tennis elbow!

lynnemarie
lynnemarie Member Posts: 37
edited 5. Oct 2010, 10:32 in Living with Arthritis archive
Hi wonder if anyone can offer any advice,

i have seronegative arthur, and have tennis elbow in my right elbow, had a cortizone injection last dec, which didnt really help, anyway it destroyed the muscle and tissue around the joint and left me with the pigment around the area dissappearing!

went back to gp's who said the next step is surgery?????? and that they cut the tendon, going to see consultant on the 20th!, gp said it isnt anything to do with my arthur. so my question is, has anyone had this done and is it something to worry about??

cheers Lynne xxx :shock:

Comments

  • airwave
    airwave Member Posts: 579
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    The tendon sticks to the outer covering of the bone and you end up with a shortened tendon which is what causes the pain, it sticks because of scar tissue from an injury, I think, sorry, its been a few years since I had it done.

    Anyrate, they don't cut it, as such, just release it from sticking to the outer bone covering (periosteum? sorry a long time since I did anatomy and physiology!). You have to have your arm in plaster at right angles across your body, to keep the tendon away from the operation site for a couple of weeks whilst it heals, no hassle.

    The steroid injections do leave you prone to more injury and in the end you have to have the op. Check with your GP that the info is correct, I don't think I am too far out.

    8) Its a grin, honest!
  • lynnemarie
    lynnemarie Member Posts: 37
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi airwave

    thanks for that,

    come to think of it the word release was used!! will see what the consultant says, bit upset this has all happened, only had 1 injection!
    and have a huge fobia against injections etc!!

    hmm a couple of weeks in plaster!!, wonder how long the waiting list is - could do with a couple of weeks off work! lol!!!

    thanks for your advice and loved the science part x
  • tkachev
    tkachev Member Posts: 8,332
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Good luck Lynn.
    I suffered from tennis elbow in both arms and like you had a cortisone injection that made very little difference. I was never offered surgery but would have welcomed it as hated the pain, tenderness and not being able to do cartwheels anymore.

    I had tennis elbow 8 years before diagnosed with R.A but never knew if they were linked but suspect they were.

    I will follow your story closely as hate my stuck elbows.

    Elizabeth
    Never be bullied into silence.
    Never allow yourself to be made a victim.
    Accept no ones definition of your life

    Define yourself........

    Harvey Fierstein
  • lynnemarie
    lynnemarie Member Posts: 37
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    thanks elizabeth!,

    was going to say rather you than me, but i know it needs sorting, its making me miserable and cant do the simplest things like carry shopping, mix cakes, - running - no strength in it at all!

    will keep you informed x

    i would have thought it was connected to arthur, - cant see it helping the situation anyway!! x
  • frogmorton
    frogmorton Member Posts: 29,788
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Lynne

    I want to wish you l;uck too - you have my sympathy and hope that you get it sorted soon.

    You cannot go on unable to do basic things :(

    Love

    Toni xx
  • tkachev
    tkachev Member Posts: 8,332
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    lynnemarie wrote:
    thanks elizabeth!,

    was going to say rather you than me, but i know it needs sorting, its making me miserable and cant do the simplest things like carry shopping, mix cakes, - running - no strength in it at all!

    will keep you informed x

    i would have thought it was connected to arthur, - cant see it helping the situation anyway!! x

    i agree but mine have got better since starting anti-tnf and are not so tender.
    i was never told they were linked i just assume they must be as symptoms so similar.
    good luck with surgery.

    elizabeth
    Never be bullied into silence.
    Never allow yourself to be made a victim.
    Accept no ones definition of your life

    Define yourself........

    Harvey Fierstein
  • joanneredshaw
    joanneredshaw Member Posts: 62
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    lynnemarie wrote:
    Hi wonder if anyone can offer any advice,

    i have seronegative arthur, and have tennis elbow in my right elbow, had a cortizone injection last dec, which didnt really help, anyway it destroyed the muscle and tissue around the joint and left me with the pigment around the area dissappearing!

    went back to gp's who said the next step is surgery?????? and that they cut the tendon, going to see consultant on the 20th!, gp said it isnt anything to do with my arthur. so my question is, has anyone had this done and is it something to worry about??

    cheers Lynne xxx :shock:

    Hi

    Just read your post and I too am seronenegative RA and have had tennis elbow in my right arm. One injection of cortizone did the trick. But now I am suffering in the other arm. Similar pains etc, it must be linked to Arthritis!
    So many of us seem to be suffering the same. It was never explained to me, I was just given the injection.

    Hope all goes well for you.

    Jo
    :D
  • tillytop
    tillytop Member Posts: 3,460
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi

    Just to add to what the others have said - I have had this problem in both elbows over the years due to RA but, when the RA is under control, they are fine, so they are definitely connected to the arthritis in my case (and luckily no actual joint degeneration). It seems odd to me that your GP thinks it is unconnected to the arthritis tho. It may be that surgery is needed in your case (hope not), but hopefully the consultant will give you the answers you need.

    Good luck!

    Tilly xx
  • haagan
    haagan Member Posts: 84
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    hi i had surgery for tennis elbow about 5 yrs ago after injections failing to do anything. it wasn't that bad, they removed damaged tendon then reattached to bone. they didn't put it in plaster just dressing and sling. it felt better immediately despite pain from wound, which is only small. best thing i could have done. it can be done as day case i stayed overnight cos i live alone. have full moment and no pain. Fay
  • lynnemarie
    lynnemarie Member Posts: 37
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    thanks to all, you've helped a great deal.

    i do feel it is linked to arthur, or not helped by it, i was told by rhumy that once a joint had been damaged arthur set in (because of my type) so therefore i am not supposed to exersize to limit the damage done to any further joints! (have had to exersize due to 2 stone weight increase - however do it in a controlled enviroment)

    what is anti tnf? - anti inflamatories??

    the gp i saw specialises in arthur and joint issues in our surgery so quite suprised by his comment too!

    will let you all know what the orthapedic surgeon says on the 20th!

    thanks for the support x :D
  • frogmorton
    frogmorton Member Posts: 29,788
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Lynnemarie

    anti tnf is a bilogic treatment for inflamatory arthritis tried after DMARDs have failed. They target specific proteins in the uimmune system thought to cause the arthritis.

    Blimey it sounds as though you are not alone With this tennis elbow!

    Love

    Toni xx
  • lynnemarie
    lynnemarie Member Posts: 37
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    ah Toni

    not heard of that before??? - thanks for that - wonder when they will eventually put me on them? - been diagnosed nearly 3 years ! but had it for years before then - hopefully its slow going tho!

    thanks x

    ps, i know! its amazing how many people have had it got it etc!!, i suppose i'm common!!! :wink:

    xxx
  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Generally speaking, one is given an anti-TNF treatment after all the usual ones have failed to provide any lasting (or indeed just any) relief of symptoms. They can be very effective for some. DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben