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