Hey Dr Hive, my elbow hurts

[kiana]

So last year about midyear my elbow started hurting and I went to the orthopedic/sports doctor, and they gave me a cortisone shot. They didn't really give me any rehab program (honestly they just told me to go back to doing whatever I felt like), but Dr Google did -- I followed it and it was pretty much painfree until I re-tweaked it a week ago shoveling a ditch. I'm actually not sure if I re-tweaked the same injury or injured something else because there's moderate pain on the outside of the elbow and severe pain on the inside (more of a golfer's elbow location). It's also slightly warm to the touch but only on the inside of the elbow.

 

Of course I immediately quit all exercises that used it, but it's been steadily increasing in pain to the point where I can't lift a book or a glass of water in that hand. I can't even wear a long-sleeved shirt because the fabric brushing against it causes excessive pain. I tried one of the braces that goes below the elbow and within 20 minutes the pain was excruciating and I couldn't even close my fingers, so I decided that was a bad idea. It's only dented by maximal dosage of NSAIDs. I called a few days ago but because of holidays they can't get me in for another 2 weeks, and there isn't really another local orthopedic clinic.

 

So here's questions:

1) OTC remedies? I'm icing it and taking NSAIDs but if you have any weird ideas I'll give it a shot. I'm doing my best to avoid using it in any way at this point.

 

2) Is this something that urgent care could do something for, or would they just x-ray it, tell me it's not broken (I'm 99.99% sure it's not, anyway, I didn't DO anything that would have broken it) and to make an appointment with the doctor?

[zoobie]

Excruciating pain would have me headed to get looked at quickly. Did you tell them the pain level? They may recommend going to a particular ER if they have privileges there, which would essentially get you seen faster. At least you'd get something stronger than an NSAID if that's not touching the pain.

[kiana]

Yeah, the ER would run me at least a thousand bucks (my insurance has a crappy deductible) and I can put up with a LOT of pain for a thousand bucks.

[kiana]

Bumping in case any of the morning crowd has any other suggestions.

[Jean in Newcastle]

Call, explain that the pain is getting worse (that makes a difference).  Sometimes they have slots reserved for "emergencies" that will suddenly open up.  If they still say that they only have an opening in two weeks, ask if they have a cancellation list and ask to be put on it. 

 

BTW - it doesn't have to be a broken bone for there to be a problem.  It can be a torn ligament etc. 

[MomatHWTK]

?

https://www.workplacetesting.com/definition/1602/epicondylitis