[MBryan]

My husband's injury level is a C5/C6 Complete, and after 11 years of care-giving I've experienced a new problem: sores on his elbows. He's at a desk/computer almost all day, and this summer he has developed a red spot and a fluid like bump on one elbow. The other has actually callused and scabbed. For that elbow we've found an elbow brace from the drugstore that will hold padding in place, but I'm at a loss for what to do with the other arm. Do we simply leave it until the skin breaks, or should we immediately start applying padding to it as well?

[greybeard]

MBryan, on 26 August 2010 - 07:30 PM, said:

My husband's injury level is a C5/C6 Complete, and after 11 years of care-giving I've experienced a new problem: sores on his elbows. He's at a desk/computer almost all day, and this summer he has developed a red spot and a fluid like bump on one elbow. The other has actually callused and scabbed. For that elbow we've found an elbow brace from the drugstore that will hold padding in place, but I'm at a loss for what to do with the other arm. Do we simply leave it until the skin breaks, or should we immediately start applying padding to it as well?

Get medical advice for the sores but also, if he hasn't got one already, buy a cushion pad to go on his desktop to ease future pressure on his elbows. They are widely available from computer stores.

[4wheelz]

sounds like a blister.. pad them both asap.

[tyvin]

The swelling is possibly the Bursa being compromised due to pressure. Do protect his other elbow and take measures to prevent the same thing from happening. Hasn't the doc seen his swollen elbow? When I was bed bound for many months I had concerns with my elbows such as he is having and when I was able to relieve the pressure to the bursa and it didn't' require an orthopedic's intervention.

[guido]

Sorry, plug plug plug... these might help UK people with similar problems ...


But the main thing is to seek advice from dressings nurse, avoid infection, take care of it, and be careful in future.

[LuckyinKentucky]

alost surely a bursa. I have had one pop up two or three time the first was from a desk like what you describe. Sometime when the agitating condition us removed the sack will absorb back in on its own. If he continues to utilize the same position without padding it will get worse and probably develop in the other elbow.

Anti inflammation pills can help but without giving the elbow a break from this particular application of pressure, like all other fixes, will be useless.

I have had my bursa drained 2 or 3 times they said if it becomes persistent than surgery is required. I'm pretty against "the knife" so I would have instructed for them to drain it even if they advised surgery. All you need is a good orthopedic doc and a big ass syringe to suck it out....I almost forgot the sack should be re-injected with cortisone after being drained, this will soak in as it heals and hopefully close the hole that created the bursa.