Anyone done Topaz procedure for TE/GE?

[widmerpool]

for tennis/golfer's elbow?
http://www.topazinfo.com/intl/physician/home/home.htm

i've had a long bout with golfer's elbow (from tennis) and the orthopaedist gave me a 2nd cortisone shot and said that if that doesn't work he would suggest Topaz. i've been diligently doing PT but I don't seem to be moving forward.

dr. said the old tendon debridement surgery could actually leave you worse off while Topaz has no down side.

he described Topaz as holes being bored into the "sick" part of the tendon to increase blood flow. says it takes 5 min.

anyway, that sounds a lot better than tearing my tendon of the bone and then reattaching it.

[El Guapo]

Deep massage usually clears it up very quickly. I'm talking about real, deep tissue massage. Very long, slow and painful but also highly effective.

[widmerpool]

El G,

Did you have a pretty persistent case before the massage therapy?

I guess the principle is the same, increase bloodflow to the sick area of the tendon.

[El Guapo]

Not me, but lots of people that I know. If you can get the muscles to relax and work properly, it takes a lot of tension off of the tendons and allows them to heal.

[widmerpool]

late follow-up.

I had the Topaz procedure done on Valentines Day

I've been doing curls and triceps work for the past month.

saw the Dr. this past Friday and he said "just go play".

without hitting, i'd say my elbow has gone from a 4 to an 8. but the big test will be this week.

[tennisdad65]

Originally Posted by El Guapo

Deep massage usually clears it up very quickly. I'm talking about real, deep tissue massage. Very long, slow and painful but also highly effective.

I agree.. I thought my TE would get chronic.. but deep tissue massage 3-4 times a day for the past 2 months has improved it a lot. I do not have any pain while playing or afterwards either.

I made a lot of gear and other changes but I believe it is the deep tissue massage that helped more than anything else..

[tennisdad65]

Originally Posted by widmerpool

late follow-up.

I had the Topaz procedure done on Valentines Day

I've been doing curls and triceps work for the past month.

saw the Dr. this past Friday and he said "just go play".

without hitting, i'd say my elbow has gone from a 4 to an 8. but the big test will be this week.

I am baffled by the advice from your doc to 'Just go play'

you may want to start slowly..
I would suggest the following sequence to ramp up:

1) hitting 50 forehand / backhand without the ball.. i.e. just practice the strokes for 2-3 days... if you have no pain..then

2) half paced volleys and half volleys for 1-2 days .. if you have no pain.. then

3) slice/push forehands and slice backhands (if one handed backhand).. for 3-4 playing sessions.

4) regular groundstrokes for 3-4 sessions.. but do not hit the felt off the ball...

5) Serves..

so you are looking at about 10-12 playing sessions before you can get to match play level..

I would also suggest a tennis elbow brace while playing, and icing immediately after.

Also deep tissue massage helped me a lot as I posted earlier.

[widmerpool]

yeah, he said to ease into it. i think your steps are a good guideline. i need to remember to ice more than i used to.

i don't think the doctor would agree on the elbow brace. either it's healed or it hasn't with this procedure.

Originally Posted by tennisdad65

I am baffled by the advice from your doc to 'Just go play'

you may want to start slowly..
I would suggest the following sequence to ramp up:

1) hitting 50 forehand / backhand without the ball.. i.e. just practice the strokes for 2-3 days... if you have no pain..then

2) half paced volleys and half volleys for 1-2 days .. if you have no pain.. then

3) slice/push forehands and slice backhands (if one handed backhand).. for 3-4 playing sessions.

4) regular groundstrokes for 3-4 sessions.. but do not hit the felt off the ball...

5) Serves..

so you are looking at about 10-12 playing sessions before you can get to match play level..

I would also suggest a tennis elbow brace while playing, and icing immediately after.

Also deep tissue massage helped me a lot as I posted earlier.