Elbow pain

[twins337]

When I was about 6 years old I broke the growth plate above my elbow. It healed slightly bent*. I play high school softball and volleyball, and it was fine until early this year. At the end of softball last year it was very sore. The trainer diagnosed it as tendonitis, so I took a few weeks off from throwing or other activities that would put stress on my elbow. It felt better after the two weeks. After a month or so I started light throwing. By late July I was back to throwing like regular.

It was fine last month for the first part of volleyball. But for the last two weeks it has been really sore again. I have been heating (moist) it before practice and games in the trainer's room and icing it after.
On Friday I did not practice because it was so sore. I iced after school, while I watched practice, and twice when I got home. I have also been icing over the weekend.

The problem is that it isn't getting any better and maybe a little worse. It is very sore even when I am not using it.

I now I could seen an orthopedic surgeon. However if they would have to re-break it again I would not want to take the chance of it setting incorrectly again or even worse.

Is there anything else that I can do?

*I am including a picture of my elbow because "bent" can mean a variety of things. (http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t105/xvolleyballxroxx/elbow.jpg)

[Heidi]

Hi,

What movements cause you pain? And exactly where is the pain located? I presume you can touch a point that is painful?

You have done well to ice it regularly. Get your Doctor to prescribe you some anti-inflammatories too to take the inflammation down.

Let me know where and when it hurts especially and I will try to help further.

[twins337]

Hi,

What movements cause you pain? And exactly where is the pain located? I presume you can touch a point that is painful?

You have done well to ice it regularly. Get your Doctor to prescribe you some anti-inflammatories too to take the inflammation down.

Let me know where and when it hurts especially and I will try to help further.

Almost any movement really. It has been painful even when I don't move it much. The pain is on the top of my arm above the elbow and the tendon inside the elbow(near the part of my elbow that is bent). And I can touch those two places and they are pretty painful.

I have been heating it before practice and icing it after. I also started taking a Glucosamine Chondroitin MSM Complex.

Thank you!

[Heidi]

I think your coach was probably right then, sounds like a tendon problem.
Before you start thinking about surgeons, visit a physical therapist or someone who really knows what they are doing, for a proper assessment and treatment,
The shape of your elbow following the fracture may place extra stress ont he tendons in stressful activities like throwing.
A pt will be able to treat the tendons for the symptoms and try to establish what is causing it and hopefully correct it through rehab exercises, rather than surgery!