Bursitis In Elbow

[Brillfan]

Anyone ever have bursitis in their elbow? About 4 weeks ago, I was making believe I was young and powerful and picked something up that was way too heavy. Felt a sharp pinch in my elbow, and the next day, my elbow looked like a golf ball was in there.

I've been to 2 doctors, and although the swelling went down, the pain is a bitch. Somedays I can hardly even lift my arm. The orthopedic specialist says that there's really no fluid sack to drain. I'm wearing a padded elbow "sock", and was told to come back for a recheck in 3 months. WTF???

Three months is a long time to be "one-armed"! Fortunately, I'm right-handed, and the damage is in my left elbow, so I don't have issues lifting up my beer. I'll keep this "G" rated for now.

Anyone else have/had this?

[PA86]

How were you diagnosed?

A lot of the time bursitis is a catch all diagnosis.

Ice, fish oil, Ibuprofen, ART (active release therapy), and even a Cortisone shot can all be used.

[Sharpshooter9x19]

It took me almost a year and several doctors to diagnose my "Bursitis" in my left elbow. Cortisone and prednisone helped. Motrin (Vitamin "M") is a daily staple of my pharmaceutical diet. Time and NO WEIGHTLIFTING was the only this that helped. I had to stop going to the gym for almost 6 months (Uggh). Just started going back and it sucks, but it does feel better. Give it time and if there's no improvement I'd suggest getting an MRI to see if there's any major cartlidge tearing.

[Posit]

I have it in a shoulder... its a slow recovery. The bright spot in your situation is you can avoid heavy lifting in the future (lol).

[Brillfan]

How were you diagnosed?

A lot of the time bursitis is a catch all diagnosis.

Ice, fish oil, Ibuprofen, ART (active release therapy), and even a Cortisone shot can all be used.

After the initial swelling at the elbow itself went down, a good part of my arm swelled up. Since I have a mechanical heart valve, infection is always a concern. Initially, I went to the ER. They took the first set of X-rays, but recommended I see a specialist. The ER wrote a prescription for antibiotics to take care of any possible infection. The orthopedic specialist took a second set of X-rays. Since this went on for a few weeks, I went for a second opinion at a different specialist. No one did an MRI (yet).

If it is going to take time, I'll just have to live with it. It sure limits how much I can do around the house. I wanted to check with the people here to see if anyone else had a similar problem. Don't want to live with this for the next 3 months, only to find out the diagnosis was wrong.

[SilentRage]

Damn ,,, got the same freakin' thing in my left elbow ,
haven't been to the doctor though .

A co-worker has it also , we both drive truck and are
constantly carrying heavy objects , he has been using
prescription pain pills three times a day and me , well ,
so far just trying to work through the pain , and yes
it sucks !!

[Brillfan]

It took me almost a year and several doctors to diagnose my "Bursitis" in my left elbow. Cortisone and prednisone helped. Motrin (Vitamin "M") is a daily staple of my pharmaceutical diet. Time and NO WEIGHTLIFTING was the only this that helped. I had to stop going to the gym for almost 6 months (Uggh). Just started going back and it sucks, but it does feel better. Give it time and if there's no improvement I'd suggest getting an MRI to see if there's any major cartlidge tearing.

The cartilage is what has me thinking. I had cartilage damage in both knees and one ankle in the past 9 years. The way this pain flares, it is very similar to my knee problems.

[JeannieBmine]

I was moving a piano on wheels at school and I had to push the piano over a door jam. That is when I believe I injured both elbows. Since it happened at work, I was obligated to use workman's comp doctors for one year to see whether they could help me and the pain. They tried everything from therapy to shots etc. Nothing worked and I too couldn't bend my arms w/out incredible pain. After the year was up, I tried something I never would have tried...Accupuncture.

I can't recommend it enough. It took about a month worth of treatments, several times a week and now I am pain free and have been for years now. I was scarred at first but couldn't believe that the pain could be removed so easily without drugs. Amazing.

.

[Exbiker]

Try OAA. Ask for whoever specializes in elbows in the sports med dept. I used CHRISTOPHER A. HAWKINS, M.D for shoulder repair and they were excellent.

http://www.oaaortho.com/index.html

[Brillfan]

Try OAA. Ask for whoever specializes in elbows in the sports med dept. I used CHRISTOPHER A. HAWKINS, M.D for shoulder repair and they were excellent.

http://www.oaaortho.com/index.html

That's exactly where I last went for a second opinion. They took good care of me when I had a wrist injury last year. I may be wrong on the spelling, but the Dr's name is Batista. Good guy.