Finally have another appt for my elbow

[jimnyc]

Have this damn tennis elbow for about a year now. Already 3 cortisone shots into it. I've been literally afraid to go again, as those shots HURT a lot and I don't want another. But the pain started again only weeks after the last one. But it's gotten to the point now that it's non-stop, not just when I use it. :(

He told me in the beginning that most are fixed with the first shot. If not, the majority with the second. After that, it's consultation time to decide how to proceed. I'm beyond that with having a 3rd already. I've also read quite a few stories about the negativity of too many cortisone shots. I may just opt for the procedure to have it surgically fixed. I think they cut the tendon, clean everything up - and only if possible they can reattach anything.

[gabosaurus]

I saw this post earlier and called one of my friends who is high school athletic trainer. She says you need to see an orthopedic specialist if you haven't done so already. She also sent me a link for exercises to determine what level your trauma is.

http://www.healthline.com/health/fitness-exercise/tennis-elbow-rehab#6

If one cortisone shot doesn't do the trick, you need to do something more effective. Cortisone shots are primarily for athletes who want to "play through pain" and postpone surgery.

[jimnyc]

I saw this post earlier and called one of my friends who is high school athletic trainer. She says you need to see an orthopedic specialist if you haven't done so already. She also sent me a link for exercises to determine what level your trauma is.

http://www.healthline.com/health/fitness-exercise/tennis-elbow-rehab#6

If one cortisone shot doesn't do the trick, you need to do something more effective. Cortisone shots are primarily for athletes who want to "play through pain" and postpone surgery.

An ortho surgeon is the one who originally saw me and gave me the first shot and spoke with me. The follow up 2 shots were by assistants. In making this appt, I specifically asked for the surgeon doctor (boss) so that we can decide on how to proceed.

[gabosaurus]

An ortho surgeon is the one who originally saw me and gave me the first shot and spoke with me. The follow up 2 shots were by assistants. In making this appt, I specifically asked for the surgeon doctor (boss) so that we can decide on how to proceed.

Surgery for tennis elbow is usually quite minor, unless you have tendon or ligament damage. My friend Katie says doctors are starting to see more tennis elbow symptoms in people who spend a lot of time with computers. Which I never thought about. I wear elbow braces when I am at work.

[jimnyc]

Surgery for tennis elbow is usually quite minor, unless you have tendon or ligament damage. My friend Katie says doctors are starting to see more tennis elbow symptoms in people who spend a lot of time with computers. Which I never thought about. I wear elbow braces when I am at work.

Yeah, I'm VERY confident that mine started from the keyboard usage.

Here's how it works, and where I got my info from...

--

Surgery for tennis elbow may involve:

Cutting (releasing) the tendon.
Removing inflamed tissue from the tendon.
Repairing (reattaching) tendon tears if it is possible to do so without overtightening the tendon.
Surgery may be done using arthroscopy, traditional open surgery, or a combination of the two techniques, depending on the type of problem and the method the doctor prefers to use.

Surgery can be done with general or regional anesthetic and can require an overnight stay in the hospital.

What To Expect After Surgery

Recovery varies from person to person, usually taking at least 3 to 6 months for a complete recovery.

Cigarette smoking slows tendon and wound healing.
Recovery depends on the amount of time and effort you put into a rehabilitation program.
You may not be able to keep doing the activity that caused your tennis elbow. Or you may have to make some changes to the way you do that activity in the future.
Why It Is Done

You and your doctor may consider surgery if:

You still have elbow soreness and pain after more than 6 to 12 months of nonsurgical treatment.
Corticosteroid shots have given good short-term pain relief but the pain has returned.
You cannot perform daily tasks and activities because of elbow pain.

http://www.webmd.com/arthritis/surgery-for-tennis-elbow

[gabosaurus]

An orthopedic surgeon will know best. I hope you can find relief. I know my husband suffered greatly from putting off back surgery until he finally got it done.

[jimnyc]

An orthopedic surgeon will know best. I hope you can find relief. I know my husband suffered greatly from putting off back surgery until he finally got it done.

Which is why I plan on telling him I would prefer the surgery at this point. I've been that route like your husband, only with my neck. I ALWAYS put things off needlessly and then suffer needlessly. I've done that here again, but enough is enough. I have like 20 elbow compression sleeves and all other kinds of crap that try to give a little relief. Time to just get it done.

[Kathianne]

I feel your pain! If something doesn't break soon, I'm going to have to have the second surgery, I can't go on like this. Both shoulders hurt now, not the same. I know I'm screwing up the left by compensating for the right.

My surgeon did one cortisone shot, the relief only last about 3 weeks. That's the point where basically it comes down to considering further surgery.

If I find alternative employment, where I speak more than move my arms, he thinks the level of pain would either reverse or likely fall into 'tolerable.'

