Sorry to hear about the elbow, however I believe you can repair it.
You have swelling in the area, which is a sign of inflammation. Inflammation is a sign that the body is trying to repair the tissue.It is like a flag that goes up to signal healing but is also caused by the actual repair process. When repairing tissue it is not like running water, it is rebuilding substance so there is resistance, almost like friction. This causes heat and swelling, 2 side effects of the repair process.
Also the swelling means this is in the Acute Stage of Inflammation which is actually a better stage than Chronic Stage, when it no longer has these symptoms and has settled into the condition. Acute Stage is a lot closer to healing the area than you would think. You just need to make conditions in the area more beneficial to the healing process.
1) It is all about blood flow to the area. You can heal just about anything with an increase in blood flow to an area, especially when you are young you have a bonus.
Ways to increase Blood flow:
a) Lower inflammation in the area with Ice application. You get some swelling to decrease, which is slowing down the blood flow to the area. Apply Ice 2 times for 10 min. each with at least a 10 min. break between applications.
DO NOT FREEZE THE TISSUE! That equals more Damage!
Applying Ice will compress the tissue with the cold and also restrict blood flow as the arteries will constrict moving the blood away. The magic happens when removing the Ice. Because your blood is hotter than the surrounding tissue, your blood vessels will Dilate which will have a huge uptake in blood flow. With the surrounding Tissue still cold and compressed from the Ice , this will give the blood vessels quite a bit more room to cycle a huge amount more blood through the tissue bringing additional nutrients and removing damaged components out of the area substantially. Do this when it is hot or swollen or periodically throughout the day.
b) When, after 2-4 weeks, the area no longer has almost no noticeable swelling and is not sore and stiff, you can increase the blood flow process from above with a Vascular Flush. Applying Ice then Heat for 2 min. each, with no rest between for about 5-8 times each. This forces the blood through the area using one of the bodies processes designed for it. Do this periodically throughout the day at least 3+ times spread out over the course of the day.
c) Make sure the muscles on either side of the elbow are not tight. If stretching compounds the issue, don't stretch them. Instead apply Direct Pressure to the tight muscles for 2+ min., which will overload the sensors(Proprioceptors) andallow the muscles to relax. Tight muscles limit blood flow to the area because the put pressure surrounding the blood vessels slowing the blood travel through the muscles to the affected area.
d) Movement. Although this may cause a bit of inflammation the repercussions from not moving at all are worse, like the joint seizing up and premature Arthritis. Movement keeps the joint from seizing up but also increases blood flow using the muscles. The muscles act like little pumps moving the blood through the area as they shorten and lengthen. Loosely perform a bicep curl motion while swirling a loose fist around. Do not tense the muscles just keep them loose during the movement. This can be done a few times a day and increased after the swelling and irritation has died down.
e) Get a higher quality Salmon or fish oil to supplement. Take 4 times the recommended dosage for 2 weeks then drop down to 2 times the recommended dosage for the rest of the healing process. The oil will lower inflammation in the affected and all tissues, but also provide lubrication for the joint.
2)Provide nutrients needed for the repair.
a) you can supplement with a glucosamine/chondroitin supplement. these provide the nutrients broken down and proposed to be readily used by the body. I stopped noticing a result from this to normal wear and tear feelings after 2 weeks, like my body had adapted or was no longer using them efficiently.
b) I use a shark's cartilage supplement, forcing my body to extract what I need from the powdered cartilage. I also supplement a small amount of Coral Calcium with this to make sure my bones have what they need to keep the tendons anchored properly at the joints as breakdown at the tendon bone connection can cause additional inflammation and irritation.
c) Eat a small amount of grass-fed steak daily or every other day if you are not into beef. I noticed an increase in irritation in my joints when I eliminated beef from my diet and was only eating Chicken and Fish, like my body was not getting components it needed to breakdown and use for the joint and cartilage that it needed.
(Working out with weights most likely caused awareness of this because of the increase need for repair nutrients. I would not recommend weighted exercise initially for you, but maybe lightly in a month depending on how the repair conditions have progressed.)
There you go, everything I can recommend on this problem. Most of this process can be applied to just about every injury.
I know posting this will alter people's view of me being just a dumb blond girl
, but I also have not gone to a doctor in almost 25 years. I also get mistaken for being in my late twenties or 30, but I won't say my real age
I hope knowing repair is possible puts you in a better mood
Good Luck!