I don't know what I did to my elbow

[calico2222]

I've been having problems with my right elbow since this past summer. It started bothering me after we had a yard sale and I thought it was just sore from carrying heavy boxes back and forth and didn't think to much about it at the time. It only really hurt when I was trying to bend my arm while holding something heavy.

Now it aches all the time and even picking up a soda can to drink it hurts. I have a hard time straighten my arm out all the way or bending it all the way. Cleaning the litter box or carrying laundry almost makes me cry. And the little knobby part of the elbow (not the elbow itself, but the small part on the side of the joint) is twice the size of the one on my left arm and hurts when I push on it.

I know I have to get it checked out but I was just wondering if anyone has any ideas? My right arm is my dominant arm and it's always been strong but now I have no strength in it at all. Is it possible to get arthritis in just one joint? I mean other than my back at times, I'm pretty mobile (back problems caused by bulging discs). I've never injured that arm that I can remember and I've never done really hard physical labor that would wear it out. Any thoughts?

 

[strange_wings]

Bursitis, gout, synovitis, etc can happen in an elbow like that. I get random flare ups of bursitis in my right elbow and knees, sometimes it's my fault and sometimes it seems to come out of nowhere.

If it's currently swollen now, go to the doctor. Actual physical proof is better than a description. Plus gout is tested for by taking fluid from around the swollen joint.

In the mean time try a cool pack (not ice directly on the elbow, ouch!) and see if that helps a little bit. Anti-inflammatories can interfere with blood tests a doctor may choose to do to look for inflammation, so you better make up your mind pretty soon if you want to go and have them done before you default to taking those.
Tylenol is fine to take if you can take it.

 

[calico2222]

Thanks! After reading a bit up on elbow pain, it sounds like I may have tennis elbow. Although I'm not sure what could have cause the damage except for 9 years of waitressing and carrying heavy trays of food above my head with that arm. May that did it and it's just giving me fits now? I'm not really worried about the swelling going down because it's been swollen and tender to the touch for a few weeks now and has been off and on for the last 6 months.

I'm just paranoid when just one part of my body starts hurting like this.

 

[strange_wings]

Then see a doc for it!

Inflammation causes damage, ignoring it lets your elbow get worse. You won't know specifically what is inflamed until a doc checks it out. Please don't let it get worse than it is.

 

[Winchester]

I was wondering about tennis elbow. I had it years ago and your symptoms sound suspiciously like what I had. It's usually caused by repetitious work. The doctor put me on Advil and I used an ice pack and heat, and I wore a band right above my elbow for several weeks - I'm thinking six weeks? It was so bad that I couldn't pick up a bed pillow! It will take awhile to heal, but if you're careful it will heal. (My elbow took awhile to heal, but maybe that was b/c I was working a fairly strenuous physical job at the time.)

Good luck! You really should see your doctor, just to make sure that's what it is.

 

[snake_lady]

I have both golfers and tennis elbow.

Rest is one of the main things, let em repair themselves is how my hand and upper limb specialist says. Cortisone can help some, but it's not used early on. A physiotherapist could give some stretches and exercises that help. Massage therapy also helps

My BIL had one arm affected from pulling ice cream tubs, but with rest and not doing that activity his healed up fine. Whereas mine is a permanent disability (has been for 4yrs next month) with medication to help lower my pain levels and increase function.

Pls go to a doc. If it is indeed tennis elbow the sooner it's treated the more liable you are to make a recovery. It can be quite debilitating unfortunately. My flare ups are awful (putting it mildly) and im out of options for a chance of recovery.

Good luck Hope, I hope you are able to treat it, whatever it is.