Elbow Pain / Treatment

[ResonantEcho]

I have recently started experiencing pain in my right elbow. It feels as if it's bruised but it's not. In other words, it's tender to the touch in a few places. Also, when I squeeze anything with my hand (which is impossible not to do with us obviously) I feel a sharp pain in my forearm muscle. Or, if I lift anything of weight I experience pain in both (elbow and forearm).

I'm guessing I may have developed tendonitis. What have some of you all done to treat this? A simple elbow brace? As active as I am simply resting it other than when I'm sleeping is not possible.

[stephen212]

Originally Posted by ResonantEcho

I have recently started experiencing pain in my right elbow. It feels as if it's bruised but it's not. In other words, it's tender to the touch in a few places. Also, when I squeeze anything with my hand (which is impossible not to do with us obviously) I feel a sharp pain in my forearm muscle. Or, if I lift anything of weight I experience pain in both (elbow and forearm).

I'm guess I may have developed tendonitis. What have some of you all done to treat this? A simple elbow brace? As active as I am simply resting it other than when I'm sleeping is not possible.

You may have Golfer's Elbow (aka medial epicondylitis). I have a history of this as well. It first developed in my left elbow about 5 years ago and after many months it resolved. Contrary to the advice of an orthopedist I saw at the time to rest the elbow (to the extent possible) and stop working out at the gym, it turned out that the best treatment was returning to the gym. Coincidence? I don't know.

Presently I have the identical condition but now on my right elbow (I'm right handed), which was extremely tender to the touch and painful when flexing my arm against resistance (forcing me to drop out of the professional arm wrestling circuit). I received an injection of kenalog (a steroid) back in December and the symptoms disappeared entirely but have since returned. Now I am treating it by using a garden variety spring loaded hand gripper exerciser to strengthen the flexor group tendon attachment at the elbow and the pain has improved at least by 50%. I'm expecting it will resolve entirely with more time and exercise.

Many people also claim to have gotten relief by using this forearm band, which alters the vectors of muscular action around the elbow.

Check out this clip which features a product called the FlexTend. I have this as well, but my best result seems to be coming from the hand gripper. Take note of the stretching exercises, they're a very important component to treatment.



Finally, here's a website with dozens of testimonials about treating golfer's elbow. None specifically recommend using the hand gripper -- that suggestion came to me from a friend who's a physical therapist.

[crypticgimp]

i have triceps insertion tendonitis and nothing has really helped. exercise has been ok but once it flares i am just in agony until it decides to stop. was eating advil like candy!

[feisty]

Unfortunately I think the only way to reverse this is to start voting Democrat. You're screwed.

[ResonantEcho]

Originally Posted by feisty

Unfortunately I think the only way to reverse this is to start voting Democrat. You're screwed.

I won't consider voting Democrat this November so I guess I'll be screwed for at least another 4 years if this doesn't decide to heal.

[ResonantEcho]

Thanks, stephen212. Very good information. I'll give some of this a try and see if it helps.