Elbow

[Eliza22]

Ok. I'm thinking I have a combo of tennis/golfers' elbow. Pain getting worse over past couple of months. I've reached the stage where it's waking me at night, it's so painful and I cannot grip/hold and lift even light objects (lifting a kettle or pan, or hoovering is right out with my right hand). Went to GP last week and explained that it's been going on since Nov. He said it must be arthritis and/or Tennis or Golfers as you can't have both at the same time. He told me to take paracetamol. That's it. I'm pretty much losing the use of my right arm....pain into my forearm and shoulder too.

I do have some arthritis and my Rheumatoid Factor's been raised but he said "only a bit" so, keep taking the paracetamol.

What can I do? I'm really struggling. Anyone had this?

Anti inflammatories would be much better if you can take them - you would need to take them regularly and possibly with something like omperazole to protect your tummy.
He can't leave you like that.

Eliza - I absolutely sympathise - i had it for 3 months last year and it was one of the worst injuries ever - made me cry sometimes!! i couldn't pick the tv remote control up, never mind bags of shopping.

It will get better but it takes time and some effort - i tried stretches, ultrasound, massage etc but eventually the main thing that worked was putting my elbow in an ice bath (think washing up bowl) every evening and rubbing ice on it, and always using this support to allow the part of the tendon that 'pulls' each time you do something, to heal. Otherwise you keep reinjuring it - www.amazon.co.uk/MEDICAL-medical-quality-silicon-vibration/dp/B001M0A2LE/ref=sr_1_2?s=sports&ie=UTF8&qid=1391591053&sr=1-2&keywords=tennis+elbow+supports

This book was excellent too - and really explains what the problem is and how to treat it.
www.amazon.co.uk/Treat-Your-Own-Tennis-Elbow/dp/1608443906/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1391591185&sr=1-1&keywords=tennis+elbow+book

it's an absolute bugger to treat but you will get there. Main thing to remember is to try not to re-traumatising it by doing little tasks - the support brace isolates the tendon while it heals.

Hope that helps a bit!!

Can you afford to go and see a physiotherapist? I ve always found them so much better for anything musculo skeletal - their diagnosing skills are better, and you get much better advice than 'take paracetomol'- I ve always come away feeling optimistic. They always seem to so interested and so enthusiastic. It's certainly where I d be heading in your situation.

It could be supinator syndrome - I get it, and the pain is down the centre of my forearm, and hurts when picking up a mug, or gripping anything.

The only thing that works for me is acupuncture - I've had steroid injections, ultrasound, physio, splints, anti inflammatories and nothing worked, but two sessions of acupuncture from a private physio settles it down. I now know what sets it off and am more careful

sounds like your first stop is a physiotherapist for a diagnosis. Mine was tennis elbow and I had acupuncture and ultrasound - made no difference at all but cost me a lot!! But I think you have to try everything in turn and see what works (I even tried bloody magnets that i bought online - don't bother )

Thanks for all the suggestions ... It really is a complete git. I don't remember injuring myself in any way but think it came on after carrying shopping one day.

The GP said anti-inflammatory stuff doesn't work (no also to steroids) and the physio waiting list is loooong. He's put me on it. I just got the impression, he couldn't be arsed.

I'm always as bit wary of buying stuff off the internet but the support thingy looks good and gets good reviews so, will try that first. Oh and I've read that it's not unusual to have tennis and Golfers ^at the same time.

TBF, steroids don't have good clinical evidence, but as theres not good results in anything for tennis elbow its one of those 'worth a go'.

The private physio I see is £30 a session, but it was worth it to see someone quickly when I need to and who wasn't constrained to a treatment path.

If you can afford to pay for a physio, its much quicker than waiting for a NHS one. I m on not much more than the minimum wage, so not rolling in it, when injured myself, I felt the physio appt was worth its wait in gold. Told me in great detail what the injury was, how to treat it with drugs and exercises and how to avoid doing it again in the future - and how to live with it the meantime. And realistically how long before it got better. The gp had , more or less, shrugged his shoulders and said paracetomol. Not interested at all.

I had this a year ago, anti-inflammatories didn't even touch it, after three visits over several months to the GP I got referred to physio and had several sessions over 2 or 3 months that really improved things, to the point where although there was a bit of stiffness it wasn't limiting me in any way.

To be honest, I'd pay and go private rather than wait several months again. Alternatively, if you have already got a referral for physio, look up their reception phone number and beg for a cancellation. My GP forgot to do the referral after agreeing it and I realised after hearing nothing for 6 weeks, he then got the physio office to call me and they were able to offer a choice of appointments within days.

I'd agree- go to a private Physio first. I can't be arsed waiting for NHS and I think it cost me £30 for advice. If I was you then I'd treat it myself using info online.

Oh and following my experience with messing about waiting for the NHS, when I hurt my back a week before Christmas I bypassed the GP and found a private one who spent 90 mins with me the next day for the princely sum of £40, did a detailed assessment, various treatments, exercises to do at home, advice about seating position etc and I was right as rain within 48 hours. Money very well spent.