[jimnyc]

This is what scares me, that potentially the shots could be negative. I want to speak with my surgeon for sure, and opt for the surgery I believe.

--

Tennis Elbow and (avoiding) Cortisone Injections

Tennis Elbow, or Lateral Epicondylitis is a very common entity seen in a busy Sports Medicine office. Tennis Elbow is a condition where the tendons on the outer side of the elbow degenerate, or fray and tear from chronic use. We used to believe it was due to inflammation of the tendons. Interestingly, there are no signs of inflammation within the tendons seen in surgical specimens. We now know that tennis elbow is caused by tendinosis.

Some patients with tennis elbow have very mild pain, but some patients are truly disabled by the pain.

...

Cortisone Injections For Tennis Elbow

For a very long time, the initial treatment chosen for a patient with severe pain due to tennis elbow was a cortisone injection. Cortisone is a steroid, and a strong anti-inflammatory. Initially most of these injected patients were very satisfied , but many patients note that when the injection wears off, they feel worse than they did prior to the injection.

http://www.howardluksmd.com/sports-medicine/tennis-elbow-and-cortisone-injections/


How Could A Cortisone Shot Make Tennis Elbow Worse?

A cortisone shot may offer short-term relief from joint pain, but over the longer term it is less effective than other treatments, including placebo.

https://www.peoplespharmacy.com/2016/09/12/how-could-a-cortisone-shot-make-tennis-elbow-worse/


Cortisone shots made tennis elbow worse

Q: I suffered with tennis elbow in both arms for more than a year. It is no joke and quite painful. I found cortisone shots made the pain worse. How is that possible?

A: Cortisone injections are a common treatment for joint pain such as tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis in doctor-speak). Although such shots can often provide some immediate relief, there is evidence that the benefits fade over time.

In an Australian meta-analysis of 12 international studies, corticosteroid injections resulted in more pain than other treatments (including placebo) after six months (Lancet online, Oct. 22, 2010). More recently, a Norwegian study found that steroid injections eased discomfort at six weeks, but produced no significant difference from placebo at 12 weeks, and by 26 weeks had led to worsening of symptoms (BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders online, May 20, 2015). Most people with tennis elbow recover within a year regardless of the treatment.

http://www.seattletimes.com/life/wellness/cortisone-shots-made-tennis-elbow-worse/

[jimnyc]

So had my appt yesterday, which was nothing more than the doc taking 20 seconds to look at it and ask me questions. Then referred me for an MRI. They needed pre-approval. I thought it would take forever. They called before I was even home! Then had the MRI a few hours ago and that sucked! Lay on my stomach, in superman position, for 40 minutes!!!

Now they already called and said it's a pretty good tear. Now I go back in again tomorrow to discuss options. Hell, can't we do that on the phone? Dirty gouging bastards!!

They'll be doing a little surgery eventually, outpatient, and only a small scar. But I'll probably have to see my other doctor again to get the pre-op physical or whatever. At least this place is quick! If I had only made my appointment when it started hurting again like 11 months ago!! :)

[Black Diamond]

ouch.

[Black Diamond]

So had my appt yesterday, which was nothing more than the doc taking 20 seconds to look at it and ask me questions. Then referred me for an MRI. They needed pre-approval. I thought it would take forever. They called before I was even home! Then had the MRI a few hours ago and that sucked! Lay on my stomach, in superman position, for 40 minutes!!!

Now they already called and said it's a pretty good tear. Now I go back in again tomorrow to discuss options. Hell, can't we do that on the phone? Dirty gouging bastards!!

They'll be doing a little surgery eventually, outpatient, and only a small scar. But I'll probably have to see my other doctor again to get the pre-op physical or whatever. At least this place is quick! If I had only made my appointment when it started hurting again like 11 months ago!! :)
i am guessing you'll get norco if you haven't already.

[Kathianne]

So had my appt yesterday, which was nothing more than the doc taking 20 seconds to look at it and ask me questions. Then referred me for an MRI. They needed pre-approval. I thought it would take forever. They called before I was even home! Then had the MRI a few hours ago and that sucked! Lay on my stomach, in superman position, for 40 minutes!!!

Now they already called and said it's a pretty good tear. Now I go back in again tomorrow to discuss options. Hell, can't we do that on the phone? Dirty gouging bastards!!

They'll be doing a little surgery eventually, outpatient, and only a small scar. But I'll probably have to see my other doctor again to get the pre-op physical or whatever. At least this place is quick! If I had only made my appointment when it started hurting again like 11 months ago!! :)

Yay! You'll be good as new!

[jimnyc]

Yay! You'll be good as new!

I hope so. I'd hate to think that this much was sort of accomplished in 3 days and then it would stall. I just have to see if they do the procedure at their facility, in which they do have an "ambulatory" area, but no idea if they do any types of procedures there or if it moves to the hospital like my prior neck surgeries. If at a hospital, my next concern is WHO would all be involved in this procedure, and will they be in network or not. That's how the bastards get you!!

