severe right elbow pain

I had something similar when I first developed fibro.  It felt like I had banged the nerve (funny bone) and had shooting pain down into my hands.  This happened with both elbows and stayed that way for two weeks.  Finally it settled down but both of my arms were extremely weak.  I remember trying to get food from my crock pot to a platter and spilling the whole dinner on the floor because my arms were too weak.  I stood there and cried.

So, this sounds kind of like what I had and it has totally gone away.  So, take heart.  My doctor put me on ibuprofen with food at the time and I've been taking that ever since.

Sherrine

Joy,
Do you have swelling on the inside of the arm? I have a lump on the lower inside of the elbow
and swelling on the inner arm going toward the armpit. It started a couple of months ago and I wasn't
sure if it was another lypoma or bursitis. It definately burns and hurts especially with all the lifting
I do everyday. I'm going to try bromelain which is pineapple enzymes to see if I can get the
swelling down as it's an anti-inflamatory.

Nana Monster

Myjoy, my elbows are also very sore and weak most of the time. They are the reason I had to stop working - I couldn't pick up anything heavier than a pen. I'm sorry, I know how sore they can be.

I just bought a pair of lightweight compression sleeves - they begin at the wrist and fit snugly up to the shoulder. I've found they really protect my sore elbows and make them feel supported at the same time. The compression sleeves are for edema, which I don't have, but my doc suggested them since I don't have circulation problems. My BF has to pull them on me if I don't have any strength sometimes... :)

The bromelain is finally working...the swelling and pain are diminishing. It was getting hard to do my job as it's all about lifting,
turning and putting things away. Alot of elbow movement!!!!

Joy,
The cortisone shot should last for up to 2 months if you're lucky. With me it lasted for about a month but my job is super
physical so I'm always stressing the joints. Here's a stupid one for you....do you use a laptop? I just realized after months of severe
elbow pain that I'm holding the laptop in my lap with my left arm and it's straining the joint. I stopped doing it and the swelling and
pain subsided. It still gets sore but not the mindblowing kind anymore. Sometimes it's the little things we do without realizing it
that set off some of our pain.

Nana Monster

Nana - I do use a laptop, but don't hold on to it as you described. But I will pay more attention to what I might be doing when using the laptop, as that would be the only repetative thing I do with my arm.

That's how everything started for me....a pain in my left elbow. I was diagnosed with tennis elbow, put on modified duties at work ( which to them meant work with your good hand/arm) until I got it in my right arm too. I tried a cortisone shot in my left elbow. It took about a week to get any relief and it only lasted about a month. My whole elbow wasted away and was nothing but bone and tendon showing for about 6-9 months. My doctor said I didn't get enough benefit from it to outweigh the side effects, which from what I understand the stuff eats away at your tendons making them softer and prone to more damage. You're not supposed to get any more than 3 shots in any one spot your whole life. Some people get months of relief from them so that makes it worthwhile. My specialist said that their's nothing I can do for mine now that the damage is irreversible....learn to live with the pain. Then the pain started to spread...pain in my shoulders, pain in my neck, headaches, pain in my back...etc,etc. You all know the drill...my family doc diagnosed me with fibro Feb 09 and the Rheumatologist comfirmed it Dec 09.