Tendonitis - Golfer's elbow.. ouch

NetViper

NetViper

Illustrious Member
Joined
23 October 2000
Messages
13,885
Location
Saint Augustine, FL
Anyone had this before? It is freaking KILLING ME.

I have had 2 Cortisone shots in the last 6 months and I don't want to keep doing that.

I lift 3x per week and hit golf balls 1-2x week plus play golf once a week... so obviously that does not help. I tried taking a month off and it made no difference.

Here is what I am doing right now.
1. Rehab stuff using THERA Bands
2. ICING
3. Braces
4. 1600-2400mg of ibuprofen.

Still hurts like hell.

Anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks,
 
NetViper said:
Anyone had this before? It is freaking KILLING ME.

I have had 2 Cortisone shots in the last 6 months and I don't want to keep doing that.

I lift 3x per week and hit golf balls 1-2x week plus play golf once a week... so obviously that does not help. I tried taking a month off and it made no difference.

Here is what I am doing right now.
1. Rehab stuff using THERA Bands
2. ICING
3. Braces
4. 1600-2400mg of ibuprofen.

Still hurts like hell.

Anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks,
Click to expand...

I would go see an Active Release Technique specialist. Here is a list of practitioners in your area.

http://www.activerelease.com/provid...65099999998)&strAddress=Jacksonville,+FL,+USA

Also, here are links to a series called "Understanding Elbow Pain" by Eric Cressey. I dug up these articles from May, 2010. I myself and a personal trainer/strength coach. I've been reading this guys stuff for the last 10 years, he's legit.

http://www.ericcressey.com/understanding-elbow-pain-part-1-functional-anatomy

http://www.ericcressey.com/understanding-elbow-pain-part-2-pathology


Without knowing more about your injury I can't really give any specific advice beyond what I'm giving you. I will venture to say that you may not have enough horizontal pulling/elbow flexion movements in your lifting routine. Most people push more than they pull and this causes problem in many place about the shoulder joint and elbow. Try for a 2:1 pull-to-push ratio in your weight training. That just means two upper body pulling movements for every one pushing movement. You can also supplement this principle by doing one more set of pulling for every set of pushing. Hope this helps.

I think your fastest track to recovery would be to get some soft tissue work done by an ART practitioner.
 
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Physical therapist here.

If you do have a true tendinosis, then you need to eccentrically load the muscles. Studies have shown that this is the most effective way to deal with chronic tendon injury.
 
L_RAO said:
Physical therapist here.

If you do have a true tendinosis, then you need to eccentrically load the muscles. Studies have shown that this is the most effective way to deal with chronic tendon injury.
Click to expand...

The Ortho guy I went to said I have medial epicondylitis.

What is eccentrically loading?
 
Eccentrically loading means that you are loading the muscle as it LENGTHENS.

So, the classic example is a bicep curl. When you shorten the muscle on the way up, that's a concentric movement.

When you lower the weight, it lengthens while it is still working. That's the eccentric load.

So, typically what we do is have the patient do the movement with both arms, then have the affected side do the eccentric movement by itself.
 
NetViper said:
The Ortho guy I went to said I have medial epicondylitis.

What is eccentrically loading?
Click to expand...

Eccentric loading refers to force production by a muscle while lengthening, colloquially known as "the negative." For example; during a bench press it's the portion of the lift where you lower the bar to your chest. That's the eccentric phase, the pushing of the weight is the concentric phase.

If you've been advised to limit activity to eccentric loading it makes sense. Controlled eccentric loading is less stressful to tendons and ligaments than is the concentric phase. Most people diminish the eccentric phases of lifts, using the stretch reflex. The problem with doing this is not training the neuromuscular system to adequately produce force during the eccentric phase to decelerate movement. Most muscle and tendon injuries occur during the eccentric phase, non-contact.

Another aspect of the eccentric phase of movement is that this force production during lengthening is responsible for muscle soreness. Muscle soreness, as you may already know, is just many micro-tears to the muscles and tendons. In your case I can see how this would be beneficial because it prompts an immune system reaction to repair the damaged tissue and increases blood flow to the affected areas. When it comes to tendon and ligament injuries and inflammation, blood flow is your friend.

If you have any more question I'll try and help the best I can
 
I called an ART place. They said it is not covered under insurance so I am looking at $290 first visit and $130 for each after that.

She said one guy with tennis elbow for 15 years was cured in one treatment, which is a little hard to beleive.

Is ART not coverered anywhere?
 
Seems I've had this for years. I used to lift weights heavy many years back so I assume thats why, but I've noticed if I stay on a weight lifting schedule it rarely bothers me, but if I take a break for say, one to two weeks, it flares up to hell and back {both arms}:frown:. Once I get back on schedule it goes away after a bit.
 
A co-worker of mine has had good luck using an ultrasonic device for the home.
 
Big_D said:
A co-worker of mine has had good luck using an ultrasonic device for the home.
Click to expand...

I have SONIC RELIEF. I used it 3x a day for a month. No change. I am going to try it again. I talked to another company today about their device, but seems these are all about 1/3-1/5 the strength of a commercial treatment.
 
