Elbow bursitis - question for MDs

Triathlon Forum
1

So, yesterday, after a 4 1/2 hour ride to Thanksgiving dinner, as I was sitting down to eat I felt what seemed like a rubber pad under my elbow. I looked around and didn’t see anything under the table cloth, so I looked at my elbow. Holy crap!! What the heck is that thing??? Trying not to think I was now dying, I asked a retired nurse who was at dinner, “what is this?” She said, “oh, that’s bursitis.” I quickly did a Google search (still wasn’t sure if I was dying) and see I may live.

Now for the question to the MDs. What do I do? It’s seems a bit smaller than yesterday and doesn’t hurt or anything. It’s just a bubble about half the size of a golf ball. Do I move it to “work it out”? Do I not move it and keep it straight? Do I not move it and keep it bent? Do I need to see my doctor when I get home next week? Or do I just go about my business and it will go away?

TIA

2

Generally go about your business and see your doc when you get home if it is continuing to shrink. Just don’t put your elbows on the table. If it gets red and warm or you develop a fever or feel ill it may need to be treated sooner, which involves draining it. Same thing if it continues to get bigger.

It is usually treated with draining it and a padded compressive bandage.

Good luck with it and stay off the aerobar pads for a little while.

3

Definitely protect it from trauma even minor. I ruptured the bursa in my elbow a few years ago, not fun.

4

Thanks guys. I guess I’ll be heading to the doctor next week.