Any doctors here?

Cameronswmp9

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I'm curious about some swelling and tenderness after a fall last week. I have the picture attached. The one where you can see the phone is this morning, still not showing all the colors, and there is a black dot (sharpie) that is ridiculously tender, but only that spot. I can not put any weight on the elbow (like resting on a desk, pushing off with my elbow from the couch or bed to change position or get up. The rest of the swelling is mostly pain free, and no issues with movement. The lines in the bruise are new, I noticed that last night.

Last Wednesday I fell backwards at work, landing on a concrete and tile floor. My right elbow caught my fall. Left elbow is skinned up some, but otherwise unscathed. I've never been called a small guy, except from Andre the Giant sized people, so I'm sure it's from the elbow catching full brunt of the fall.

I went to an urgent care and they x-rayed it, said it's possible it's a hairline fracture but they couldn't see anything.

My question is, with the concentrated area of tenderness and the ever changing bruising, what are the chances of it actually being fractured, or just the bruising changing as it heals? I'm not too worried about the pain itself, but if there's a fracture or something similar, I want it to heal properly.
 

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Prolly have a chipped bone or cracked. Nothing they can do about it... except charge you up the yang.
I got one there. Barely bang it and I cry.
Usually monthly.
 
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RICE: Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation. If a doc has to say "it might be a hairline fracture," that's a good thing. 90% of the time, there usually aren't even any for-real hairline fractures. The problem is it is at a joint, so it's going to move a lot; also, a bunch of nerves run through that area.

As long as you retain feeling and movement and it doesn't blow up like a purple balloon, drive on.
 
Prolly have a chipped bone or cracked. Nothing they can do about it... except charge you up the yang.
I got one there. Barely bang it and I cry.
Usually monthly.

He fell at work. Shouldn't cost him anything. Should be covered under Workers Comp.
 
RICE: Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation. If a doc has to say "it might be a hairline fracture," that's a good thing. 90% of the time, there usually aren't even any for-real hairline fractures. The problem is it is at a joint, so it's going to move a lot; also, a bunch of nerves run through that area.

As long as you retain feeling and movement and it doesn't blow up like a purple balloon, drive on.
This is what I have been running with for the last few days. It happened last Wednesday, and went to the urgent Care on friday. They told me the same, as well as the HR nurse line that we have to call.

I have a ridiculously high pain tolerance, so for it to be hurting and bothering me as much as it is, I just wanted to be sure. Is it possible to 'bruise' the nerve, so to speak? Just hit it and agitate it so it's tender like that?

BTW, this thread has told me more than the Dr at the urgent Care did, she was in a rush to get back to her coffee before it got cold.
 
This is what I have been running with for the last few days. It happened last Wednesday, and went to the urgent Care on friday. They told me the same, as well as the HR nurse line that we have to call.

I have a ridiculously high pain tolerance, so for it to be hurting and bothering me as much as it is, I just wanted to be sure. Is it possible to 'bruise' the nerve, so to speak? Just hit it and agitate it so it's tender like that?

BTW, this thread has told me more than the Dr at the urgent Care did, she was in a rush to get back to her coffee before it got cold.

Most urgent cares SUCK. Luckily my doctors office runs their own urgent care and a lot of the regular doctors pick up off duty hours in it.
 
The only advice I can offer is it sure takes a lot longer to heal from these things the older you are. Muscle strains, bruises whatever. Keep up with the ice, elevation and compression and be patient if you are moving on in years. I. My 20's and 30's I'd could pull something and be back running or biking in a couple days. Those days are gone. :(
 
Most urgent cares SUCK. Luckily my doctors office runs their own urgent care and a lot of the regular doctors pick up off duty hours in it.

I had a something get stuck in my eye on a windy about 10 years ago. Drove me nuts for a few hours and couldn't flush it out so off to the local urgent care. Nurse that checks me in does weight and makes me do an eye test. Then in kind of a snide way tells me I don't see very well out of my left eye. Dumb ass. That was the eye with the problem. Then the Dr. proceed to take a fairly sizeable splinter out of my eye. Gee, wonder why my vision was off.
 
The only advice I can offer is it sure takes a lot longer to heal from these things the older you are. Muscle strains, bruises whatever. Keep up with the ice, elevation and compression and be patient if you are moving on in years. I. My 20's and 30's I'd could pull something and be back running or biking in a couple days. Those days are gone. :(

I'm noticing that! I'm 31 now, so I still bounce back well, but nothing like 5 or 10 years ago. Other than the 2 hours at the urgent Care I haven't missed any days (not like I could with my job anyway) but I try not to let this stuff beat me. Probably doing more harm than good for some things, but I just have to power through it really.
 
I'm noticing that! I'm 31 now, so I still bounce back well, but nothing like 5 or 10 years ago. Other than the 2 hours at the urgent Care I haven't missed any days (not like I could with my job anyway) but I try not to let this stuff beat me. Probably doing more harm than good for some things, but I just have to power through it really.