[High_Plains_Drifter]

So had my appt yesterday, which was nothing more than the doc taking 20 seconds to look at it and ask me questions. Then referred me for an MRI. They needed pre-approval. I thought it would take forever. They called before I was even home! Then had the MRI a few hours ago and that sucked! Lay on my stomach, in superman position, for 40 minutes!!!

Now they already called and said it's a pretty good tear. Now I go back in again tomorrow to discuss options. Hell, can't we do that on the phone? Dirty gouging bastards!!

They'll be doing a little surgery eventually, outpatient, and only a small scar. But I'll probably have to see my other doctor again to get the pre-op physical or whatever. At least this place is quick! If I had only made my appointment when it started hurting again like 11 months ago!! :)
I've been having a nightmare trying to deal with Veterans Choice.

I recently found what looked a hell of a lot to me like a deer tick bite on my neck, so naturally I'm concerned about Lyme disease. It was slightly swollen, tender and looked to have the dime sized "ring" around it. It certainly didn't appear to be a blemish or pimple. So I called V.C. and put the wheels in motion. Next day, nothing. Called the VA and discussed the matter with them and they said call V.C. back and tell them we've recommended you be seen in the next 12 to 24 hours, so I did, and supposedly V.C. put a rush on it. Well, that was 48 hours ago now and still nothing. I'm tellin' ya, this Veterans Choice program is an absolute FARCE. I'm going to call the VA here in a little bit and tell them that once again V.C. has been a total failure, and that makes THREE times now that's happened. They've even completely ignored me after I called and said they had no record of me calling the first time. I'm planning on contacting my Senators and Congressmen about this too, probably write something on the White House website also.

I'm glad you have better luck, pard, or different health care. Get yourself fixed up, constant pain is not fun.

[Abbey Marie]

@jimnyc (http://www.debatepolicy.com/member.php?u=1) if your tear is injury-related, this prob is irrelevant, but I had a lot of pain associated with mouse usage. It all went away when I switched to a roller ball type.

[Kathianne]

I hope so. I'd hate to think that this much was sort of accomplished in 3 days and then it would stall. I just have to see if they do the procedure at their facility, in which they do have an "ambulatory" area, but no idea if they do any types of procedures there or if it moves to the hospital like my prior neck surgeries. If at a hospital, my next concern is WHO would all be involved in this procedure, and will they be in network or not. That's how the bastards get you!!

Hmmm, while a radiologist read the MRI, my following appt was with the surgeon, who did the surgery. If you remember I went in around 7 or so, was out around 6 or 7 in the evening. It seems like shoulder would probably be more involved, I had 5 cuts, small but stitched.

I don't know what all is involved in tear in elbow area, but does seem a bit more straight forward. The doctor did say a 'tear' is better than the complete separation of the tendon, which of course has been my problem. He thinks now there may be a tear, but can't get an MRI because of the metal in my shoulder, a CAT scan was inconclusive.

[jimnyc]

@jimnyc (http://www.debatepolicy.com/member.php?u=1) if your tear is injury-related, this prob is irrelevant, but I had a lot of pain associated with mouse usage. It all went away when I switched to a roller ball type.

Yeah, doctor told me yesterday that no amount of therapy or cortisone shots will fix the tearing in my elbow area. :(


Hmmm, while a radiologist read the MRI, my following appt was with the surgeon, who did the surgery. If you remember I went in around 7 or so, was out around 6 or 7 in the evening. It seems like shoulder would probably be more involved, I had 5 cuts, small but stitched.

I don't know what all is involved in tear in elbow area, but does seem a bit more straight forward. The doctor did say a 'tear' is better than the complete separation of the tendon, which of course has been my problem. He thinks now there may be a tear, but can't get an MRI because of the metal in my shoulder, a CAT scan was inconclusive.

Yups, that's what happened, as this time my actual doctor came in, not one of the many assistants to quickly jab you with a needle. Said right away that surgery was necessary. There are 2 options, one is like a rod they put in there and clean things u, with a 75% success rate. The other is literally slicing and cutting aka "releasing" the tendon, tear it down to the BONE, and clean things, then let it all heal back normally. That one he said has a 95% success rate.

I'll be going with the second and the procedure is on the 30th of this month. He said the pain will get worse before better after the surgery, and then some rehab involved.

[High_Plains_Drifter]

I've had a couple friends that have apparently had the second option done on their shoulders, and both with great success. Rehab can be lengthy and painful, but it does heal and you can use it again, pretty much as normal. I'd go with option 2 also. One of my buddies that had a ripped tendon repaired in his shoulder had a machine that sat next to his chair and he put his arm in this sling, and it raised and lowered his arm.

I'm going to file a grievance with Veterans Choice today, in writing. The program is a farce.