Elbow redness

[Covidwoes]

Hi sporners,

I have a really sore elbow. Looking closely, I can see a white 'head' on this, but it's hard and not very obvious (you can just about see it in the photo I think). Also, there's no way I could attempt to squeeze it, as it's painful even moving my elbow! Any ideas what to do about this? Have been applying fucidin, but to no avail! The worst bit is how sore it is! Even brushing against it is painful! Help fellow sporners! Wwyd?!

That is fascinating, is it any better?

It’s not too bad at all, you’re lucky!

@CornedBeef451 yes it's definitely improving!

@Garman I got really lucky! Got it in time before it got worse. Very lucky to have a proactive GP.

This is it today.

When my husband got it he had gone to sleep fine and woke 3 hours later in agony thinking he was having a heart attack because of the unbelievable pain down his left arm, his elbow and lower arm were so swollen he couldn’t even move it. He was in a&e within 4 hours of the onset and it was already that severe!

@Covidwoes glad it's feeling better.

The photos are making me make eurgh noises but I can't look away!

@Garman that sounds awful! Poor guy. Do they know why he got it so badly?
Mine is defo healing, but I still can't lean on my elbow yet. DD2 knocked it accidentally today, and it was painful!

Could cellulitis. I had this in my elbow, it had migrated from my hand. Needed v strong antibiotics. Definitely see a doctor.

Sorry 🤦🏽‍♀️

No idea why he got it so badly, just bad luck!

Updated pic! Day 6 of antibiotics today.

@Covidwoes how is the elbow?

@Pieceofpurplesky funnily enough I was thinking about coming back to this thread tonight! It's started to hurt again. No visible pus, but it's throbbing on and off, and when I attempt to lean on it (very gently) it feels like something is stuck there. It currently looks like this.

It's going to make such a mess when it blows!

I think you need to get that seen again. It might need draining.

Back to the GP. You need different antibiotics and possible draining. Must be so painful.

I was going to ring the GP again, but I was wondering if they'd think I was wasting their time! Thanks for the advice! I'll give them a ring tomorrow. It is sore.I've got a high pain threshold, so have just been putting up with it.

@Pieceofpurplesky funnily enough, there's no obvious head on it this time! Even with the previous round of antibiotics, it didn't drain.

Luckily I don't have much pressure on it at all as I'm a busy mum and teacher, so no opportunity to lean on it accidentally!

I'd ask about being checked for gout.

If your GP drains it (an easy job for the GP!), they can send some of the fluid away to check for infection or gout. Or you can have a blood test for urate levels (raised in gout).

@mauvish the GP who saw it said it definitely wasn't gout, but I guess he could be wrong! I don't fit the stereotypical profile for gout at all - late 30s, slim, don't drink much, but I guess it can hit anyone!

How are you getting on now?

Hi @crazycatladyof6! Thanks for asking. So, the infection has now gone, but elbow is still red and the joint itself feels very sore and stiff. It also feels like there's a lump in the way if I try to lean on it. Got a GP review tomorrow to see what to do next. This is what it looks like today.

It looks a bit scabby now. Glad you're feeling a bit better though!

Oh poor you. It does look so sore still and definitely not right. Sounds like there’s a ‘core’ in thence the lump
when you lean on it. Let us know what dr says. You can’t leave it like that