Be patient, it gets worse. You're still young.
 
This is what I have been running with for the last few days. It happened last Wednesday, and went to the urgent Care on friday. They told me the same, as well as the HR nurse line that we have to call.

I have a ridiculously high pain tolerance, so for it to be hurting and bothering me as much as it is, I just wanted to be sure. Is it possible to 'bruise' the nerve, so to speak? Just hit it and agitate it so it's tender like that?

BTW, this thread has told me more than the Dr at the urgent Care did, she was in a rush to get back to her coffee before it got cold.

Elbows, knees, ankles. They all take time to heal from some of the most minor boo-boos. A for-real fracture will show up nice and clear on xray, which it didn't. Most of the times when a doc says "it might be a hairline fracture," the xrays are clean. To really see a true hairline fracture you need a MRI, but it isn't worth the expense since they aren't going to do anything about it anyway.

It is definitely possible to have a bit of nerve inflammation, as well as soft tissue inflammation, and bursa inflammation.

A compression sleeve might help, and NSAIDs and ice.

I guarantee you, if you didn't have to use your arm and could just rest it for 24 hours you would feel a lot better; problem is, you can't. You have to move your arm, so the inflammation never gets a chance to fully go away, so it takes longer to heal.
 
Be patient, it gets worse. You're still young.
31 ha! Still a baby. Don't worry about it, it'll go away.
I am worried about that. I've been hard on my body for years, between sports as a kid/teen, and 14 years of running around on concrete floors for work, I feel like my knees may be shot. Pain in my back, ankles, etc. I sprained my right ankle years ago and it still hurts and gives me fits.

I'm working on getting away from this industry, just to try to get some life back and away from the pain that it's caused over the years. I don't want to be 50+ and barely move because of pain caused by my younger years. I work in automotive, and switching sides from repair to parts helped my hands a lot, but I'm still beating up everything else.
 
@Cameronswmp9 , and others that are younger than 40. If you see former pro athletes in their 40s, if you see FAGs (Former Action Guys, former military) in the 40s, they/we (former mil, not a pro athlete) look like hunched over old men. We are paying now for a lifetime of abuse. Those little aches and pains become big aches and pains.

PSA: Take the time, now, to get your body right: eat well, exercise, stretch...your body will thank you.
 
I am worried about that. I've been hard on my body for years, between sports as a kid/teen, and 14 years of running around on concrete floors for work, I feel like my knees may be shot. Pain in my back, ankles, etc. I sprained my right ankle years ago and it still hurts and gives me fits.

I'm working on getting away from this industry, just to try to get some life back and away from the pain that it's caused over the years. I don't want to be 50+ and barely move because of pain caused by my younger years. I work in automotive, and switching sides from repair to parts helped my hands a lot, but I'm still beating up everything else.

Good plan. The longer you are there the more difficult it will become to transition into something new. My brother works for GM and his body is breaking down past 50. But as an aging guy there isn't a place he can go with better conditions and that level of pay. So he's going to ride it out until he's physically crushed or they get rid of him. He's had one hip replacement and will need another. His elbow is shot, and at his ago you never know what will break next.
 
Elbows, knees, ankles. They all take time to heal from some of the most minor boo-boos. A for-real fracture will show up nice and clear on xray, which it didn't. Most of the times when a doc says "it might be a hairline fracture," the xrays are clean. To really see a true hairline fracture you need a MRI, but it isn't worth the expense since they aren't going to do anything about it anyway.

It is definitely possible to have a bit of nerve inflammation, as well as soft tissue inflammation, and bursa inflammation.

A compression sleeve might help, and NSAIDs and ice.

I guarantee you, if you didn't have to use your arm and could just rest it for 24 hours you would feel a lot better; problem is, you can't. You have to move your arm, so the inflammation never gets a chance to fully go away, so it takes longer to heal.

Sounds like a plan for this weekend! I'm going to look at a compression sleeve, I've been popping OTC meds as needed, and trying to be easy on it. I know I can't not move it, especially being extremely right handed, but if I can limit movement then that will help a lot.

Thanks!
 
Having a.hurt wing sucks. I am dealing with tendonitis in my right elbow. Depends on the motion, but at times I can't lift 5 lbs. It sucks getting old but what are you going to do about it.

Sent from my SM-J320V using Tapatalk
 
Having a.hurt wing sucks. I am dealing with tendonitis in my right elbow. Depends on the motion, but at times I can't lift 5 lbs. It sucks getting old but what are you going to do about it.

Sent from my SM-J320V using Tapatalk
My boss is dealing with something similar, so I see what you mean. He is older than I, but not ok by any means. It's crazy as I see him pick up tires and heavy brake rotors, but picking up an air filter a little bit different causes him pain.

Getting old sucks, I tell my kids not to get old, it's a trap, but they just keep growing.
 
