BAD PAIN in my elbow area - what could it be?

Question

It hurts even to touch it on the inside of the arm - certain hand and wrist movements, as well as the elbow, make that area hurt SO bad - started about two months ago and is progressing - I'm close to 40, could it be arthritis?

Answer 1

Could be "Tennis Elbow" which can be caused from repetitive use. You could look it up to see if this sounds like it could be it. Good luck, my husband has it, and it is painful and swollen.

Answer 2

Good answers everyone!
If its gone on for two months, its definitely time to see your doctor and get it looked at, and get referrals while you're at it for assessment and treatments.

I doubt its arthritis but only an MD will be able to diagnose you. It's probably a repetitive strain injury or occupational disease like tennis elbow or carpal tunnel syndrome, or could be a systemic disease of sorts. You may need to get an EMG / Nerve conduction test & blood tests to investigate further.

If its a rep. strain injury the severity determines whether you need mild-moderate treatments ( physio, rest, ice & heat, etc.) or surgical intervention. With rep. strain or occup. disease, pain may disappear when the actions that cause pain are stopped but likely will reappear when you do those motions again.

In any case, REST your arm and avoid motions that cause or aggravate the pain. Safe to say you can use Advil, tylenol, heat and ice in the meantime but your best bet it to get it investigated by professionals.

Answer 3

Hmmm, I happen to have gone through a similar injury recently, which didn't seem to go away by itself, was VERY painful, and was causing all sorts of frustration.

I'm the kind of person who typically doesn't go to the doctor unless rest, and my personal attempts to correct the situation haven't worked. That could go anywhere from increasing/decreasing exercise, all the way to Advil and rest. However, non of these options worked for me while I endured the pain.

I finally went and had myself checked out. They ran a blood test, did arm strength testing, and poked and prodded. They found no "R" or "F" factor in my blood indicating arthritis, they found no external factors, but the doctor could really make me jump when she dug her fingers into my elbow and forearm.

For me (not saying for you), she found I had sustained a repetitive arm injury and it ended up being tennis elbow (I don't play tennis). I had just overused the arm a couple of months earlier and it needed rest, rehab (physical therapy) and continued ice and Advil. Eventually, under specific, directed care, the situations was resolved. According to the physical therapist, injuries like this can be agony, and won't go away by themselves. Hope this helps. Enjoy.

Answer 4

I would try a routine of anti-inflammatories, like Advil or Alleve in a regular schedule for a 2 week time frame and see if you get relief. Tylenol is good for pain, but the Alleve and Advil reduce swelling and you need that. Could be anything from tennis elbow to arthritis, but I doubt that it IS arthritis.

If you have a heating pad wrap it around your elbow for 15 minutes while you're watching TV or reading. If you can stand to soak in a warm bath then throw in a handful of Epsom salts into the tub and soak for 15 minutes at a time, every day.

If after two weeks you see no improvement go see your doctor. You might need a course of steroids to fix it, but at least you can tell them you already did the 2 weeks of anti-inflammatories, heat, soaking. They'll tell you to try Advil, heat, soaking routine anyway so beat them to the punch by starting that regime now.

Best of luck to you, now go get your Advil, heating pad and Epsom salts!

Answer 5

It could be time to see the doctor.

My guess is that it is some type of repetitive stress injury, but I am not a doctor.