Guest guest Posted March 31, 2006 Report Share Posted March 31, 2006 , I once had bursitis/cellulitis in my elbow so bad I had to be hospitalized for IV antibiotics. It was slightly painful, very red, hot to touch, and I had a fever. We believe I got it from leaning on it or bumping it in the night w/out realizing it. If you develop a fever or it becomes hot to touch, I'd see a Dr for antibiotics. If you wait too long it can infect the bursa sack badly. Hope this helps. Smiles, Kimi In a message dated 3/31/2006 6:27:34 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, lindajmoss@... writes: just noiced today that ii have quite a swelling on my right elbow. it does not hurt and is not red. it covers the pointy bit of my elbow and is very soft and spongy to touch. having looked online it sounds like it is bursitis. anyone here had any problems with elbow swelling through leaning on armrests? i dont lean on my right elbow as much as my left but cant think of what else might have caused it. any ideas how to help it heal? websites seem to say to elevate it which is hard for me. cheers linda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 31, 2006 Report Share Posted March 31, 2006 , This sounds like what is called an olecranon bursitis. A bursa is a fluid-filled sac that is found around joints; it normally contains a small amount of fluid and is designed to minimize friction in these areas. Sometimes the lining of this sac becomes irritated and secretes excess fluid creating the enlarged bursitis. This can resolve in a few days in some cases if pressure is kept off the area. If this doesn't work, a physician can easily remove the excess fluid, and instill a small amount of an anti-inflammatory steroid that should easily take care of it. Of course if it becomes red, hot, or painful, seek medical treatment promptly. I hope this helps. Randall > > just noiced today that ii have quite a swelling on my right elbow. it does > not hurt and is not red. it covers the pointy bit of my elbow and is very > soft and spongy to touch. having looked online it sounds like it is > bursitis. > > anyone here had any problems with elbow swelling through leaning on > armrests? i dont lean on my right elbow as much as my left but cant think of > what else might have caused it. any ideas how to help it heal? websites seem > to say to elevate it which is hard for me. > > cheers > linda > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 31, 2006 Report Share Posted March 31, 2006 , This sounds like what is called an olecranon bursitis. A bursa is a fluid-filled sac that is found around joints; it normally contains a small amount of fluid and is designed to minimize friction in these areas. Sometimes the lining of this sac becomes irritated and secretes excess fluid creating the enlarged bursitis. This can resolve in a few days in some cases if pressure is kept off the area. If this doesn't work, a physician can easily remove the excess fluid, and instill a small amount of an anti-inflammatory steroid that should easily take care of it. Of course if it becomes red, hot, or painful, seek medical treatment promptly. I hope this helps. Randall > > just noiced today that ii have quite a swelling on my right elbow. it does > not hurt and is not red. it covers the pointy bit of my elbow and is very > soft and spongy to touch. having looked online it sounds like it is > bursitis. > > anyone here had any problems with elbow swelling through leaning on > armrests? i dont lean on my right elbow as much as my left but cant think of > what else might have caused it. any ideas how to help it heal? websites seem > to say to elevate it which is hard for me. > > cheers > linda > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 1, 2006 Report Share Posted April 1, 2006 Hi , Looks like you have already gotten many great responses I just wanted to say that I got bursitis for the first time this past year. I took a nap one afternoon, and woke up with my elbow just how you describe yours. No pain, no redness, but plenty of spongy feeling swelling. I don't know if I banged it on something, or if it came about from me leaning on it too much (I do lean on that elbow more than my other one). I had no idea what it was, so went to the doc that afternoon. They explained what it was, and said that as long as I was having no pain, redness or fever, they didn't want to stick a needle into it to extract the fluid, as that *could* introduce bacteria into the area. They had me wrap it with an ACE bandage, and told me to ice it several times a day. I gave up on the ACE bandage after about a week, because it got in the way of me doing my transfers, but I kept icing it off and on for a few weeks. All in all, it took my elbow about 6 weeks to get back to normal size. Also, the one thing they did tell me is that if it at any time got bigger, to get back to the doc ASAP. Hope this helps --- Moss <lindajmoss@...> wrote: > just noiced today that ii have quite a swelling on my right elbow. > it does > not hurt and is not red. it covers the pointy bit of my elbow and > is very > soft and spongy to touch. having looked online it sounds like it is > bursitis. > > anyone here had any problems with elbow swelling through leaning on > armrests? i dont lean on my right elbow as much as my left but cant > think of > what else might have caused it. any ideas how to help it heal? > websites seem > to say to elevate it which is hard for me. > > cheers > linda __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 1, 2006 Report Share Posted April 1, 2006 In a message dated 4/1/2006 5:25:30 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, lindajmoss@... writes: thanks for that kimi. it is good to know when i need to take urgent action. as it is weekend cant access a gp til monday so as it is still not looking infected will wait. did you have yours drained? have you had bursitis since? linda , The first time I had it, no they didn't drain it and after a week of IV antibiotics the swelling went down. I did have bursitis one more time, but it was when I was sick