Tennis elbow

[ChrisnChris]

Just re-awakened my tennis elbow, the last bout lasted for about 2 years although the actual point of pain never went away.
I'm wearing a clasp...it's getting a bit old now but still works (a bit) & have been using voltarol gel (might be working a bit).

Does anyone have any remedies, magic potions, exercises that might help me.

Its driving me nuts........toothache in my elbow

[Bill]

Rest (and a brace that works), ice (10-12 minutes at a time) and anti-inflammatories in the short term, and stretches and eccentric loading in the long term.

There are a couple of soft-tissue techniques that can help speed things up slightly but that's it.

[dern]

I went to a physio with my tennis elbow and they identified exercises I should do which I did. After a few weeks and a couple more sessions it went away and hasn't come back (several years). It may be worth seeing a physio rather than trying to fix it yourself.

[ChrisnChris]

Bill said:

Rest (and a brace that works)

Thanks Bill...can't do the "rest" bit & what kind of brace works. I currently use one like this.

http://tribesportsshopping.co.uk/tennis/tennis-acc...

What would you recommend?

[Bill]

When I say rest, I'll accept trying not to aggravate it The brace is designed to alter the pull of the muscle on the tendon so you effectively use a different bit and rest the injured area. The one you've found are probably the best but it's worth experimenting with position and tightness to get the best effect.

[eddo]

If you can get your hands on some Diclofenac sodium pills, 50mg , 3 times a day, sorted!!! Really helps me.
Ed

[ChrisnChris]

eddo said:

Diclofenac sodium pills, 50mg

Have taken these for other ailments, but knowing how long term tennis elbow is, I'm not sure about long term use of Diclofenac...or the Voltarol gel I'm currently using come to that

[ChrisnChris]

Post repeated...now deleted

Edited by ChrisnChris on Thursday 13th January 13:55

[x5x3]

I assume you have tried seeing a physio?

I had tennis elbow a few years ago, could not play Tennis or Badminton, went to see a physio and she decided it was computer usage and posture which were the issue.

A couple of years on and she was right, I am pain free now, just had to make a few ergonomic changes at home.

Might not be the case for you but well worth looking into if you do spend a lot of time on the computer.

[eddo]

If you can get your hands on some Diclofenac sodium pills, 50mg , 3 times a day, sorted!!! Really helps me.
Ed

[ChrisnChris]

x5x3 said:

I assume you have tried seeing a physio?



Might not be the case for you but well worth looking into if you do spend a lot of time on the computer.

I haven't seen a physio this time, I did last time I had it but can't honestly say it did much good.
I even tried acupuncture...that was even less efective.

The cause was too much fly fishing, as was the time before, the time before that was too much digging (try & avoid that now )

I have come across this in my searches....anyone tried it?

http://tenease.com/index.php

The cost roughly equates to a couple of physio sessions + it does carry a 30 day money back guarantee

[Bill]

Re Tenease: The website mentions but doesn't link to research and I can find nothing on a quick search of medline on tenease or vibration therapy... It may work on pain in a similar way to a TENS machine but there's nothing to suggest it'll help fix the problem.

ChrisnChris said:

I haven't seen a physio this time, I did last time I had it but can't honestly say it did much good.

Hopefully you were given eccentric exercises, did you do them?

How often do you go fly fishing? And do you use your brace?

(And has anyone explained how tennis elbow comes about?)

[Jasandjules]

Well I have this sodding thing now. Doc said to get some sports gel with painkillers and rub it in (a lot).

I am not too hopeful but am awaiting phsyio.

Any other cures out there, because I can't drive, decorate, use the laptop, cook dinner etc without being in sodding pain and there is only so much I can not do in daily life to help...

[Lost_BMW]

eddo said:

If you can get your hands on some Diclofenac sodium pills, 50mg , 3 times a day, sorted!!! Really helps me.
Ed

Afraid they haven't had any effect on mine - in both elbows - or my neck injury, although they work wonders on my lower back injury and cure symptoms of gout within a day or two (god I sound like a crock!) Normally regard Diclofenac as my wonder drug but the elbows don't seem to register it being in the system?

The best things for me were the exercises the physio showed me, esp. the eccentric movements done against resistance from the other arm and avoiding things like cleans that exacerbate it so quickly.

[condor]

I used one of those gels when I had it, and plenty of rest - took about 3 months to cure it.

[davhill]

Had diathermy for mine, at the hosp (with the physioterrorist). That worked pretty well.

[Jasandjules]

davhill said:

Had diathermy for mine, at the hosp (with the physioterrorist). That worked pretty well.

Well, I am seeing a physio soon so will ask about that then.

[vladcjelli]

I started with this about ten weeks ago in my right arm. Not sure what triggered it, could have been one of many activities. Rest not available due to nature of work and two small children who are no respecters of health issues.

One GPs visit later, told to take ibuprofen or apply gels.

Right arm has improved (or I'm getting used to it, who knows) but a week or two ago, the left arm felt ignored, so has decided to get in on the action. Tennis elbow in both arms, yay!

So considering a follow up visit, especially with a view to getting some physio help.

Any advice from fellow sufferers?

Must sign off now, the pain is becoming too much to bear (though red wine seems to be helping).

[honestbob]

From experience you have to identify the action that causes the pain and try to avoid it.
With me it's a twisting action like loads of tight screws or bolts to shift,or winding
tight handles or taps.
Mine has "jumped arms" before and a doctor friend said that's very common.
My last bout has just about cleared up after 16 months!!!