Dave .... don't squeeze so hard...the chicken needs to breath:tongue:
 
NetViper said:
I called an ART place. They said it is not covered under insurance so I am looking at $290 first visit and $130 for each after that.

She said one guy with tennis elbow for 15 years was cured in one treatment, which is a little hard to beleive.

Is ART not coverered anywhere?
Click to expand...

$290 and $130? Ouch. That's high. Ask around other clinics and tell them you'd pay out of pocket. See if your insurance covers chiro and see if other practices accept your insurance.

It doesn't surprise me that someone experienced results like that after one treatment and I know it sounds like selling snake oil. I've been receiving ART treatments off and on for the last 10 years and have been referring clients for ART treatment for the past six. Personally I can tell you it's some amazing stuff. Three weeks ago I was dealing with some tendonopathy in my left achilles tendon. Issue resolved after two sessions. I'd be surprised if you don't feel immediately better after one treatment. I've never had to seek more than two treatments for one ailment. It sounds too good to be true and it's a leap of faith. My advice is to give it a try
 
One day Dave complained to his friend,
"My elbow really hurts. I guess I should go see a doctor."

His friend says,
"Don't do that. There's a computer at the drug store that can
diagnose anything quicker and cheaper than a doctor. Simply put
in a sample of your urine, and the computer will diagnose your
problem and tell you what to do about it, and it only costs
$10."

Tim figured he had nothing to lose, so he filled a jar with
urine and went to the drug store. Finding the computer, he
poured in the sample and deposited the $10 bucks. The computer
started making some noise and various lights started flashing.
After a brief pause, out popped a small slip of paper which
read:

* You have golf elbow. Soak your arm in warm water and avoid
heavy labor.
* You will heal in two weeks.

That evening while thinking how amazing this new technology was
and how it would change medical science forever, he began to
wonder if this computer could be fooled. He decided to give it a
try. He mixed together some tap water, a stool sample from the
dog, and urine samples from his wife and daughter. To top it
off, he masturbated into the concoction.

He went back to the drug store, located the computer, poured in
the sample and deposited the $10 bucks. The machine made the
usual noises, flashed its lights, and printed out the following
analysis:

* Your tap water is too hard. Get a softener.
* Your dog has ringworm. Bathe him with anti-fungal shampoo.
* Your daughter is using cocaine. Put her in a rehab clinic.
* Your wife is pregnant with twin girls. They aren't yours. Get
a lawyer.
* AND if you don't stop jerking off, your elbow will never heal.

:biggrin: They say laughter is the best medicine. :tongue:
 
NetViper said:
I have SONIC RELIEF. I used it 3x a day for a month. No change. I am going to try it again. I talked to another company today about their device, but seems these are all about 1/3-1/5 the strength of a commercial treatment.
Click to expand...

Here is the device my co worker is using with good results. It is probably very similar to the one you are using.

http://www.mendmeshop.com/ultrasound.php

You are correct that the ultrasonic devices for home use are limited to about 1/3 the strength of those used by the professionals.

It took me 9 months to treat my right arm. I finally decided to take a break from lifting weights and used a lot of heat and ice to get rid of it. Now I have tingling in my left ring and pinky finger which from what I read is caused by the ulnar nerve in my left elbow. Here we go again...
 
NsXMas said:
LOL Bryan!!!!

NetViper - I also lift 3-4 times per week, and I play a ton of racquetball. I had tedonitis a while back. There is truly no therapy like rest. You need to lay off golf and other stuff that hurts your arms for 3-4 months, not just a month. Your arm is very inflamed, and time / rest will heal it.
Click to expand...

In addition to be totally shredded (despite eating like a king, damn you!! :biggrin:) Frank's totally right. Rest, rest, rest, rest, rest. I had one injury that took 8 months to heal. Every time I tried to work it out even lightly, it reset the clock back to day one. It was like torture not being able to work out, but you must do it if you want it to heal properly.
 
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nothing you can do but give it time and rest... I train heavy and I'm still very cautious of going heavy on certain movements..
 
NetViper said:
I used a flector patch. Did nothing.
Click to expand...

they're different.

a flector patch is like ibuprofen/nsaid in patch form

nitro patch is nitroglycerin that theoretically vasodilate the blood vessels underneath and possibly promote collagen synthesis and thus promote healing... hence the importance of combining it with, rest, stretch/exercises.
 
I called a different place today.

1st. $200 per visit. Out of Network.

2nd. In Network. They said with United it was $45 per visit., but they said he doesn't like doing that because they prefer cash at $75 per visit and $60 after that. So I am not sure why I wouldn't use United.:confused:
 
Hey Dave..... I will give it a "shot"

Any neck pain? any pain shooting down from the shoulder? Any recent trauma? Can u summarize what you have tried so far...meds, braces, P.T.?

BTW.. injections don't usally work for medial epicondylitis. They do for lateral(tennnis eblow) but not for medial.
 
NetViper said:
2nd. In Network. They said with United it was $45 per visit., but they said he doesn't like doing that because they prefer cash at $75 per visit and $60 after that. So I am not sure why I wouldn't use United.:confused:
Click to expand...

That sounds more in line with what I've been paying out of pocket here in Sacramento
 

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