Tennis Elbow

[likite]

I've been diagnosed with tennis elbow by the local doc, and taking anti inflammatory drugs for around 3 weeks, when the drugs wear off I still get some pain. The doc now advises a cortisone injection, I think this is too early. Any ideas how long to wait before going for the cortisone?

[jetjock]

I realize how bad that tennis elbow can become as I almost had to give up tennis many years ago because of it. I have now been playing competitive tennis for 50 years but was plagued with tennis elbow off and on for the first 15 years. I took several cortisone injections throughout those years which helped for a while but eventually it always came back. For me, I found that the cortisone would relieve inflammation but of course did not solve the basic problem of constant overstretching of the tendons in the elbow so the inflamation eventually would slowly return. It was not until I went to a physical therapist that taught me one stretching exercise that gave my tendons more flexibility and totally solved problem. I have not had tennis elbow since that point as I have been now doing that particular stretch everyday of my life.

Since I cannot explain how to do the elbow stretch in words, my best advice is to check around and see if you can find a physical therapist who is familiar with tennis elbow and can teach you the simple elbow stretching exercise that will keep your tendons from getting too tight. Stretches should not be started until your tennis elbow inflamation is gone so at last resort, you may find that you need a cortisone shot to get the inflamation down if you have tried ice packs and other methods. Good Luck--

[tangoll]

I also had tennis elbow from playing a lot of tennis, and just before the elbow/forearm muscles became painful, I had changed my service motion. It took about 3 - 4 months before the pain went away. What I did was this:

- started playing with my other (left) hand so that I could continue playing and getting exercise. Playing with the left hand had some unintended benefits in that I was able to visualize better stroking actions, better positioning, and how to focus on ball better. All this translated into better form when I was able to play with the right hand again.

- the main exercise I did was to strengthen the forearm muscles. Hard to explain, but essentially, right arm horizontal out in front, right hand up at near 90 degree angle, so palm out facing away from body, left hand palm on palm against right hand, exert force hand against hand. Then right hand down at 90 degree, left hand palm against back of right hand, exert force so that back of right hand is trying to raise itself up to be straight with right arm. At first very painful to do, but gradually the forearm muscles recover. Still do this exercise to this day.

- had a belt with 5 vibrating motors. Wrapped the belt around the forearm and use the vibration to massage the forearm. 20 minutes each evening.

- rubbed heat ointment on arm during the day, and cold ointment just before sleep. Don't know why, just seemed to work better that way, than the other way around or just using heat or cold ointment.

I've since reverted to my old service motion, grip the racquet much more loosely, changed the strings to Prince Hybrid, use a vibration dampener, a stringlike strip rather than the single piece, use a forearm and wrist brace, and apply heat ointment on the forearm before playing. Now, my arm feels stronger than ever. Rest more than anything is the main cure for tennis elbow.

If these exercises don't seem to help, then see a doctor who's treated tennis elbow before.

[sgwinpochai]

I sympathise, it can be very painful. I know, I got tennis elbow through weight training. I was recommended to a chiropracter. He used ultrasound to give some immediate relief. He said that rest was no use, even after 6 months it could come back straight away, and you naturally want to continue doing what you enjoy. I was advised that in addition to normal warming up exercises prior to training, to sit down take 2 light dumbells or 1 light barbell, rest my arms along my legs, palms facing down, lift say up and down 20 to 30 times until I felt a burning sensation in my upper forearms. I have had no recurrence of tennis elbow for over 15 years. Similarly if you get golfers elbow reverse your arms so that your palms are facing up. Good luck

[Lost in LOS]

had tennis elbow many times since i was heavily into marshal arts. cortisone will help but never take a second shot as it will build up crystals in your joint. went to many specialists but they all did the same thing without fixing the problem

found a recommended doctor in LA that fixed it quickly. he thinks when your arm hurts you use it differently, he is right. he finds the spot where it hurts the most by jambing his thumb in different places on your elbow and injects lidocane [sp? basically aspirin] in it. took a strength test before and after and it was a dramatic difference for the good. used my arm immediately without problems. he had me come back in a week [standard for his form of treatment] and found the most painful spot again and injected it again and I never had a problem after that.

many friends went to him with the same results. try it here