dodgy elbow

[aefibird]

I wonder if anyone has ever had the same problem that I've got now?

 

A few weeks (maybe even a couple of months ago) we were doing takedown techniques at my dojo. I was being uke (the person being thrown about like a rag doll ), when I slipped as I was going to the floor and ended up landing on my bent elbow (i.e. landing on the point of it). Ack, all that Aikido and Karate breakfall training and I land on my elbow...

 

It hurt like heck for a few days afterwards, but the pain seemed to go away after a while. However, since then I've been getting regular bouts of pins and needles in my elbow and in that arm, especially in my middle two fingers. I've also been getting pain in my elbow again, as well as pain in my fingers.

 

Should I go to the doctor about it, or will it just go away in time? My elbow is still working and I can use my arm as normal - it's just the pins and needles and the finger pain are 'doing my head in'. It seems like a minor problem to bother my GP about, especially as all GP's in the UK seem to have too many patients to see and not enough time, but what does everyone else think I should do?

 

BTW, I've tried taking Paracetamol (I can't take Ibuprofen or Aspirin as I have asthma), as well as using ice and having long soaks in hot baths, none of which really seem to make any difference.

[White Warlock]

The pins and needles running down your middle fingers suggests inflammation of the median nerve. Have you been regularly treating your elbow with ice packs (15 minute intervals)?

 

If you have medical coverage, definitely go see your doctor. If not, and it's going to cost you to see a doctor, then do these simple tests:

 

1. Check movement and rotation of all your joints in that arm (including your fingers). Does it all move normally? In performing any of these actions, does the 'pins and needles' effect become exacerbated? Does any of it hurt to do, that would not normally hurt to do?

 

2. Softly squeeze your wrist. Does the pins and needles feeling become exacerbated? If so, then you may also be dealing with a bit of CTS.

 

3. Try to cross your fingers. Were you able to do so before? Are you able to do so now?

 

If the pins and needles effect becomes exacerbated when hypo-extending your elbow, then it's likely all you have is an inflamed median nerve. Continued treatment with ice will alleviate the problem in time.

 

If you feel pain at or about the elbow or forearm, then it is possible you injured your transverse ligament. This is very slow to heal... but it's not going to heal if you don't ice it regularly. Ligaments are also far more susceptible to overicing (less blood vessels), so definitely do not ice for more than 15 minutes at a time... at 30 minute intervals.

 

The inability to cross your fingers is a slightly more serious concern. Let me know. For that matter, let your doctor know.

 

Any additional info you can provide will help me to 'speculate.' Again, i'm not a doctor, so if you have serious concerns, and you can afford to visit a doctor, definitely do so.

[White Warlock]

BTW, I've tried taking Paracetamol (I can't take Ibuprofen or Aspirin as I have asthma), as well as using ice and having long soaks in hot baths, none of which really seem to make any difference.

Just caught this.

 

Quit with the hot baths, that's only going to exacerbate the inflammation. Paracetamol (aka: acetaminophen... or Tylenol) won't really have any impact on this, so quit taking it. An anti-inflammatory would help, but take it in moderation. My earlier advice on 'how' to apply ice still stands.

 

ciao

[AngelaG]

If you have medical coverage, definitely go see your doctor. If not, and it's going to cost you to see a doctor, then do these simple tests:

AND

Again, i'm not a doctor, so if you have serious concerns, and you can afford to visit a doctor, definitely do so.

Ah the beauty of living of Britain with the NHS. We may knock it but it's comments like this that really bring it home how lucky we are.

 

Aefiebird is in England and therefore has free access to a General Practioner, physiotherapists, radiologists etc.

 

It's there, it's free, go along and check it out. Nothing is too trivial if you have genuine concerns. A couple of weeks ago I went along for an inflamed tendon running up the palm of my hands. I had been putting up with it for over a year, and it was painful and meant I had pretty much lost all mobility in the middle finger of my left hand. I didn't want to bother my doctor. Eventually I lost my temper after jamming it and having excruciating pain, and also it was affecting my training, so I couldn't make proper fists etc. He looked at it and immediately suggested a steroid injection. He took me seriously and treated the problem. Within two days the problem I had been stoically nursing for over a year had been solved and my finger is as good as new!!

[aefibird]

If you have medical coverage, definitely go see your doctor. If not, and it's going to cost you to see a doctor, then do these simple tests:

AND

Again, i'm not a doctor, so if you have serious concerns, and you can afford to visit a doctor, definitely do so.

Ah the beauty of living of Britain with the NHS. We may knock it but it's comments like this that really bring it home how lucky we are.

 

Aefiebird is in England and therefore has free access to a General Practioner, physiotherapists, radiologists etc.

 

Yes, everytime I have cause to use the NHS I am reminded of how lucky the people of Britain are to have such a fine service. The care and compassion of all the NHS medical staff I have ever come into contact with has be second to none. A big :up: to them all!!