@Cameronswmp9 , and others that are younger than 40. If you see former pro athletes in their 40s, if you see FAGs (Former Action Guys, former military) in the 40s, they/we (former mil, not a pro athlete) look like hunched over old men. We are paying now for a lifetime of abuse. Those little aches and pains become big aches and pains.

PSA: Take the time, now, to get your body right: eat well, exercise, stretch...your body will thank you.

Part of my issue is my size. Being 6'+ and carrying more weight than I need to does come with some extra, but I am working on fixing one of those now. The stress of the job, especially in the past, has not helped. All I can do now is to work it down, and I have noticed even shaving off a few lbs does make me feel better. I have started to do some basic stretches in the morning, hoping that can down play any other issues that come my way.

I do remember both my grandfathers being hunched over old men, but I took it they were old when I was much younger, especially my maternal grandfather. The more I learn about him, Pacific theater WW2, I understand more of why he was hunched and that he deserved the life of retired and carefree. He passed in '93 so unfortunately I can't talk to him F2F anymore.
 
I'm not a doctor, but I tried to play one more than once during my earlier years, especially right after puberty. :D

So based on that training, I'd recommend rubbing some dirt on it and repeat over and over: "Tis but a scratch!"
 
Certainly could have a fracture. Often will not show for 7-10 days until the healing/remodeling phase. Also very likely to be olecranon bursitis. The bursa is essentially a shock absorber for the elbow. Traumatic injury can certainly cause swelling and pain. Ice for 20 minutes every 2 hours first 72 hours, then heat afterwards. Advil or Aleve will help if you can take them. If the bone hurts after 7 days, repeat the xray. If it's spongy soft tissue tenderness, then likely contusion(bruise) or bursitis. ACE wrap or compression sleeve will help as well.
 
had the knee replacement a week ago and am having some swelling issues too. Woke leg is so swollen it's hard to bend the knee.

I agree with the "old warrior" assessment, I too spent my youth acting like an action hero never suspecting the toll it would take on me later.
 
Certainly could have a fracture. Often will not show for 7-10 days until the healing/remodeling phase. Also very likely to be olecranon bursitis. The bursa is essentially a shock absorber for the elbow. Traumatic injury can certainly cause swelling and pain. Ice for 20 minutes every 2 hours first 72 hours, then heat afterwards. Advil or Aleve will help if you can take them. If the bone hurts after 7 days, repeat the xray. If it's spongy soft tissue tenderness, then likely contusion(bruise) or bursitis. ACE wrap or compression sleeve will help as well.

did they say anything about a ruptured bursa sac

google (Elbow ruptured bursa sac) see images

https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/elbow-olecranon-bursitis/
I got your message SDiver, and doing some reading on it now.

The swelling and discoloration has gone down tremendously, but there is still some there. Now it's only tender, very tender, on that one spot. I've been trying to tough through it, but I am going to call our Nurseline here again and see what they want me to do. While the pain from that spot has gone down, it's been only a fraction and really hurts still when it's hit or leaned on, which I do out of habit (great way to break the habit lol)

I'm more concerned about a fracture, but I am learning to work around it. I was planning on calling this morning, Being it's been 2 weeks (tomorrow) and still that tender. Not only for treatment, but for paperwork and documentation being a workplace incident.
 
had the knee replacement a week ago and am having some swelling issues too. Woke leg is so swollen it's hard to bend the knee.

I agree with the "old warrior" assessment, I too spent my youth acting like an action hero never suspecting the toll it would take on me later.

Over the weekend, I had the same pain mentioned above, in my knees. Stemming from work. It actually went away Sunday afternoon, just to come back to work Monday and start the process all over again. I remember when I was young my father having pains, mostly in his back (wore a backbrace for a lot of different tasks that shouldn't normally require a brace, cutting grass, changing oil, etc) because of his pain. He was older then, but still not old, and never really thought about it until a few years ago when it started coming back to him.

I'm not old, yet, but damn getting old sucks.
 
Getting old ain’t for soft people that’s for sure.
Back when I was a kid I supplied 6 masons with mortar and block and brick. We had one kid who mixed mortar all day. When you didn’t get it to them fast enough they through stuff at you. I smartened up and started working for carpenters. All that meant was it was now a claw hammer that wizzed by your head instead of a brick hammer. They knew they could get me to do 2 mens work but they still wanted more. I was the kind of guy that either got tired of waiting on help or couldn’t be told there was something that was physically to hard to accomplish.

Those days are long gone and I’m pretty sure kids nowadays will live forever.

Take care of yourself now so when you do get old you can still move.

I’ve had wrists worked on, shoulders replaced and both knees need to be done. Dr told me I had the knarliest spine he has ever seen.

It’s not worth it.
 
Unfortunately I am stuck with who they send me too, but that's good to know when I need one. We are changing our primary doctor because of billing issues, and a move in the next year as well.

Well when you switch look on DRGO and 2Adoc.com
 
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