chiropractic treatment

I’m hesitant to go to my doctor about this, because I’m sure he already thinks I’m a hypochondriac. I’ve been reading about elbow pain on the web, and from the symptoms, it sounds like I have ulnar nerve entrapment. I have a throbbing pain on the back of my arm just above the elbow, and tingling in my pinky and ring fingers. I know it’s from sitting at a keyboard and alt-tabbing about a zillion times a day.

I just need some (drug-free) suggestions on how to alleviate the pain. And please don’t tell me to cut off my arm or get a new job. Thanks!

Well for sure it sounds like you have epicondylitis. Which kind depends on whether your pain is on the inside (medial aka golfer’s elbow) or on the outside (lateral aka tennis elbow). Ulnar nerve probably indicates medial. Your nerve may not be trapped, but if you stick your fingers in the spaces between the bones on the inside of the elbow and bend it, do you feel the nerve (or something) popping in and out? If yes, it may be the cause of the problem. My doctor prescribed Indocin for a couple of weeks and now Naproxen (aleve). Inflammation is usually the cause of the acute pain and once I took the NSAID Indocen the pain changed to a more achy chronic kind of pain which the Naproxen is supposed to help. I have a padded cushion I wear on the elbow so the bony parts are not sitting on the hard desk when I type. I got it from a physical therapist. You could try a cushy mouse or wrist support under your elbow and see if that helps. My pain is worse with the arm bent, so every 20 minutes or so I make sure I stretch my arms. I hear ya about the hypochondriac thing, I worry too because I’m there 6 times a year for different stuff, but the doc should be able to feel the elbow and tell.

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