in the hospital. I was very sick so I was bed bound so I wasn't leaning on it. We think I got it from having my elbow hit during surgery. That time they drained it. I'm a wuss so I made them sedate me for it (perks of being in the PICU). Since I was very sick, my tolerance for that kind of stuff was very low. I'm surprised I haven't had a case of bursitis since. I lean heavily on my right elbow. I am getting a new chair w/a removable swing away lateral so I can tilt and get off the elbow. Kimi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 1, 2006 Report Share Posted April 1, 2006 I had this problem a lot in high school. Lack of cushioning, living in an institution where infection control wasn't observed and being forced to do physical activities [like repetitive workshop stuff] that overused my arms, were all contributing factors. Rx anti imflamatories, antibiotics, and keeping my elbow in a bowl of crushed ice as much as I could, helped treat it. I had staph infections along with bursitis. My siter had it without staph, but had to get hers drained. Both of us only had this happen with our non driving arm. Another thing that helped to keep this from coming back [ & also stoped my shoulder pain] is better lateral supports on my chair. I use a knee adducted mounted as a lateral support because traditional laterals are too big for me. Keep up with drs treating this. Get better seating support & don't get into a cycle of reaccurences [like I used to]. Bursitis can become ostiomylitis if not treated right. My infected elbow got so bad that I scratched an itch on it, and it popped open with blood and puss pouring out [soaked thru 2 hand towels]. I had a hole that had worked from the inside out. I was told if things had gotten worse I really would've lost my lower arm. Don't go where I've been Heal fast:) > > > just noiced today that ii have quite a swelling on my right elbow. > > it does > > not hurt and is not red. it covers the pointy bit of my elbow and > > is very > > soft and spongy to touch. having looked online it sounds like it is > > bursitis. > > > > anyone here had any problems with elbow swelling through leaning on > > armrests? i dont lean on my right elbow as much as my left but cant > > think of > > what else might have caused it. any ideas how to help it heal? > > websites seem > > to say to elevate it which is hard for me. > > > > cheers > > linda > > > __________________________________________________ > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 1, 2006 Report Share Posted April 1, 2006 thanks for the advice. i will look into getting lateral support. however i lean to my left so it is my left elbow which takes the pressure of supporting me. my right elbow is the one that has ballooned. i use my right arm for driving my chair and also for lots of mouse work. will try the bowl of crushed ice as so far just been using a bag of frozen peas! linda On 4/1/06, charmedcripchic <charmedcripchic@...> wrote: > > > I had this problem a lot in high school. Lack of cushioning, living > in an institution where infection control wasn't observed and being > forced to do physical activities [like repetitive workshop stuff] > that overused my arms, were all contributing factors. > > Rx anti imflamatories, antibiotics, and keeping my elbow in a bowl of > crushed ice as much as I could, helped treat it. > > I had staph infections along with bursitis. > > My siter had it without staph, but had to get hers drained. > > Both of us only had this happen with our non driving arm. > > Another thing that helped to keep this from coming back [ & also > stoped my shoulder pain] is better lateral supports on my chair. I > use a knee adducted mounted as a lateral support because traditional > laterals are too big for me. > > Keep up with drs treating this. Get better seating support & don't > get into a cycle of reaccurences [like I used to]. Bursitis can > become ostiomylitis if not treated right. > > My infected elbow got so bad that I scratched an itch on it, and it > popped open with blood and puss pouring out [soaked thru 2 hand > towels]. I had a hole that had worked from the inside out. I was > told if things had gotten worse I really would've lost my lower arm. > > Don't go where I've been > > Heal fast:) > > > > > > > > > just noiced today that ii have quite a swelling on my right elbow. > > > it does > > > not hurt and is not red. it covers the pointy bit of my elbow and > > > is very > > > soft and spongy to touch. having looked online it sounds like it > is > > > bursitis. > > > > > > anyone here had any problems with elbow swelling through leaning > on > > > armrests? i dont lean on my right elbow as much as my left but > cant > > > think of > > > what else might have caused it. any ideas how to help it heal? > > > websites seem > > > to say to elevate it which is hard for me. > > > > > > cheers > > > linda > > > > > > __________________________________________________ > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 1, 2006 Report Share Posted April 1, 2006 thanks melissa, it would could to get an idea of a timescale from you as i kept getting my pa to check it every 6 hours to see if it had reduced!! seems i have to be patient. how long did it take for you to nitce it was getting better? what icing techniqe did you use and how often a day? have you found a way to not lean on it so much? i am spending a lot of time in bed which is frustrating as i cant seem to find a quick fix to avoid it touching my armrest even though i dont lean heavily on that side linda On 4/1/06, <melbert60@...