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Suggest Treatment For Painful Rash On The Arm
Question: My 90 year old father developed a rash on his right arm and now has extreme pain, especially at night, in that arm. It is so painful he says he feels like cutting his arm off. During the day it stops. He works at a nature center in the woods and has been to see his VA doc who said it was tennis elbow and prescribed ibuprofen. He's had tennis elbow before and this is nothing like it. He is now trying to get into see a geriatric specialist but appointments are weeks out. We are thinking lyme disease or shingles? Your thoughts?
Brief Answer:
Shingles and lymes disease unlikey. Seems tennis elbow.
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thanks for your query at HCM.
I understand your concern and situation.
According to me as per symptoms appear to be tennis elbow. If it was shingles one would see vesicular rashes with excruciating pain. Even lymes disease is unlikely. But yes few tests can be done to rule out the possibility. I suggest you to apply ice cubes wrapped in towel and apply it on affected area leave it for 10 mins and do like this for 15 times a day. Give rest to the arm, Avoid any activity and analgaesics oral and topical will relieve pain.
Take care
If no clarification then you can close the discussion and rate the answer. A review will be appreciated.
Dr Sheetal Verma
Shingles and lymes disease unlikey. Seems tennis elbow.
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thanks for your query at HCM.
I understand your concern and situation.
According to me as per symptoms appear to be tennis elbow. If it was shingles one would see vesicular rashes with excruciating pain. Even lymes disease is unlikely. But yes few tests can be done to rule out the possibility. I suggest you to apply ice cubes wrapped in towel and apply it on affected area leave it for 10 mins and do like this for 15 times a day. Give rest to the arm, Avoid any activity and analgaesics oral and topical will relieve pain.
Take care
If no clarification then you can close the discussion and rate the answer. A review will be appreciated.
Dr Sheetal Verma
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
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