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Avatar universal

Possible tricep tendon tear!!

Dear Doctor.
I live in South Africa and I am married to a specialist surgeon, if ever I am unwell or have an injury he always gives me the same answer "it will get better". so I don't bother seeing anyone and often the problem lasts for weeks and weeks ,but this time it is different.( by the way, this seems happens to all my friends who are married to Doctors!!) I am 56yrs old and very active.

        On Wednesday evening I was figure skating and a girl who didn't know how to stop knocked me backwards onto the ice and I fell onto an outstretched arm. The pain was down my entire forearm from elbow to wrist and at first I thought  had broken my wrist. After about ten minutes the pain was mostly in my elbow.

        I went for xrays the next day and I went to see the orthopod.  The xrays were normal and he tested that  I could pronate and supernate my hand he did nothing else. He recommended R.I.C.E and a sling and physio. I cannot extend my arm completely straight or bend it to touch my shoulder and if I am lying down cannot raise it off the bed.

        Yesterday a long lump appeared in the little gap between the radius and humerous, my arm is very painful, my hubby is fed up with me mentioning about my arm so I was trying to see what it could be on the internet and I am wondering if I have damaged the tricep tendon and if so would you be able to suggest anything. Should  i just not bother and see how it goes. It would also be a bit awkward to go and have an MRI as the orthopod is a friend as well.

        I would really appreciate any advice you can give me as I want to continue with my figure skating classes and be able to use my arm properly again as its my dominant arm.

        Best wishes
        Sue

3 Responses
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700223 tn?1318165694
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
If the injury is in the front of the elbow it is probably the biceps rather than the triceps, if its in the back, it could be the triceps. I would recommend getting the MRI if you are concerned, the ideal time to fix a tendon injury is at about 2 weeks, and certainly no longer than 6 weeks.  Therefore it is important to find a diplomatic way to approach your friend the orthopedist and get your MRI done.
Helpful - 2
Avatar universal
Well I went back a third time to my Orthopedist because my arm is just not getting better, eventually he sent me for an MRI, I thought I would tell you the findings and what my Dr's response was.
"The primary pathology appears to be a fracture of the coronoid process of the olecranon with extension into the joint space and a significant joint effusion. There is oedema at the level of the insertion of the brachialis tendon into the coranoid process. No other significant abnormality is noted"

My Dr phoned me and said "well you were not imagining it" and then told me what the report said and told me to rest it for a couple of weeks and then come back and see him and i may need another xray and that he would not give me a cortisone injection.  As you can imagine I am not too happy with this and wondered what you would do as an Orthopedic surgeon.
Oh and my hubby just said to me, its just a small crack fracture, nothing to worry about and he didn't even see the MRI. I feel like crying I am so fed up with everyones response towards me. Sorry to bother you again.
Sue
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thank you for your reply. I did infact go back to my orthopedist and he sent me back for another xray, which only showed blood in and around the joint. He did not suggest an MRI and said that he could give me a cortisone injection into the joint.
I wasn't too keen on that, so I will go for physio again and take some anti inflammatories.
I still can't hold my arm out to the side with my hand in pronation and cannot tighten the tricep muscle at the back if i put my arm out to the side.

Thanks again for replying
Sue

Sue
Helpful - 0

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