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What Causes Pain On The Tip Of Elbow?

Posted on Sat, 25 Oct 2014

Question: I have a pain on the tip of my right elbow. I have gone to three doctors, and they have all diagnosed the problem as elbow tendonitis. however I believe it is a bone spur. I believe this because I recently broke a bone and had to undergo bed rest for two months. instead of getting better, my pain got considerably worst. I believe this is because the spur is rubbing against the bed sheets. when I attempted to discuss this with a doctor, he got noticeably defensive and said that there is no evidence that bone spurs cause pain, and even if they did there is nothing that can be done about it. what is the truth here?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Praveen Tayal (29 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Can cause symptoms.

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for posting your query.
Bone spur itself is not painful but if it causes compression of the adjoining soft tissues or cause inflammation of the surrounding tendons then it can cause pain.
Bone spurs if these are symptomatic can be removed surgically or local steroid injections can be given to decrease the inflammation. You can get an X-ray of your elbow in lateral view to detect any bony spurs in the area. A soft tissue abnormality like tendonitis can be best diagnosed with MRI scan.
I hope this answers your query.
In case you have additional questions or doubts, you can forward them to me, and I shall be glad to help you out.
Wishing you good health.
Regards.
Dr. Praveen Tayal.
For future query, you can directly approach me through my profile URL http://bit.ly/Dr-Praveen-Tayal

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Praveen Tayal (1 hour later)

thanks. can you please direct me about what to do next? I, of course, have had a x-ray. the x-ray appears, to me, to show a bone spur. however all my doctors have informed me that it is not a bone spur, but is instead a 'calcium deposit'. the deposit, or whatever it is, appears to have grown considerably in the last two years. all my doctors have told me that this is not 'a issue', and that the calcium deposit will eventually be absorbed into the muscle. again, all my doctors have consistently informed me that this deposit will not cause pain. I have requested a mri to confirm that it is actually tendonitis, but they have said that a mri would be a waste of time. these are the best orthopedic doctors in this city (Gainesville fl) and some of them are well respected. if I was to proceed to the next step, to challenge their diagnosis, I would have to travel to another city. what should I do?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Praveen Tayal (7 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Can be confirmed by MRI scan only.

Detailed Answer:
Hello.
Thanks for writing again.
If there is a visible area of extra calcification on X-ray then bony spur or extra calcification is difficult to differentiate. Since there is a constant pain, inflammation is present. MRI scan is the best way to confirm the diagnosis. You can consult another orthopedician for a second opinion or upload the X-ray reports here.
Hope my answer is helpful.
Do accept my answer in case there are no further queries.
Regards

Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar