Anyone have experience with elbow injuries? I know this is probably going to sound stupid, but I've never hurt my elbow before and I'm not sure how long it might take to heal.
Background - this started a week ago when returning home with a particularly heavy suitcase. I felt something pop when I yanked the luggage from the back of the car, but I thought it was a typical joint popping noise, nothing to be concerned about.
One week on and it is still swollen (but not purple) and plenty of pain. It gets better for a short time if I take an anti-inflammatory. I've not exercised it except for normal daily activity. I've noticed the range of motion seems more restricted, and I'm having pain even when I try to lift a mug of tea or run my hands through my hair. Sleeping is difficult due to pain and the fact I cannot find a comfortable position in which to rest the elbow. Just pinching my fingers to grasp something sends a shooting pain up my arm. Now my shoulder is starting to hurt, either from sympathy pain or from trying to compensate for the elbow.
How long should I expect this nuisance to continue before seeing a doc? Are there other things I can do to make it heal faster? I know sometimes joints just need rest and ice/heat but I've never hurt my elbow before so I don't have a clue how patient I need to be. I'd hate to go to the doc early and pay a bunch of money only to have him tell me to be more patient.
If you're insured. Go and see a doctor now.... I can't tell you that you should have gone already, as this doesn't help you now.
Seriously, just go.
I would never take medical advice from the internet
(including what I am about to write below)
If I was to throw my non-medical "two cents" in, to me it sounds like you've damaged a tendon.
"The popping" sound which you said is sometimes normal is usually the tendons sliding back into position. Yes, this is normal.
The fact that it was under tension (lifting the suitcase) means that the tendon was under stress when it 'popped' and has most likely 'ruptured lining' which can look serious (explaining the bruising) but will heal in about 4 weeks.
(based on an experience with an ankle injury.)
The "restricted movement" is most likely explained by normal swelling and inflamation. A normal part of the healing process, but is usually easily controlled with ice at the onset of the injury, but also drugs..... but see your doctor to tell you which ones you should use.
'Over the counter' medication such as iboprofen or 'voltarin' (trade name) will help (but not together). Avoid aspirin, as this thins the blood and won't help you while the tendon is hemmorrhaging.
In the meantime, keep the arm elevated over your heart (height from the ground) while you can. Bandage to compress and restrict swelling. Ice treatment intervals will help.
Keep exercising the movement within your range of motion (clenching hands into a fist etc.) and within your pain limits.
It's easier said than done with an arm injury but rest is really the most beneficial thing you can do.
Definitely go to the doctor as he/she can prescribe you painkillers/anti inflammatories and probably physio too. The right kind of physio can be really helpful in these kind of injuries.
I don't want to be the bearer of bad news but these types of injuries can take a very long time to heal completely and you will probably always have some weakness there.
Thanks for the replies so far. I must admit I'm disappointed. I expected you all to just tell me it's no big deal and give it another week. I honestly didn't think it could be anything serious, just that it's bloody annoying!
I suppose I'll give a call to the Hausarzt after lunch and see if he can fit me in the schedule. I didn't know about compression or elevation either so will give those a shot. I suppose I should have known, given that's what I'd do for a leg injury but it didn't occur to me to treat an arm similarly. Duh.
FMF - Health and accident insurance are the same company for me. Does this make a difference? Are you saying that as an accident I don't need to pay franchise?
If they decide it is an accident, you'll maybe have four sheets of paperwork to fill in. As it was probably caused by a movement which you do all the time, they might, of course, say it was caused by wearing out of tendon/muscle or whatever and is thus 'illness'.
Just to cheer you up, I did in the tendon? at the top joint of a finger and had it splinted for four months... and it didn't even hurt when I did it. That's how minor it was!
Good luck with doctor and hope for a steady, if not quick, recovery.
Obviously +1 for what the others have said about going to see the doctor but I would add that you should perhaps rest it and treat it as a proper injury until it has been seen to.
It's probably a bit late to ice it now, if you did it a week ago, but try not to over-use it and/or lift anything heavy. Also if it feels comfortable and eases the pain, use a hot water bottle or heated gel pad on it as well as the anti-inflammatories just to soothe it.
If the accident insurance is from employment then there is no franchise, if you add accident to your normal health insurance there will be your normal franchise.
But is carrying a suitcase an accident? It's Ok if you have both insurances by the same body, they can quarrel among themselves, but try convincing them one way or the other if you don't. Beobachter and all that.
The accident occurred as a result of an action, it was not intentional to damage the arm & it did not develop over time.
If you tell the insurance it's a result of lifting the case they have to prove it's not . As legal costs are higher than medical bills in CH they will pay up without issue.
As I don't believe 3wishes is in gainful employment ( correct me if I'm wrong here) I think the accident insurance issue is probably academic as she will have the the franchise to pay same as for her normal health insurance.
It would be simpler to go through the normal health insurance in this case from a bureaucratic point of view.
Rest it and make the most of being pampered by your OH for a while.