The past few months my elbow has been bothering me. I went to the doctor this morning to have it checked. He said, "This is Tennis Elbow, formerly known as Tendonitis. Do you play any racket sports?" Me: "Noooo..." Doctor: "Snow shoveling?" Me: "Aha! That must be the culprit!" Doctor: "No more shoveling and avoid activities that hurt your elbow until it's healed." Me: "OKAY!" Should I milk this for all it's worth?! LOL! He gave me a prescription for something that's stronger than Motrin. I'm supposed to take it for 10 days and call him back if my elbow isn't better.

By Karen~moderator on Friday, March 3, 2006 - 12:45 pm:

Was it Ultram or Ultracet?

The thing about tendonitis, or tennis elbow, is that it's caused by repetitive motion. Could be something you are doing, such as snow shoveling, or even your job. I have it in my elbows from the constant motion from the keyboard to the calculator to the paper to the keyboard, etc., etc., etc.,

Mine was so bad though I was literally in excruiciating pain. You probably remember, when I went through those prolotherapy treatments? It was SO painful, and at first I thought they didn't work. And you are *supposed* to stop doing whatever it is that caused the inflammation/injury in the firt place, which was impossible for me. But now, I have absolutely no pain in my elbows, unless I do something that aggravates them. Which, unfortunately seems to be using free weights for my Memaw arms. LOL

Feel better soon!

By Kaye on Friday, March 3, 2006 - 01:17 pm:

I have had tennis elbow on and off for most of my life. I am an avid tennis player As an adult though, that is not typically what causes my issues. Typing at the computer with the chair/keyboard the wrong height is usually my culprit. Driving can put a strain on it, I typically wear a brace if I am going long distances. also at night I tend to sleep with my wrist twisted, which messes up that elbow. So during a bad flare I sometimes sleep with a wrist brace. I used to get cortizone shots, now I most manage with no meds, sometime advil, but I try to notice any twinge and the rest it appropriately or brace it

By Trina~moderator on Friday, March 3, 2006 - 02:44 pm:

Karen, it's Naproxen. Never heard of it, but just read through the info sheet and it seems very similar to ibuprophen.

My elbow has actually bothered me off and on for several months. This time it was annoying enough to seek medical advice. It's not excruciating but is mildly to moderately painful when doing normal activities. DH did mention my computer time as a possible concern. No, no, that can't be it! LOL! Seriously though, it doesn't bother me while typing or using the mouse. I notice it most when doing normal housework and simple things like brushing my teeth and blow drying/styling my hair.

Kaye, I'll have to pay more attention to how I sleep because it tends to be most sore when I first get up in the morning.

Thanks! I'll try the Naproxen and take it easy and see how that goes.

By Marg on Friday, March 3, 2006 - 03:06 pm:

I believe Naproxen and Ultracet is for the swelling due to inflamation and arthritis. Dh has taken both for gout.

By Dawnk777 on Friday, March 3, 2006 - 03:26 pm:

Uhhh, when does it get better? I stopped handing out milk at school, and that made it better, but then we got all that snow and if I didn't go out there and chop up the packed-down snow and ice, it would have never gotten off the driveway and it was starting to get dangerous. So, shoveling bothered my left elbow in a different spot, from handing out milk cartons! LOL! I took some ibuprofen yesterday and later in the day it felt better and it didn't hurt today.

It's so hard not to do stuff that will make it hurt! Fortunately, I did finish getting the remaining stuff off the driveway, with the help of my next door neighbor, so maybe my elbow will feel better for a while now.

Falling on the ice wouldn't have been pretty, either!

By Insaneusmcwife on Friday, March 3, 2006 - 03:42 pm:

Trina, You have probably taken it before and just don't realize it. Its OTC name is Alieve. I take it for my hand. I hope your elbow gets to feeling better soon!

By Insaneusmcwife on Friday, March 3, 2006 - 03:44 pm:

Oops I spelled it wrong. Its ALEVE.

By Kaye on Friday, March 3, 2006 - 05:37 pm:

My son takes naproxyn (naprosyn) for his arthritis, it is aleve

By Dawnk777 on Friday, March 3, 2006 - 11:13 pm:

ULTRACET® (37.5 mg tramadol hydrochloride/325 mg acetaminophen tablets)

ULTRAM® (tramadol hydrochloride tablets)

Motrin (ibuprofem)

Aleve (naproxen)

They all do about the same thing - decrease inflammation.

By Karen~moderator on Saturday, March 4, 2006 - 05:45 pm:

Jen took Ultram and then Ultracet for her back injury. Funny thing, Ultram comes in generic, and you can just take the Tylenol with it and it = Ultracet. Ultracet did NOT come in a generic, and the co-pay was $45!!!

My neuro doc gave me Ultram for a ruptured disk! Yes, that is all he would give me. Obviously gave me NO relief whatsoever.

Trina, using the computer CAN aggravate things like carpal tunnel syndrome and tennis elbow, etc.

By Marcia on Saturday, March 4, 2006 - 11:39 pm:

I deal with recurring tendonitis, probably from so much lifting. I take Robax Platinum, and it seems to help that and my aching back. I'm never really without some degree of pain, but it helps. I don't take it during the day, and it might help more if I took it at regular intervals.
Don't be shocked if 10 days doesn't do it. It took me months to get over the worst of it, and it still lingers. (not nearly as painful, and I can usually ignore it)

By Conni on Sunday, March 5, 2006 - 09:03 am:

Ugh!! I hope you feel better soon.