Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Frozen
For about two months I have been unable to fully straighten or fully bend me left elbow. It feels like there is cotton stuffed inside my joint. It feels tired most of the time until I try to move it past the range of motion I have left. Then it hurts. I did discover that when I put direct heat on it last nite it loosened up but this morning it is frozen worse than ever. Anybody in the RA Club have any insights on this? It's the only joint that does this. The rest are swollen and painful but they don't have this frozen feeling. I tried to google it but I must not have been putting in the right words. Thanks!
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I have the same problem with my elbows, and before my recent knee replacement I had that problem with my knees.
ReplyDeleteTheyre called contractures and they are very serious. Please believe me when I say this because I just went through major surgery to correct this.
The key is to keep it movng and work it out daily. If you can get in to see a physical therapist, then they could show you what to do. My knees were always worse, so we always focused on them and not my elbows.
But once you get contractures too bad it is very difficult to get it back to where it was.
I hope you dont think Im a horror for making such a big deal out of this. I just dont want anyone to go through what I have. So remember, exercise, exercise, exercise. I know it hurts, but it will be worth it in the long run.
Maybe try googling contratures and exercise suggestions. Hope this helps.
i don't think you're a horror! thanks for being honest! i take all the help i can get! the doc did say that's what it was. it seems to be getting better with this study drug that i'm on. i can almost straighten it. a lot of the swelling has gone too. did you ever try cortisone injections? i wonder if they would work.
ReplyDeleteso how are your new knees doing? i'm so glad that you were able to do this at a young age. docs around here have told people no b/c they are "too young". i haven't had time lately to keep up with anyone! i barely find the time for my blog but i make myself do it. now if i could only make myself do my report cards! :0)
Glad to help. Im always afrad someone who is newly diagnosed is going to visit my blog and be scared senseless. Lol.
ReplyDeleteAnyways, I've had my fair share of cortisone injections, but only in my knees and hips. They did help with the swelling and pain, so I imagine they would help you some.
My knees are healing so well! The first surgeon I saw said that yes, I qualify, but he thought I was too young. I had to find a surgeon who thought like I did. And all my nurses and therapist are amazed at how quickly Im healing. It's BECAUSE I am so young. How is that for ironic? So yea, sometimes you just have to fight to get the treatment you need.