How do you evaluate elbow pain to determine its origin? My left bicep has been giving me serious trouble for about 3-4 months. I can't determine where the problem is coming from. I had a lipoma removed 12 months ago. Could that have anything to do with the pain in the bend of my elbow? It's extremely difficult to maintain any weight lifting.

Please help....

Reply ------------------------

To determine the origin of your pain, I would ask questions about injuries, type of pain, and what makes it better and worse. Then I would push on your arm and shoulder to see where it hurts. I would also move your arm around to see if any motions make the pain worse. Depending on what I found I would think about xrays and blood tests, but based on what you wrote, I don't think they would be necessary.

The weight lifting is a likely reason for the pain, especially any new routines. The lipoma removal seems less likely to have caused your pain.

Here is my general health message:
To improve your health, please

• don't smoking cigarettes;
• don't use marijuana or cocaine and especially don't use iv drugs;
• drink no more than one beer, one glass of wine, or one shot of hard liquor in a day;
• have sex with only one person who has sex only with you;
• don't eat fried food (like hamburgers) or other high fat foods.

P. H. MD
Family Physician
Correspondent for General Medical Clinic
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