> wrote: > > Hi , > > Looks like you have already gotten many great responses I just > wanted to say that I got bursitis for the first time this past year. > I took a nap one afternoon, and woke up with my elbow just how you > describe yours. No pain, no redness, but plenty of spongy feeling > swelling. I don't know if I banged it on something, or if it came > about from me leaning on it too much (I do lean on that elbow more > than my other one). I had no idea what it was, so went to the doc > that afternoon. > > They explained what it was, and said that as long as I was having no > pain, redness or fever, they didn't want to stick a needle into it to > extract the fluid, as that *could* introduce bacteria into the area. > They had me wrap it with an ACE bandage, and told me to ice it > several times a day. I gave up on the ACE bandage after about a > week, because it got in the way of me doing my transfers, but I kept > icing it off and on for a few weeks. All in all, it took my elbow > about 6 weeks to get back to normal size. > > Also, the one thing they did tell me is that if it at any time got > bigger, to get back to the doc ASAP. > > Hope this helps > > > > > > --- Moss <lindajmoss@...> wrote: > > > just noiced today that ii have quite a swelling on my right elbow. > > it does > > not hurt and is not red. it covers the pointy bit of my elbow and > > is very > > soft and spongy to touch. having looked online it sounds like it is > > bursitis. > > > > anyone here had any problems with elbow swelling through leaning on > > armrests? i dont lean on my right elbow as much as my left but cant > > think of > > what else might have caused it. any ideas how to help it heal? > > websites seem > > to say to elevate it which is hard for me. > > > > cheers > > linda > > > __________________________________________________ > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 1, 2006 Report Share Posted April 1, 2006 thanks for that kimi. it is good to know when i need to take urgent action. as it is weekend cant access a gp til monday so as it is still not looking infected will wait. did you have yours drained? have you had bursitis since? linda On 4/1/06, Ksmile96@... <Ksmile96@...> wrote: > > > , > I once had bursitis/cellulitis in my elbow so bad I had to be hospitalized > for IV antibiotics. It was slightly painful, very red, hot to touch, and > I > had a fever. We believe I got it from leaning on it or bumping it in > the night > w/out realizing it. If you develop a fever or it becomes hot to touch, > I'd > see a Dr for antibiotics. If you wait too long it can infect the bursa > sack > badly. Hope this helps. > Smiles, > Kimi > > > In a message dated 3/31/2006 6:27:34 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, > lindajmoss@... writes: > > just noiced today that ii have quite a swelling on my right elbow. it > does > not hurt and is not red. it covers the pointy bit of my elbow and is very > soft and spongy to touch. having looked online it sounds like it is > bursitis. > > anyone here had any problems with elbow swelling through leaning on > armrests? i dont lean on my right elbow as much as my left but cant think > of > what else might have caused it. any ideas how to help it heal? websites > seem > to say to elevate it which is hard for me. > > cheers > linda > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 1, 2006 Report Share Posted April 1, 2006 thanks for the infor randall i had never heard of this condition before but sounds like it affects quite a few people with sma! i guess many of us are on our elbows all day. linda On 4/1/06, rwlewis8 <rwlewis8@...> wrote: > > , > This sounds like what is called an olecranon bursitis. A bursa is a > fluid-filled sac that is found around joints; it normally contains a > small amount of fluid and is designed to minimize friction in these > areas. Sometimes the lining of this sac becomes irritated and > secretes excess fluid creating the enlarged bursitis. This can > resolve in a few days in some cases if pressure is kept off the > area. If this doesn't work, a physician can easily remove the > excess fluid, and instill a small amount of an anti-inflammatory > steroid that should easily take care of it. Of course if it becomes > red, hot, or painful, seek medical treatment promptly. > > I hope this helps. > > Randall > > > > > > just noiced today that ii have quite a swelling on my right elbow. > it does > > not hurt and is not red. it covers the pointy bit of my elbow and > is very > > soft and spongy to touch. having looked online it sounds like it is > > bursitis. > > > > anyone here had any problems with elbow swelling through leaning on > > armrests? i dont lean on my right elbow as much as my left but > cant think of > > what else might have caused it. any ideas how to help it heal? > websites seem > > to say to elevate it which is hard for me. > > > > cheers > > linda > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 1, 2006 Report Share Posted April 1, 2006 Hi , No problem on the timescale I was under the impression that mine was supposed to get better in a couple of weeks (per the doc I saw), and it took quite a bit longer...I didn't want you to worry (as I did) if it takes yours a while too The swelling on mine didn't even *start* to go down for 2-3 weeks, which is why I was freaking a bit The doc said it was OK as long as it wasn't getting bigger, getting red, hot to the touch, and there was no fever. As far as icing...I used what was easy for me to handle, which was a ziplock bag filled with ice. I cupped it around my elbow for about 15 or so minutes, 3-4 times a day. I've been trying to remember to not lean so much on that elbow...but it's the side I curve to, so I naturally gravitate that way...so I tend to forget. I'm getting better about it though I hope you find a way to keep yours off your armrest, and I hope the swelling goes down quickly --- Moss <lindajmoss@...> wrote: > thanks melissa, it would could to get an idea of a timescale from > you as i > kept getting my pa to check it every 6 hours to see if it had > reduced!! > seems i have to be patient. how long did it take for you to nitce > it was > getting better? what icing techniqe did you use and how often a > day? have > you found a way to not lean on it so much? i am spending a lot of > time in > bed which is frustrating as i cant seem to find a quick fix to > avoid it > touching my armrest even though i dont lean heavily on that side > > linda __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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