tendonitis

[lisajl]

Hey,
has anyone here had tendonitis in their elbow? I have had it in my wrist and am now having trouble with my shoulder, elbow and wrist.

I am taking motrin, but it is not helping...hoping I can get into the dr tomorrow. What else can I do for it until then? Is heat or cold better?

Thanks
Lisa

 

[SarahK]

I have this..it's very painful! I find that cold works best for me, along with taking aleve at night. I don't feel like the aleve works at the time, but I find when I take it my arm/wrist is much less stiff in the morning than when I don't. I have had 2 steroid injections in my elbow, which lasted about 3 months. The 2nd has worn off, so now I'm looking at physical therapy. I hope you can find some relief!!

 

[lisajl]

Thanks Sarah. Yes, for me it is an annoying, constant pain, at least right now. I have had tendonitis in this same wrist, but right now it is all the way up my arm.

Thanks for the info...will try cold.

Lisa

 

[Aristomommy]

Cold is better for tendonitis. You can even do an ice massage right on the spot. Take an ice cube and move in circular motion over the painful area for about 4-5min. until it's numb. It cuts down on the inflammation and pain. Also figure out why you keep getting tendonitis. Do you do repetitive motions at work?

 

[mom2pirateNpooh]

I have tendonitis in my elbow. Painkillers do nothing for it, but, as with PPs, cold helps. An elbow brace works even better. My doctor recommended one that's about 2 inches wide and wraps around the forearm just below the elbow, not around the elbow itself - works wonders for me.

 

[lisajl]

Thanks everyone. Yes, the cold does work better. I had been putting heat on it and of course, it did nothing.

I am feeling better now, but I know it will come and go.

For a PP-yes, I do repetitive movements at work. I work for a veterinarian.

So, between working on the computer and holding animals, picking up animals, etc. it really wears on my wrists and shoulders.

Lisa

 

[monkey68]

I had really nasty tendonitis right at my thumb. I wore a spica cast for about a month, and it wasn't getting any better. I eventually just went back to the orthopedist and asked about a cortisone shot as I have just too much to do to be bothered with keeping it immobile. He understood as he was also in med school once, so he gave me a cortisone injection (after making me give him the side effects) and it was sore for a couple days, but now it's so much better.

Not saying it's for everyone, but it really helped me.

 

[Aristomommy]

Thanks everyone. Yes, the cold does work better. I had been putting heat on it and of course, it did nothing.

I am feeling better now, but I know it will come and go.

For a PP-yes, I do repetitive movements at work. I work for a veterinarian.

So, between working on the computer and holding animals, picking up animals, etc. it really wears on my wrists and shoulders.

Lisa

I would recommend getting a supportive brace for work:

http://www.painreliever.com/djorthopedics_DJElbowSupport.html

This just an example, but I have patients who love them. Also look into stretching your wrists in between when you can to avoid flare ups.

 

[chell]

Mine started bothering me several months ago and I thought I had hurt my arm during my sleep since it got real bad in the mornings. My doctor gave me a cortisone shot and a brace. Together they both did a great job for me. When I feel it starting to act up again I will wear the brace again for a few days.

 

[goofyforlife]

I eventually just went back to the orthopedist and asked about a cortisone shot as I have just too much to do to be bothered with keeping it immobile. He understood as he was also in med school once, so he gave me a cortisone injection (after making me give him the side effects) and it was sore for a couple days, but now it's so much better.

Not saying it's for everyone, but it really helped me.

I cortisone...

I've had problems with my wrist on/off for a few years... Finally last January i was ready to just cut my wrist off i was in so much pain.

Previously my HMO dr's wouldn't do anything beyond telling me to take aspirin and ice it.

I finally went to the orthopedic dr (my insurance i had at the time had gone to no refferrals needed) and she gave me a shot in the office. Within a week my wrist felt 100% better. Of course it only lasted 7 months. (i had to get another shot in August.)

Not a cure but cortisone has helped me. (but there is that weird white discoloration i get about a month after a shot.)

 

[Aardvarks]

Mine started bothering me several months ago and I thought I had hurt my arm during my sleep since it got real bad in the mornings. My doctor gave me a cortisone shot and a brace. Together they both did a great job for me. When I feel it starting to act up again I will wear the brace again for a few days.

That is exactly how mine started!! First one arm and several weeks later, the other. I sleep with my arms bent.

I have external epicondylitis, cold helps and sleeping with my arms straight seems to help.

When It gets bad I take a high dose of NSAID ( 1800mg ibuprofen) plus a PPI (20mg omeprazole) to protect my stomach from gut rot. I take this for up to 5 days and the pain eases off.

It is an odd sensation as the pain is localised to the outside edge of the elbow and it is red hot and very tender to the touch. Ice helps a lot.