My elbow has been killing me for ages (like months). Definite pain right at one of the enthesitis points (checked by rheumie nearly 3 weeks ago), but its now got much sharper and aggravates horribly if I try and carry anything, sometimes with stretching out my arm, and also isn't nice when I have to use an elbow crutch in that arm. I've also had to spend a lot of time both handwriting stuff and on the computer in the last couple of weeks which doesn't help.
Pain changed a couple of weeks ago, and before then I'd definitely have said it was enthesitis/inflammation, but I'm not so sure now. Also I am now on day 3 of steroid course and last time with steroids pain had disappeared in that elbow by day three. Its still there this time, and not the moderate to bad ache, but niggly to moderate ache plus some really sharp bad pain. Voltaren gel doesn't seem to be doing anything.
What does a tendon tear feel like? Given that I can still use the arm (for typing, and light tasks) is it possible its some kind of partial tear? Or is it more likely to be just incredibly stubborn enthesitis?
Just so you know where it is, if I hold my hands out so thumbs are to the outside of my body, its on the outer side of my elbow, or if I have my thumb pointing upwards, then its closer to the top side (but not directly on top) rather than the underneath of my elbow. Not sure if that makes it "golfers elbow" or "tennis elbow" (which I believe are different tendons) - neither of which I play anyway. I can't for the life of me figure out if its the bit attached to forearm or upper arm bones though you'd think that would be easy?
So, enthesitis or tendon tear? And what can I do about it?
