Long Lasting Tennis Elbow

[Aprisa]

I started getting Tennis Elbow in November last year after doing a lot of painting with a roller at work. I carried on thinking it would get better and went to the odd Circuit training, carried on playing tennis a couple of times a week and other manual jobs around home and work.
It was not getting better so I have been on a course of massage and Acupuncture each week for four weeks and stopped playing tennis for the last five weeks, I cannot really however stop doing the DIY type jobs at home and servicing the vehicles at work which would be expensive to get farmed out.
No improvement really, sharp pains on the elbow tip, down the tendons in the forearm and in my hand.
Do I need to completely rest the arm (difficult) or should I have seen an improvement with the massage and laying off impact sports?
I wear a support whenever possible but no pain killers.
Any suggestions as to cures? I did see the piece on using leeches?
Nick

[Centurion07]

As much rest as you can manage and anti-inflammatories are your friends.

[honestbob]

Mine took in excess of six months to feel better. Left elbow to start with so found myself doing more with
my right arm. Spot on. Pain in right elbow now. Another six months and now avoid the actions and repetitive
things that I know will set it off again.

[rog007]

Easier said than done, but; remove all activities that cause discomfort for 12 months. Sadly, most of us cannot achieve this so we continue in pain, take anti inflamotories and even have steroid injections and other interventions. Total rest is the long term sustainable answer; everything else is a compromise .

[Sparkysea]

Take the pain killers regularly! so they reach a therapeutic plasma level ie: take regularly following instruction on packet. Don't just stop and start , give them a chance for at least 2 weeks!
Also rest that elbow, ie limit manual handling/ activity and continue with acupuncture into muscle trigger points

[Sparkysea]

Also go to GP pain could be coming from your neck (cervical spine)

[Cheib]

I've got it currently having had it before about two or three years ago. It's taking longer to calm down this time but it is slooooowly getting there. Mine is related to tightness in my shoulder and neck it seems, since I have done a lot of stretching and also some strengthening exercises (rotator cuff) it's much better but it's still there.

The physio I have been going to see doesn't think the supports are a great thing unless you have to because of the work you do.

I find it very difficult to rest it totally as I have young kids who are always wanting picking up etc

[Animal]

I think I might have this too: pain when straightening my arm only and with only very mild exertion?

[skeggysteve]

Centurion07 said:

As much rest as you can manage and anti-inflammatories are your friends.

Funny that this thread should pop up as I have had tennis elbow for a couple of weeks.

I have a elbow strap thingy, took ages to get the pressure right but it helps. Not sure if it's a placebo, just keeping it warms or that it does actually work that helps to be honest!

Question about the anti inflammatory drugs (I take Ibuprofen) the packs say don't take for more than 3 days - can I ignore that and just keep taking them?
Or can I take for 3 days the have a days rest then 3 more days on?

I'm trying to rest it as much as possible, even down to taking the best pain killer known to man by using my other arm

[Centurion07]

skeggysteve said:

Centurion07 said:

As much rest as you can manage and anti-inflammatories are your friends.

Funny that this thread should pop up as I have had tennis elbow for a couple of weeks.

I have a elbow strap thingy, took ages to get the pressure right but it helps. Not sure if it's a placebo, just keeping it warms or that it does actually work that helps to be honest!

Question about the anti inflammatory drugs (I take Ibuprofen) the packs say don't take for more than 3 days - can I ignore that and just keep taking them?
Or can I take for 3 days the have a days rest then 3 more days on?

I'm trying to rest it as much as possible, even down to taking the best pain killer known to man by using my other arm

My doc suggested the strap as well and said what it basically does is stop you using that area as freely as you otherwise would, thereby resting it (although not as much as actually not using your arm at all!).

Can't help with pills but I'm sure I've been prescribed anti-inflamms before and not had any such warning.

[Cheib]

Animal said:

I think I might have this too: pain when straightening my arm only and with only very mild exertion?

That's the fella

[Cheib]

Centurion07 said:

My doc suggested the strap as well and said what it basically does is stop you using that area as freely as you otherwise would, thereby resting it (although not as much as actually not using your arm at all!).

The strap offloads the tendon so yes it rests it a bit.

[goldblum]

Aprisa said:

Do I need to completely rest the arm (difficult)

No. Just resist doing the action that causes you pain .

Aprisa said:

or should I have seen an improvement with the massage and laying off impact sports?
Any suggestions as to cures? I did see the piece on using leeches?
Nick

Not sure what good massage will be to an inflamed tendon. Leeches - worth their weight in gold.

As others have said anti inflammatories - for tendonitis naproxen is often prescribed - and remember stay away from whatever it is that causes the elbow pain.

[spikeyhead]

goldblum said:

... and remember stay away from whatever it is that causes the elbow pain.

Unfortunately it's work that causes my pain. I've learnt to be a bit more careful with what and how I lift and it's slowly getting better, taking forever though.

[lerate]

I suffered badly for six months I went for physio, had straps, ultra-sound, Tens machine the lot none of it worked. My doctor then gave me a Cortisone injection it was stiff for a day then gone - that was 6 years ago its never come back. Doesn't work for everyone but it did for me

Edited by lerate on Tuesday 4th June 20:58

[Sparkysea]

[quote=skeggysteve]


Question about the anti inflammatory drugs (I take Ibuprofen) the packs say don't take for more than 3 days - can I ignore that and just keep taking them?
Or can I take for 3 days the have a days rest then 3 more days on?
quote]

Speak to your GP or a pharmacist , important to manage the pain well

[goldblum]

spikeyhead said:

goldblum said:

... and remember stay away from whatever it is that causes the elbow pain.

Unfortunately it's work that causes my pain. I've learnt to be a bit more careful with what and how I lift and it's slowly getting better, taking forever though.

Yes it will take time but even if you think the elbow's better be very cautious about going back to the same movements that caused the pain for at least six months, maybe much longer. Good luck.

[Robbo66]

lerate said:

I suffered badly for six months I went for physio, had straps, ultra-sound, Tens machine the lot none of it worked. My doctor then gave me a Cortisone injection it was stiff for a day then gone - that was 6 years ago its never come back. Doesn't work for everyone but it did for me

Edited by lerate on Tuesday 4th June 20:58

This, only thing that will work. Then the Doc needs to be 100% acurate with the jab. Dropped my string tension from 60lb to 55lb from poly to hybrid, swapped raquet stiffness to 66 or below and reduced grip size slightly. Play 4 times a week...never come back.
Use babolat or wilson pro staff and you arm will kill you.

[skeggysteve]

Centurion07 said:

My doc suggested the strap as well and said what it basically does is stop you using that area as freely as you otherwise would, thereby resting it (although not as much as actually not using your arm at all!).

Can't help with pills but I'm sure I've been prescribed anti-inflamms before and not had any such warning.

I understand what you/your Doc is meaning about the strap.
Had one on all day today, got used to the limited movement but I took it off at about 18.00 as it was getting itchy - elbow now hurting!

Many thanks to those that answered my question about the drug - I'll ask my pharmacy.

[Cheib]

I've had this for four months.....it's not really getting any better through rest and physio so have got myself referred to a Consultant Elbow/Shoulder specialist......hopefully they'll give me a jab and it'll go. Starting to do my head in a bit at this stage.......