GP or physio for tennis elbow?

[StrongLegs]

Hi,

My Dad, has got an injury which looks a lot like tennis elbow. He's the carer for my mother, who is very dependent on him, and he currently can't squeeze his hand enough to squeeze a toothpaste tube or use secateurs. He says there is a funny nobble or broken bit on his elbow after he bashed it off a door.

He has made an appointment to see the doctor, but it's not for another 10 days. I just wondered - do you think it would be better if he goes privately to a physio, who he could probably see in a couple of days? It seems like not being able to squeeze a toothpaste tube is an indication that something is quite wrong.

Thanks!

I just checked and he can rotate his wrist okay, and says there are definitely no broken bones.

Is there no Minor Injuries or Drop In centre?
Sounds like an x-ray might be needed to determine the nobbly bit

GP
It’s really hard to treat without rest, steroid injections and in our household, surgery

There is a minor injuries unit half an hour away. Would that be better? It's a drop in place where he could go tomorrow but it's a lot further. I could ask if he would consider it.

Are the symptoms from basing his arm on the door?
When was that?
Can he fully straighten his elbow?

if the minor injuries has x-ray then that would be good

I have recurrent tennis elbow (other issues in play) and its my physio that sorts it each time it rears its ugly head. The first time I saw the GP and had anti inflammatories, repeated steroid injections and nothing helped. Acupuncture from my private physio usually takes it out in 2 sessions (and being careful with what I do).
When its bad I can't squeeze toothpaste, pick up a cup etc. It really is painful

It's a bit tricky to ask him for more information as he just says "I have an appointment with the GP, do something else." So I don't really know anything more about it. Sorry. I can't get to where he is because I have long covid and can't get that far away just now. #complicated

I checked and the minor injuries unit do have x-ray and I told him about that.

Thank you very much for the advice. :-) It's good to have some idea of what's ahead.