Home care of tennis elbow?

[14tokihorn]

This has been going on for ~ 3 months, No tennis, but lifting such things as pots, shovels, etc. - i.e. - gripping (mostly) with palm down. also happens with (modified palm down) the thumb up.
IOW - it's in upper 1/3 of the forearm area, very close to the elbow, running toward the index finger.
But my elbow bone is not very tender at all... Just returned from reading Wikipedia on the topic.... Wiki mentions tenderness on the (elbow) bone.

NSAIDs do little at all. So, I then tried wrapping my forearm and elbow, at night, with Badger Muscle Balm underneath. That helps alot, but temporary. Seems the only thing left is to cease any gripping that aggravates it.

[edit] No swelling, can't say there was any one distinct injury, it just seems, I fear, almost chronic.

Any other tried&true remedies? How about a elbow brace?

 

[OrangeBlooded]

work the tendon (stretching, etc). then ice it. then rest. repeat. give it two weeks.

ice is crucial.

 

[NickDanger]

They make a band that velcros around the forearm just next to the elbow. The band has a little pillow that you position on the tendon that spans across the elbow joint. I'm sure there's a picture on the package that will show you.

Stretching is supposedly important as well although I'm not really sure that you can stretch a tendon. You can "stretch" by using your left hand to hold your right hand fingers pointing down. Another one is to hold your arm out horizontal. For your right arm you twist it counterclockwise with your palm facing you and your thumb pointing behind you. Fingers pointed up. Now lean against the wall with your hand flat against the wall with your palm facing you.

DEEP tissue massage will help to break up any scar tissue you have and the icing will help with the swelling that should follow.

I would not start on the stretching and massage for a few days while you wear the brace and let your angry elbow calm down. Try to be very careful and lifting anything at all for a while and always with your palms up. Use your forearm muscles instead of putting pressure on the elbow.

People who've never had it can't understand why even drinking a beer can be problematic. The loading and unloading of cars is one area where you almost can't lift with your palms up all the time.

I ended up with it in both elbows and eventually had to have a steroid shot wich resolved things completely.

 

[overmaars]

I recommend a home remedy concoction of dirt, and tussin.

 

[TXSNOS]

I have tennis elbow and wear one of these when I play tennis. Not sure if it really helps but over time it has become something of a security blanket.

Where does your elbow hurt? The traditional tennis elbow is more toward the outside. If it's more toward the inside, then it is considered golfer's elbow.

For either one, you really have to attack the inflammation. Rest, ice, and anti-inflammatories are your best bet to start. If that is not enough, go see a sports medicine doctor, and he can give you a steroid injection in your elbow. That should help.

I did all of that but continued to have some problems after I started playing tennis again. I switched to a two-handed backhand this last year and that has really helped. I realize this is not a solution for you since you do not play tennis, but just thought I would throw it in for anyone who does play tennis.

 

[NickDanger]

That's the "brace" I was trying to describe.

The way I had it described to me (and I'm no doctor of medicine) is that the inflamed area gets that way because it spans the elbow for no apparent good reason. The brace above is designed to change the anchor point of the tendon from the upper arm to the forearm. When all else fails, they take the tendon and surgically detach it from above the elbow and reattach it below the elbow. That's Tommy John surgery as I understand it.

If you don't get ahead of the inflammation you will form scar tissue and then you will end up with little tears all the time which will make the Tennis Elbow even more prevalent.

 

[14tokihorn]

the pain, so I guess that's inflammed area, as well, is ~ 1-2 inches away from that classic 'tennis elbow' outer elbow bone. then within the forearm, toward the hand.

Lets see: if you draw a line (top of arm) from the index finger to THAT same-classic-elbow bone - then that's the spot ( so a transverse?/diagonal line? across the forearm)... seems deep, between those 2 prominant muscles, on top of the forearm, 1~ 2 " away from the bone.

-Don't think its wise to get corticosteroid injections- have had 2 of those treatments for a trigger thumb this year.
- Also Constantly doing maintenance on an old, severe "stuck pelvis" , but got it going in a good way.
So this is not only a surprise, but almost a bummer... But I ordered a strap, with the pillow insert.
In the meantime, I fashioned a temp. strap&pillow-like thing out of the new (to me) elastic bandages at Walgreens.... it's the hi-tech version of the old Ace bandages.
Getting alot of relief... wore it all day. And will change how I grip an lift, then take it day by day for now.

So thanks for the good info, to all. (back at cha) Those that are disposed to soft tissue weaknesses - take that wallet out of your back trouser pocket !!! Strongly suggested that you don't want to mess with sacro-illiac / pelvis damage... it's a *****.

Signed, falling apart; aka ToKihorn