Getting over elbow injury

[johnking92]

Two months ago during my hockey game I was tripped and landed on my elbow. It hurt pretty bad, but wasn't unbearable. I decided to go to the doctor the next day to see if there was a small fracture or not. The urgent care center said it looked like I had previously fractured my elbow and it had healed, but I never fractured my elbow before... anyways I went to a specialist and they said it was just a really deep bruise and not to use it for a month. So I waited a month, with no hockey and no gym besides cardio. The month mark rolls around and it isnt better so I go see another doctor. He tells me it is most likely just a very slow healing deep bruise because I have a full range of motion and to just wait it out. Well it has been two months now and it is no longer tender, I played my last few hockey games of the season without many problems. Today was my first day back in the gym (finally). When I did shoulder presses and a few tricep workouts there was a sharp pain in my elbow that made me stop. It felt nothing like a bruise but feels more like a muscle or joint pain. it is top part of the elbow joint below the tricep. My question is could this be a torn mucle or joint injury instead of just a bad bruise? It has been 2 months now and I am still not able to do any tricep exercises... I will probably go to the doctor again if it doesnt go away but I was just wondering if anyone had a similar situation and would know if it could be something besides a bruise. thanks for your help

[trez]

Hey man,

After 2 months of inactivity it is not wise to immediately start strength training and trying to complete the recovery of your injured elbow at the same time. This is one of the ways tendinitis develops or even worse, a muscle or tendon tear. You have most likely lost a good amount of strength, endurance, and mass not only in the muscles surrounding your elbow but in your entire body. You need to see a physical therapist so you can begin rehabilitation exercises not strength based exercises. While you are rehabilitating your elbow, you should start doing light cardio, core, and leg exercises, so you can slowly get the rest of your body back into pre-injury shape. As well, ask your physical therapist on his/her opinion of getting an MRI, you may have suffered more than a severe bone bruise.

Don't hesistate to ask any more questions.

peace.

[johnking92]

Ok heres the update: havent worked anything besides legs and abs. weighed myself, lost about 15 pounds, some fat, but a lot of muscle /forum/images/graemlins/frown.gif So i got my MRI results. it said that i had minor bone marrow contusion (aka bone bruise). the doc said we had to pretty much wait for it to heal. It has been about 2 1/2 months now and it hasnt got better. I was wondering how long I should expect it to take before it will be better. Is there anything i should be doing to speed it up such as icing it and takin ib profin or something? thanks for the help

[trez]

It's time to start rehabilitation exercises for your elbow. Exercise actually promotes healing by increasing blood flow to the injured area. Start with simple movements like extending your elbow back and forth with a heating pad on accompanied by tricep stretching. Contracting your triceps with your arm at different angles will help your elbow move on to resistance exercises. Upright pushups (stand 2 feet away from a wall, do a pushup against a wall) will help your elbow get used to the pushing movement. Gradually increase the repetitions of these exercises until you feel your elbow is ready for more challenging activities. Try to see a PT if you can.