I agree that in chronic pain conditions that sometimes help can be limited but if you don't speak to a doctor then you may be suffering to a degree that it needless.
I have rheumatoid arthritis (does the other elbow hurt or any smaller joints like in your hands as it often targets them before the larger joints and is often symmetrical so in both sides of the body in the joints it attacks), fibromyalgia and orthopaedic issues (in my knees) as well as Menieres Disease, which I seem to remember you have also?
Is the pain inside the joint or around it? Could it be bad tendonitis, like sqad suggests, tennis elbow? Fibromyalgia can wreak havoc on muscles, tendons etc... and fibro sufferers tend to have increased pain responses generally. I've had elbow tendonitis and it is really painful and can interfere a lot. When properly diagnosed, maybe there are other treatments like some kind of physio or seeing an osteopath might help.
I work with my doctors and it's not like a one stop shop with chronic pain where they just give you some magic pills and all the pain goes away but some relief is better than none and you have to work at things, trial and error with drugs and other therapies. Mrs O's suggestion of a pain clinic is a great one, you never know what else they can try that may work. As she says, there are no prizes for suffering.
I've had all sorts, physio, osteopathy, hydrotherapy, acupuncture, steroid injections, massage etc... as well as pain medication which have all helped, even if the effect was limited or didn't last, it's something. Your GP and consultant is the key in managing day to day issues like pain relief and management and a gateway to all sorts of other services.
I hope your shoulder appointment goes ok. I'm starting a new therapy in a week or so on mine as I have impingement in both but the tendons have been suffering, lack of use from pain probably not helping, although steroid joint injections have been great in the past. It's an ultrasound therapy which sounds exciting!
One thing I've been told is that there can be a tendency to not move too much and give in to the pain and fatigue, especially with fibro, but that the less you move and give in the worse it can get. Like with physio exercises, you often have to work at something to get benefit.
Definitely easier said than done but something like swimming could be therapeutic, maybe check with the GP/consultant first to make sure it's suitable. Why not ask about whether you could benefit from hydrotherapy via physio to learn some exercises to help, I found it brilliant and makes such a difference without the weight on your joints to exercise, in a heated pool too.
Some of the younger GPs at my practice have been fantastic for me, give them a chance. They are all highly trained. My main GP can't be that much different in age to me and she is wonderful. If you are resistant to listen to their advice or accept suggestions then it would make it hard for them to help you. Have they suggested any diagnosis already (even if it's one you don't think is right) and/or undertaken any tests so far?