GIVING IT THE ELBOW

DaveT

Hello everyone, I'm new. (I wish I was).

Have been diagnosed with RA since early 2014 but its had more effect in the last 2 - 3 yrs. Thought it was tennis elbow and had to stop playing golf! Bad wear and tear, degradation, loss of cartilage etc. Very painful and disabling, and frustrating for myself and them others. Physio advice difficult to maintain. I'm sure you all know the story. Sought advice and recently had Radial End Excision! Still painful and disabling unless kept straight. Taking methotrexate, hydroxychloroquine and sulfasalazine. Now awaiting report of effects on arm nerves/muscles from neurology.

Looking for advice and contact from people having similar problem with an elbow.

Happy days !!

Poppyjane

Hello @DaveT welcome to the online community

Wear and tear is often used as a description for many of us who present as you do with very painful joints. Let us hope that the neurological report will give you some clarification as to the way forward for your treatment.

You mention that physio advice is difficult to sustain and we all appreciate that whilst exercise will be doing us some good to help us maintain mobility and flexibility, it does require stickability! There is no harm with taking a break from it but maybe looking at a new form of exercise in a pool or to music would establish a new welcome routine for you.

I attach some links to treatment of and exercises for elbows and hope that they will be useful

https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/conditions/elbow-pain/

https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/exercising-with-arthritis/exercises-for-healthy-joints/exercises-for-the-elbows/

We are glad you decided to post after ten years of living with RA and now OA we hope that you will feel able to share more of your journey with arthritis with us to help others with your tips and advice.

Best wishes

Poppyjane

DaveT

Further to my first introductory comments and reference to ongoing elbow/forearm pain. My left elbow and forearm ach all the while and any action of the arm produces disabling pHaving had Radial End Excision surgery, please can anyone suggest my next move to alleviate the pain that I am continually experiencing.

DaveT

DaveT

Hello Poppyjane

Many thanks for your comments and links to further info.

Really hoping that Electromyography and Nerve Conduction Studies will establish where the ongoing pain, disability and fatigue is coming from, and suggest some means of relief for me and my family.

Also hope my comments for Dorothy2048 who is considering total elbow replacement, will be helpful to her.

Ellen

Hello @DaveT

Just wondered whether you had done a search for threads about elbows?

https://community.versusarthritis.org/search?domain=all_content&query=elbow&scope=site&source=community

Apologies if you already have.

Elbow issues come up much more rarely here than other joints such as knees and hips, but there are some threads you might be interested in. I hope you will let us know how things go for you.

Best wishes

Ellen.

frogmorton

@DaveT I have nothing at all useful to say other than I love your subject title!!!

Oh and of course I do hope your nerve tests will explain what is going on

Good luck

Toni x

DaveT

Many thanks to Ellen (moderator) for links to members posts from earlier years relating to elbow problems. Although posts are from some years ago, it is interesting to see how advice and treatment has varied and that it is often difficult to establish whether problems are related to TE, RA or OA and to one or multiple joints.

In my case, having been diagnosed with RA early in 2024, about 3yrs ago after believing I had tennis elbow and experiencing increasing pain and clicking/grinding, I stopped playing golf believing that I was doing more harm than good by continuing, and gave the arm a rest.(rightly or wrongly). After various failed rheumatology appointments and covid, eventually I decided to seek orthopaedic help, and having found physiotherapy more aggravating, injections ineffective, and a long NHS waiting list, decided on private radial head excision in September 2004, being advised that this would still leave the option of complete replacement, if necessary.

Whilst the procedure has stopped the pain to the upper/outer area at and below the elbow, and I have good movement in my arm, elbow, wrist and fingers, I now have a similar continuous ache and ongoing acute pain to my inner soft tissue areas below the elbow when I activate the arm in any way and have no strength when pulling, pushing and gripping. From time to time I exercise, massage and apply heat to the area without improvement

Currently I have had Electromyography and Nerve Conduction Studies hopefully to establish if any nerve or muscular problems could be causing the pain, disability and fatigue and will report on any progress. Perhaps anyone with similar current elbow problems will offer further advice.

creAte

Hello @DaveT

Unfortunately I cannot give any form of advice but wish to thank you for your post & valuable info/content/your own experience. Elbow problem started noticeably 4 months ago here so still not investigated ... while dealing with other body parts presently.

So thank you for sharing.

DaveT

CORRECTION to my previous post. I was first diagnosed with RA early in 2014, not 2024 (see my first post) with problems in my left elbow and discomfort in the right foot.

Prior to a heart failure problem (requiring a stent), I had been taking ibuprophen for painkilling but now take tramadol.

Due to a recent very high liver function blood test result, my rheumatologist has recommended stopping my weekly15mg methotrexate injection and daily sulfasalazine until further noitce.

DaveT

Helpline team

Hi helpline team. I note that your comments to @monty2025 relating to knees and surrounding muscles, might also relate to my elbow and forearm muscle pain. What is your opinion?