Severe and debilitating pain in left elbow, doctors no help

by Brenda
(California)

Hi,

I'm very excited about finding your page as it explains SO much that even the doctors haven't been able to explain. THANK YOU!!!

Over a year ago my right elbow began to hurt for no reason. No injury, bumps, accidents, etc...but for what ever reason I couldn't lift 'anything' with my right arm...couldn't open a door without wincing and I couldn't sleep through the night without waking myself up with a half-scream...and that from just adjusting my pillow!!

I also could not straighten my arm completely to save my life. I went to the doctor and they ruled out tennis elbow, tendonitis, all that...they never really diagnosed me.

They gave me cortizone (sp?) shots, which did absolutely nothing...no relief at all.

They did this three times before I refused the shot all together and begged them to figure out and fix what ever was wrong...the pain was just to much to bear.

They decided that I needed complete rest of the arm, so they put me in a removable cast...only to be taken off when I showered. Well, not being able to move it helped only because I couldn't 'move' it, after several months of this a whole new pain started on the inside of my elbow (they treated me as if I was crazy).

It turned out, after very painful nerve testing that I now had an entrapped nerve.

My belief is that because they put me in a cast and I couldn't move at all, the nerve was forced to just stay where it was and eventually became trapped, but what do I know?

They had to do surgery to release the nerve and that worked, but the pain never really went away and I still am unable to completely straighten that arm. (all this took an entire year).

HOWEVER, now and I don't know why because again, no injury, bumps or accidents...I woke up one day and my LEFT elbow was beginning to feel like my right elbow felt in the beginning.

It's been about 4 months and I have to tell you....it's MUCH worse than the right was and I honestly don't know how much longer I can handle the pain.

I can not bend my elbow either up or down without severe pain...and when I DO bend it, it has to be very slowly...I mean VERY slowly. I have no pinching strength in my fingers and forget about trying to lift even a coffee mug...and sleeping, wow....what's THAT?!? :(

I began a new search on the internet to attempt to figure this out and maybe get a little help in lessening the pain when I tripped over your page....and my God, I couldn't believe it!

I have yet to try your method as I just finished reading, but I have my sink filled with ice and water and will be dipping as much as possible today and for the next week to see if I can find even a little bit of relief.

I've lost my medical insurance, so I can't see a doctor...but past experience tells me that that won't help me much anyway.

I just wanted to pop in here and tell you what was happening with me and thank you for giving me something new to try...I will definitely be letting you know in a week or so how it's doing.

If it works....you are a God-send!!

If you have any further suggestions, please let me know. I do have one question tho, and that is this: How is tendonitis/tennis elbow diagnosed?

After having x-rays and an MRI how come they rulled all that out and was never really able to tell me what was happening and why I had to live so long with such pain? I'm afraid to go to the doctors now because they either don't care, think I'm making it up or just simply can't figure it out, which means I just have to live with it...which is impossible. I'm just curious what your opinion is on this.

Again, thank you so much for your information and I will let you know what happens. lol.....somethings gotta work, right?

Thank you for your time,

Brenda

OH, and real quick....the pain is on the outside of my elbow mostly, the bone even feels super bruised and very tender to the touch. When I try to straighten my arm the pain is on the top of my forearm AND behind my elbow. After having to live life and use my arm there is much pain on top of my forearm from my elbow to about the middle of my arm. I dunno if that's relevant, but there it is. :) Thanx a million!!