Calling the DIS doctors

[minkydog]

I have something weird going on with one elbow. It's swollen, spongy, hot and tender. It's about the size of a ping pong ball, but it doesn't seem to have any liquid in it. It is definitely mushy and I can feel the heat through my shirt. It seems to be tender only in certain places, like right over the end of the ulna. I'm thinking it's tendinitis. I don't think it's an infection--I would expect it to be flucuant and it's not. It's very sore. The joint does not seeem to be affected. Ice hasn't done much to help.

I have a doctor appt on Thurs for something else, but I plan to bring this up. Obviously, if I see a red streak I will take myself in sooner. Any ideas?


And another thing. I don't think it's related, but it could be. Two fingers on my right hand are turning to the right. My index finger is almost on it's side. The distal joints of the index and middle fingers are tender to touch and look knotty. They are stiff but not terribly painful. Hoping it's not anything more than OS, but two of my sibs have RA.

Is this the weirdest thing ever? Okay, maybe not the weirdest thing, but do you think I"m on track?

 

[booger73]

I have something weird going on with one elbow. It's swollen, spongy, hot and tender. It's about the size of a ping pong ball, but it doesn't seem to have any liquid in it. It is definitely mushy and I can feel the heat through my shirt. It seems to be tender only in certain places, like right over the end of the ulna. I'm thinking it's tendinitis. I don't think it's an infection--I would expect it to be flucuant and it's not. It's very sore. The joint does not seeem to be affected. Ice hasn't done much to help.

I have a doctor appt on Thurs for something else, but I plan to bring this up. Obviously, if I see a red streak I will take myself in sooner. Any ideas?


And another thing. I don't think it's related, but it could be. Two fingers on my right hand are turning to the right. My index finger is almost on it's side. The distal joints of the index and middle fingers are tender to touch and look knotty. They are stiff but not terribly painful. Hoping it's not anything more than OS, but two of my sibs have RA.

Is this the weirdest thing ever? Okay, maybe not the weirdest thing, but do you think I"m on track?

Could be gout - or olecranon bursitis.. do you take any diuretics or have kidney problems that might set you up for gout. (See here also: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olecranon_bursitis)

If you can bend your elbow all the way flexion (i.e. make a biceps muscle) and extend it all the way (straight) then it's probably not in the elbow joint.. which is good. If you don't have a fever even better. Inflammation can always show up 'warm' so I think that's probably what you're seeing as opposed to infection like you said.. Tendinitis usually doesn't poof up like a ball and usually moves as you move.. if it's round, i'd bet it's one of the two above.

RA's usually wrist/MCP's (the big knuckles) with OA being the PIP (middle joint) and DIP (far bender), but nothing's perfect. I'd anticipate most people having wrist problems first before just the 2nd/3rd fingers distally (which is fairly classic OA)

If you can take NSAIDS without killing your kidneys or stomach or other stuff it's worth a shot since your appt is Thursday. While i don't think you have a septic joint either, that's kinda hard to tell from across the internet of course.. if it's actually 'in the joint' he may aspirate it, but from what you're telling me i can't 100% tell

 

[minkydog]

I totally forgot bursitis. I bet that's it. I have had a little gout in the far past, but nothing in the last several years. No kidney disease as far as I know. I'm allergic to Advil, so I don't take any NSAIDS(had an anaphylactic reaction once.)

Thanks for the idea. Going to look up bursitis now.

ETA: Yup, that's gotta be it. My elbow looks exactly like the picture. Thanks!

 

[disneymarie]

Not Dr. But have had tennis elbow, and dd had cellulitus.

Have you hurt your neck, fell onto your hand that side?

 

[KPeveler]

I have had cellulitis (completely unrelated to all my other medical problems)and it sounds just like that

My dr used a sharpie to draw a line around it to see if it spread - what about trying that with a ballpoint pen? If it is spreading you should think about moving up your drs appt.