Tennis elbow

[DDH]

Hey girls, does anyone know what you can do for Tennis elbow? I have had it for months now and the doc gave me a wrap that goes on my arm just below my elbos and you have to synch it really tight. Well I have used it and used it and it never seems to heal. It hurts so bad sometimes I cannot straighten my elbow, if it's been bent. When I dry my hair, because my elbow has been in a bent position for a while, it hurts like the dickens to straighten it.

I can't sleep good most of the time because it aches even when I am not moving it. I just recently went back to the doctor for a general checkup and asked him about it again, but he never said anything and because we got to talking about other things I didn't remind him.

[Tuckervill]

Ibuprofen or some other anti-inflammatory, and use the strap ALL the time when you're doing something, like drying your hair, typing, etc. I'd try some range of motion stretching of your forearm, too, like bending your fingers back with your arm straight, etc.

I got it from typing. The strap helped. It never hurt as bad as yours seems to, though.

Karen

[DDH]

Thanks Karen, I am terrible about thinking it is better and then taking the strap off.
I feel like it just keeps getting worse. It doesn't hurt like this everyday, but on the days that it does, it hurts all the time, and if I lay on my right side then it really hurts during the night and then the next day.

Of couse it had to be might right arm and I am right handed and seem to be incapable of doing anything with my left. LOL

[Zen]

Rest that arm.
That's all you can do. It takes about three months to go away.

[OakLeaf]

When you ride, be sure you're not gripping your handlebars too tightly, and that you're keeping your elbows slightly flexed. That goes for whatever you do - no tight gripping!

Does it feel like the strap is helping? Sometimes it can actually aggravate the problem.

Acupuncture, Traumeel (internally and externally), gentle massage along the whole length of the tendon and its associated fascia through the forearm, Epsom salt soaks, stretching and rest.

Ask your doctor for a PT referral.

[emily_in_nc]

ICE! My DH had chronic tennis elbow for years, not from playing tennis at all, but from cutting down trees and cutting up said trees with a chain saw. Ice, rest, ibuprofen, and wearing straps helped, though it did take a long time to heal up. Every now and then it will still get irritated and bother him, but nothing like it used to. He used to ice his elbows twice a day for weeks on end.

Good luck -- it's a miserable thing!

Emily

[BarbaraAlys]

If the wrap isn't helping and you are still suffering maybe it is time for a different approach. Sometimes pains in our elbows, wrist and hands come from problems in our shoulders, back, or even all the way down to our feet (in a really round about way, feet bad, knees out of line, back pulling weird, shoulder trying to compensate, pinches something that effects the arm...)

So, maybe it is time for a referral to a chiropractor or a D.O. who practices Orthopedic Manipulative Therapy (kind of a mix of chiro, massage and accupressure). The latter is what I am doing for a shoulder problem and it is pretty amazing how it can help.

Barbara

[janeho]

Hi there is an article I have written
healing an injury with ice
that you may find helpful.
The purpose of the elbow clasp is to change the direction of pull of the tendon where it inserts onto the bone.
other things that have been shown to help are physical therapy - including acupuncture and ultrasound, and non steroidal anti inflammatories.

[mupedalpusher]

First, try to determine what repetitive motion caused it in the first place and make sure you correct the problem. Mine was my computer mouse. I bought a low profile mouse and made sure my desk was a bit lower. After 6 months of pain the doctor finally injected mine elbow with cortisone and then it finally calmed down and healed. It only takes minor things to make it flare up even now after 2 years so I am very careful. BTW: the bands seemed worthless for me but I've heard others get relief from them. Good luck.