There is no way anyone
can read posts over the internet and make a diagnosis or treatment recommendation. See a good doctor.
RICE
– Last Updated: Jul-15-13 10:37 PM EST –
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RICE_%28medicine%29
And see a Doc. Cortizone is amazing stuff.
So are we placing bets? When I
went in with a swollen bursa sticking back from my elbow, the doctor said it was gout!
Another doctor ignored the clear information I gave him about aggravation of a previous medial collateral ligament, and said I had torn my ACI. He ordered an MRI, and when the results came back, he wouldn’t look me in the eye, but said my ACI was fine, but my medial collateral ligament was partly torn.
I have known some doctors who were good diagnosticians, but in general, their ability to disregard clear evidence is astounding.
Had bursitis in my knee
Doctor prescribed rest and large quantities of Ibuprofen to reduce the inflammation. Once it settled down he suggested getting some regular exercise, so I now do about 10 minutes each day on the bike at the gym - seems to have solved the problem.
I’ve never had elbow problems, but I frequently had pains in my offside shoulder - some light weights seem to have solved that problem. It’s tough to get old, but I’ll bet there are some exercises you can do to focus on your elbow which will strengthen the joint and reduce the stress when paddling.
well, that didn’t happen
with the knee or the elbow. Elbow was “burst bursai”?? per my chiropractor. Easy potential cure to try and see if it helps. It did for me.
The swollen bursa problem at the elbow
has no direct equivalent at the knee. Swelling at the knee typically occurs in the joint space. The elbow condition I had, and which it appears the OP has, is like an exterior blister in the bursa. If not aggravated, the fluid will subside and, usually, the pocket that held the expansion will decrease.
The elbow bursitis condition is so obvious that old-time physician colleagues at the hospital where I worked were diagnosing it, unasked, whenever I rolled up my sleeves.
This has been my experience as well.
I had a large swelling of the bursa around my left elbow (pain too) and it eventually went away. My wife was grossed out by it which gave me a good chuckle or two. I had the same thing on the lower front of my right shoulder coupled with impingement issues and this problem eventually resolved itself, but I did find a TENS unit very helpful. Now I have it on the left shoulder albeit worse and I’m confident it will go away as well, but if it doesn’t soon I may have to let the doc jab me. This one is bugging me quite a bit. I’m too young for this stuff.
oh for goodness sakes
He’s right. Doctors are more informed. Your anecdotal experience doesn’t disprove that.
Do you have a reference for that?
I’d like to see a published study (in a medical journal) that says ibuprofen delays healing of inflammatory overuse injuries.
I know what helps for tennis elbow
or tendonitis. A simple fix is to buy a stretch band at a drug store that is designed to fit around your arm above the tendon. The band takes the stress off the tendon at the joint where it is hurting. Quite effective. Kayaking doesn’t aggravate my elbow like canoeing does so you could also try switching paddling styles.
I like slammy little creeks. I paddled “piney” here in wv for the first time on Fri. I was worthless for two days afterwards. I could barely walk. Knees were really tight but I was not the least bit sorry I did it. The thrill and excitement outweighed the temporary physical set backs. I admit I’m struggling to find a balance between the fun and the hurt that paddling can impose. Arthritis pain rub and Tylenol travel with me to the take out now. I’m trying to strike a balance. I have a tendency to overdo it but that can be a good thing.
Had same thing
I have kayaked since the 70’s. Go to a gym, take yoga etc.
I over did it one time and got tendentious in the elbow. Couldn’t do one push up (pain). No pain when I didn’t use it or paddle gently. It took 8 months for it to go away. It’s always the “trip” or marathon of some type. As we get older we are just more vulnerable to these things because we’re really not in as good shape as we think we are.
Go easy on it, ice it if it hurts and be really patient. Forgot the doctor. They’ll collect $100 to tell you what everyone on this site has. If it’s keeping you up at night, that’s different and a cortisone shot might help.
Well thanks for the vast experience
Thanks to everyone for a load of info here on p.net. I am 100% sure it is Bursitis. I did a very challenging paddle yesterday and iced it afterwards. I will see if the swelling is reduced. BTW this has occured only after doing double-bladed paddling in my canoe in power-paddling situations going UP rivers and on a big lake. I think my next trip I will do ONLY single-blade paddle and see if it re-occurs.
Well there you have it…
The single blade gods are taking their revenge. 
preventative care = Yes, but also it’s…
– Last Updated: Jul-21-13 2:37 PM EST –
time to start building up muscles both below(lower arms) and above(back, shoulder, all the upper arm muscles), take off the inner-tube around the waist(don't ask me the physical specifics..but it helps), and go with less resistance in whatever paddle you use(as mentioned)...either in the blade and/or shaft. I know this works as to a canoe paddle(more flex, less dense wood)...but don't see where it would work any different with kayak paddles/spoons.
I'm not naturally super muscle-bound, but bumping up the upperbody mass lets the muscles do the work while relaxing one's joints...instead of tensing up for power in the arms. Also allows one to shorten up the stroke and terminate it earlier...where stress on the elbow is often at its greatest. All previous mentioned crap isn't rule out doing the medical action...etc, and if like tennis elbow = additional hw to place on arms..etc.
$.01
Who worked side-by-side with doctors
throughout his career, half the time in orthopedic and rehabilitation medicine settings, you, or me?
Not you.
chiropractors are for help, but not for
diagnosis.
I’m tired of digging up references
that anyone with access to google can find on their own.
Inflammation is a key part of the process of healing. If inflammation is prevented, healing may not proceed.
In one study I saw, men with rotator cuff injuries were assigned either to a group that go just normal treatment, plus a placebo pain pill; and another group that got the same treatment, plus a powerful NSAID.
At the end of a set period, all patients were evaluated with both physical measures (Scans, etc.) and with interview and clinical exam. While the NSAID group thought they had recovered well, all objective measures showed that they were well behind the placebo group.
OK,…UMM Not sure about that!
Well I do think your recommendation to use a less aggressive blade is good advice. The first time (and worst time) was when I used a mild sized touring kayak blade on an 8 mile lake paddle. I was paddling kinda aggesive though so that probably contributed. I have NO intertube so to speak and am otherwise in excellent physical shape at 5’11" and 188lbs. I keep very fit but this recent bursitis has reared up. I did ice it after last weeks paddle and it helped tremendously in keeping the swelling and pain in check. I just don’t know about doing multi-day paddle trips? Probably have to ice it every evening.
Sure doesn’t show in your case
– Last Updated: Jul-22-13 11:05 AM EST –
Anyone who has worked with a doctor should know full well that you don't make a diagnosis and recommend treatment without seeing the patient.
Also, you couldn't know that my mother is an M.D.
Also, it's funny how you seem to know everyone else's credentials as well as their experience. How did you know the Chiropractor in question's medical credentials? You didn't.
I guess this confirms that sometimes a little information is a dangerous thing...
Chiropractors have medical credentials?
Sort of, maybe. Your mom is a good diagnostician? Maybe. Plenty of doctors aren’t. That is my point. It’s no good saying only a doctor can diagnose, when doctors aren’t that reliable at it.
You think diagnosis can’t be done on the internet, or over the phone? Sometimes it can, sometimes it can’t. But if you want to insist on your way of looking at things, that’s OK.
But in this case, if I could just see the OP’s elbow on my computer screen, I would know whether he has the same thing I had. It’s that characteristic.