Any information regarding lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow) treatments?
I have been suffering from "tennis elbow" in my right elbow (I am right handed) for the past 14 months. I also have lupus and my rheumatologist has been treating me at my routine visits for the elbow as well. He gave me hand outs of exercises & stretches to do which I have done faithfully and prescribed Mobic for inflammation. He has also done cortisone injections on 3 different occasions. The first injection provided excellent relief for 6 months. The next injection lasted 4 1/2 months and this last one never did provide any relief at all. He didn’t want to do anymore injections, referred me to physical therapy, and scheduled an appt. with an orthopaedic dr.
I have been going to physical therapy 3 times a week for the past month. They are doing ultrasound for 10 mins, then stretches, tendon excercises, iontophoresis for 25 mins, then ice for 10 mins.
After therapy the pain is about 50% better that day but by the next day it is back just as before.
I have noticed progressive weakness in my right arm and hand over the past year from me not being able to use it like before. It is extremely painful, tender, and lifting only the slightest of weight sends the pain radiating down to my hand.
I am a stay at home mom and do not participate in sports. Of course they say to stop doing the activity that is causing the injury. I don’t do any repetitive type activites they I am aware of (other than normal housework, etc).
My appt. with the ortho dr. is in 2 more weeks and I was just wondering what anyone with experience with this problem think my next step would be.
The handouts that I have list: 1. Rest, 2. Ice, 3. Anti Inflammatories, 4. Physical Therapy, 5. Cortisone Injections, 6. As final resort: Surgery.
I was hoping to avoid the surgery but I’m afraid we have already tried every other treatment without results.
I didn’t know how long the problem would need to persist before surgery would be considered.
Also, for anyone that has had surgery : was it beneficial and provide relief and also how long of a recovery period is required, and how difficult was the recovery.
Thank you in advance for any info.
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This is a great question and I see a lot of this in my practice. People come in with extremity complaints and have no idea what’s going on and they have "tried everything."
Quickly let me explain the anatomy of the Nervous System. The nerves that go to you shoulder, arm, elbow, and hands come from your neck. Sometimes these get impinged where they exit the neck and this causes the feeling of nerve entrapment in the shoulder, elbow and hands. Similar to what you are experiencing. Most MDs and PTs will treat the area that has the pain, but not the area that is CAUSING the pain.
So, when I get these patients, typically I simply adjust their neck and the pain starts to reside and the body is now allowed to heal ITSELF. No meds or surgery or gadgets involved. Try looking up your local Upper Cervical Specific Chiropractor (www.upper-cervical.com). Keep me updated! I hope this helps. You still have options!