killing me. Hopefully if I continue the remedies you gave me I'll be ok. Thanks again!

Tendonitis sucks! I have had it in both my shoulders now for 2 years (2 years this past December!). When it finally got diagnosed, it was almost 2 months after I had gone. At first, my doctor thought it was an extra bone in my shoulder and I was like "how do you get that??" He said "You don't "get" it, you're born with it". As I was a preemie (2 1/2 months early), I was like, ok...so how come you didn't catch it when I was younger? (BTW, I was 22 at the time). Anyhow, x-rays and stuff didn't show anything wrong with it. So he finally decided it was supra spinatus tendonitis. At it's worst, I couldn't lift my arms to even put a shirt on. It was awful. And to try to get out of bed or move even was terrible. It was like you had to roll over out of bed and be careful how you move to get dressed. (Ever had to try to put a bra on when you can't move your arms back? lol ) Anyhow, he decided that a cortisone shot would help, so he gave me one of those. It didn't do a darn thing. I've had 3 of them I think, and am not getting another one. I've had a few ppl tell me that they don't do any good for you. And I just don't like needles in general. (Last time I got a cortisone shot, I almost fainted : ). So now I am going to try acupuncture as a couple of ppl have told me that that will help. My co-workers are trying to get me to go the chiropractor but I'm not too keen on that, and frankly, that would another last resort kind of deal for me. I used to take Tylenol for the pain but it so didn't work. I was taking up to 10 extra strength Tylenol a day and it didn't do anything. So then the dr told me to take Advil/ibuprofen. That helped more, but it took a lot longer to actually start working. Then I was taking it all the time, like another 6-10 a day (keep in mind these are in a day, not at one time!). Then I was like, ok this isn't good for you, so I stopped taking them. Now I hardly take anything and just live with the pain. I'm rather limited in what I can do, but as I'm from stubborn stock, I do it anyways! lol And if I can't do it the conventional way, I make it work in an unconventional way! I'm not sure if it's gotten better over the last year or so, or if I've just gotten used to the pain, but somedays it's a real chore to do anything! I really hope it isn't tendonitis you have! If it is, all the best in getting it treated properly!

Originally posted by Gothic_Amethyst
Collar bone! Yep that's definately an ouch for her!
It's ok. Sorry I cant help with your injury!

My back injury was several years ago and I've still got problems. my chiropracter said I probably always will unless Ive got the money to see him regularly! Yeah right! Those places are expensive!

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Yeah, it is an ouch! But it's getting better slowly but surely! My problem is that I move a lot in my sleep and so my neck and clavical are always getting kinks in them!

Glad to hear your elbow is getting better too. Chiropracters are expensive. Luckily, my insurance covers them. Funny thing is... I still don't go!

22angel: Wow that sounds like a pain! I cant imagine having pain in my shoulders like that! I hope I dont have it in my elbow! I dont think I do though because I'm getting alot better now.

Originally posted by mzjazz2u
Yeah, it is an ouch! But it's getting better slowly but surely! My problem is that I move a lot in my sleep and so my neck and clavical are always getting kinks in them!

Glad to hear your elbow is getting better too. Chiropracters are expensive. Luckily, my insurance covers them. Funny thing is... I still don't go!

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I'm glad it's getting better! I guess it's good that I dont move alot then! That sound painfull!

Thanks! I just hope this goes away and is a one-time thing! Yes they are expensive. Unfortunately my insurance stopped paying after a certain amount of time, so I had to stop going. I still have alot of problems with my back because I didnt get to finish all the things that he needed to do. I like it when I went.I'd feel soooooo much better afterwards!

Gothic_Amethyst

If it lasts longer than a couple of weeks, I'd definetly get it checked out by the dr. But it sounds like it's getting better, so I hope it is!

Originally posted by 22angel
Gothic_Amethyst

If it lasts longer than a couple of weeks, I'd definetly get it checked out by the dr. But it sounds like it's getting better, so I hope it is!

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I plan to. Sofar I dont think I'll have to thankfully because it's not hurting much now. Aslong as I dont fully straighten it, I'm ok.

Oh wow. Sounds like exactly what I am going through right now. Mine has been sore for quite some time now though. I'd say almost a month. Tendonitis and Tennis Elbow were ruled out.

I ended up going to a chiro cause the pain was becomine unbearable. Mine starts in the shoulder, into the elbow and down into my thumb.
I've had to see him 3 times last week so far and he's done some laser acupuncture. (BTW: I was completely terrified about going to see one and so far... I am thrilled I went.) However, it is covered through my company. Just wish you could go without having it cost you anything.

Mine is apparently muscle related. I coughed and pulled something out of whack.

You may have inadvertedly pulled a muscle doing something and it will take time to heal.

The pain in my arm actually wakes me up at night. I can't wait for it to get better.

One trick he told me was to sleep holding a pillow in my arm. It relieves pressure on the area that is inflammed.

Glad you're getting better.

Not sure how it is with you but opening jars, lifting heavy objects etc... are a big no-no for me right now. Just be careful not to strain it because you could aggravate it more.

Good luck. Hope you continue to get better.

Whisker's mom:

Ow that must be a pain! I'm glad mine was only in my elbow! Have you had a test for carpal tunnel? Looking up my elbow I saw carpal tunnel and tennis elbow. I hope yours isnt though because Id rather it be something like mine that heals after good care.
Laser actupuncture? Ow that sounds painfull! I've never heard of that before! I guess it wasnt though or you'd not been thrilled you went!

Muscles heal, so hopefully that is all it is!

I think that might have been my problem. Otherwise I dont think it would be getting better.

I'm lucky mine's not been affecting my sleep. When I wake up and move it is when it was hurting the most.

I already sleep with a pillow due to an old back injury.

Thanks. Sofar I'm fine unless I put strain on it or lock it.

I hope you feel better soon and that yours goes away too! Scroll up and read the remedies I was given. They helped me.

I've not been doing anything...I think that probably helped it get better. No my only fear as that once all the pain is finally gone it's going to get injured again somehow. That's going to be annoying! I guess I'll just have to be carefull awhile.

You too! *crosses fingers*

{{{{{Gothic_Amethyst}}}}} :hearts3: