Elbow Bursitis

[porkchop]

My Doctor was not too worried with my elbow bursitis saying that it will go away on its own . That was over four weeks ago. Are there any creams ( such as Diclac) or treatment that may relieve this annoyng inflamation and hurry up recovery.

[Mamyalynne]

I'm not sure anything topical like a cream would help. I presume infection has been ruled out?

If there is a lot of fluid they may drain it, has that been mentioned at all?

[Sqad]

Yes, there are.
If it is red and painful, I would go back to the GP as it is mostly certainly infected.
if it is not red and inflamed, then Voltarol OR Ibuprofen creams rubbed into the swelling may accelerate healing, which may take up to a couple of months to heal.

[Mamyalynne]

Oh that's good to know Sqad next time mine flares up, didn't think a cream/gel would touch it.

[porkchop]

DOC said that they do not drain anymore, no reason given, i suppose i will just have to grin and bear!

[Sqad]

No, you mustn't "grin and bear it".

You Dr. is wrong....they can drain it if necessary or even, vary rarely, excise the bursa....cut it out.
However....if after a few weeks more and there is no improvement then if it is still painful, but no evidence of infection, then a steroid injection into the sac may be all that would be required to ease your problems.

[Sqad]

porkchop.........you asked if there were any creams and I told you that there were.You then replied you would have to "grin and bear" it.

Not much point in offering an opinion....is there?

[KARL]

Sqad, poor porkchop may just be realistic. My wife came home about 3 hrs ago from a GP appointment regarding her six month old problem of a sore and swollen knee. She had 2-3 months of being told it takes time plus anti-inflammatories toward the end, they had no effect. She eventually had an X-ray done and then a CT scan, both while we were abroad. Now that we are back in the UK she reported the outcome to her GP: Minor arthrosis and signs of osteopenia, "this is all the info available with this technology" - MRI and density tests recommended.

GP's reaction: We do not take any notice of foreign tests/observations but do our own, let's start with an X-ray. This is not done in our NHS region but in a neighbouring one and it takes 2-3 weeks for the results (image) to reach us. Then we will decide whether to go for referral to a specialist (up to 10 weeks) who may decide on a a CT scan (up to another 10 weeks for the scan, additional time for availability of results). If after that an MRI scan is recommended then the wait for that is 3 months or more.

Abroad the X-ray was in the doctor's hand within 20 minutes of it being shot (which was within ten minutes of it being instructed) - this was at a hospital. The CT scan appointment was available within 2 weeks and the films, a CD and the diagnostic summary available within 5 days.

My wife told her NHS GP of anti-inflammatory patches (topical) she had been prescribed abroad and which helped a bit - he had never heard of such a thing (presumably more foreign nonsense).

My opinion and my wife's is that the NHS "sucks" but that does not help porkchop any more than other opinions if his/her GP is like my wife's. We shouldn't get upset if porkchop is resigned to his/her fate - unless we are urging him/her to go looking for a responsive health service.

[237SJ]

I don't how old you are and I don't want to patronise but I had bursitis on my right elbow about 5 years ago. I know how I got it and it wasn't terribly painful. It was cured when I went on holiday to Cyprus and spent a lot of time swimming in the hotel pool. Maybe you could look into hydrotherapy

[tamborine]

hit it with a bible - worked for me. Old wives tales ;)

[david small]

Parts of our NHS are not fit for purpose. Re total hip replacement. I said to consultant do you use a laser device to measure correct length so both legs are same as they do in Bournemouth? Good lord no he said, we judge it by eye. Lasers could cause a fire....
I now have a distinct wobble as do several other of his patients.

[Mamyalynne]

The old Bible trick was for a ganglion Tambo, ganglion and bursa are different beasts.