Ever since my Black Belt Pre-Test on May 6th I have had Olecranon Bursitis or a swollen elbow. I described it as having elbows like Olive Oil is draw having elbows. Well, apparently this condition is also called Popeye elbow. It is very fitting.
When it first happened I mentioned it to one of my instructors and they said that they have had that happen with their knees before. Said unless it hurts it should clear up on its own after a time. So, I gave it the guy week. You know, the week where you put up with it and figure it will go away on its own. It has not. So, today I went to the doctors to see about having it drained. They could drain it, however I would have to be in a splint for 2 weeks to prevent it from happening again. Do you know what is two weeks from tomorrow? My final Black Belt Test. There is no way I’m going to be in a splint and not using my right arm for two weeks leading up to that test. So, I now have a compression sleeve to put over that arm when I train. I also now have an elbow pad to ear most of the time and I picked up a microwaveable moist heating sleeve that I can use to put on my elbow to give it the moist heat that it needs to help get the swelling down.
I did notice that wearing the compression sleeve and the elbow pad at Boot Camp tonight was not ideal. I could barely move my right arm which is something I definitely need to do in training.