I am begining to think my tennis elbow will never heal completely

[jimanuel12]

Originally Posted by curvefan

I don't know if you use a one handed backhand when you play, but if you can learn to use a two hander that of course would help also.

My TE was really bad for a long time and I don't think it will ever fully go away.

I thought that I would need surgery also, but after a long rehab with no playing, I finally am back in the game.

I played with the two handed backhand which really helped, but I could never get comfortable with it, so I switched back to the one handed backhand and so far so good.

Ice is definitely your friend.

My regimen:

Prince Original Graphite OS with multifilament strings at around 55#.

Neoprene elbow sleeve with an aircast elbow strap over top of sleeve.

At least one days rest between matches. I'm 55!

Advil and lots of ice after playing.

So far the TE is in check, but if I cheat and try to play two days in a row, I can feel it trying to creep back.

I am no doc, but if you do the rehab and follow some of the good advice in this thread, you may be able to avoid surgery.

Good luck.........................

thanks for the advice, i am an older player (61) and have done all the things you mentioned.

ice after playing
use a elbow brace during play but i do not have the Neoprene elbow sleeve with an aircast elbow strap over top of sleeve.
i have just the elbow brace that goes around the arm.
where can i get one of the neoprene ones you mentioned?

i am also trying the penetrex cream that allot of people rave about, will see how it works too.

[mikeler]

^^^ Your local pharmacy should have the neoprene sleeves.

[curvefan]

Originally Posted by jimanuel12

thanks for the advice, i am an older player (61) and have done all the things you mentioned.

ice after playing
use a elbow brace during play but i do not have the Neoprene elbow sleeve with an aircast elbow strap over top of sleeve.
i have just the elbow brace that goes around the arm.
where can i get one of the neoprene ones you mentioned?

i am also trying the penetrex cream that allot of people rave about, will see how it works too.

Here's one at Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/Captain-Neopre.../dp/B001PT71Q6

I really don't know how much the neoprene sleeve helps.

I guess I use it to keep the elbow warm and it also offers some compression.

The aircast strap over top is just added compression and so far this set up is working for me.

Let us know how the cream works.

[jimanuel12]

Originally Posted by curvefan

Here's one at Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/Captain-Neopre.../dp/B001PT71Q6

I really don't know how much the neoprene sleeve helps.

I guess I use it to keep the elbow warm and it also offers some compression.

The aircast strap over top is just added compression and so far this set up is working for me.

Let us know how the cream works.

thanks, i will look into that sleeve.
i am using the penetrex cream now, for about 3 days, can't tell too much difference, but it may be too soon.
will let you know.

[jimanuel12]

Originally Posted by mikeler

^^^ Your local pharmacy should have the neoprene sleeves.

thanks - will look into that as well

[jimanuel12]

Originally Posted by curvefan

I don't know if you use a one handed backhand when you play, but if you can learn to use a two hander that of course would help also.

My TE was really bad for a long time and I don't think it will ever fully go away.

I thought that I would need surgery also, but after a long rehab with no playing, I finally am back in the game.

I played with the two handed backhand which really helped, but I could never get comfortable with it, so I switched back to the one handed backhand and so far so good.

Ice is definitely your friend.

My regimen:

Prince Original Graphite OS with multifilament strings at around 55#.

Neoprene elbow sleeve with an aircast elbow strap over top of sleeve.

At least one days rest between matches. I'm 55!

Advil and lots of ice after playing.

So far the TE is in check, but if I cheat and try to play two days in a row, I can feel it trying to creep back.

I am no doc, but if you do the rehab and follow some of the good advice in this thread, you may be able to avoid surgery.

Good luck.........................

i meant to add:

i switched to a fischer pro 105, strung with multifilament at 55lbs.
i also use a two hand backhand.
the wilson hammer did me in, i should have known better than to switch to a heavy head light weight racket, but the damage is already done.
it may never be the same again but will keep trying everything i can to avoid the surgery. i do not want to have the surgery.

[JackB1]

Originally Posted by curvefan

Here's one at Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/Captain-Neopre.../dp/B001PT71Q6

I really don't know how much the neoprene sleeve helps.

I guess I use it to keep the elbow warm and it also offers some compression.

The aircast strap over top is just added compression and so far this set up is working for me.

Let us know how the cream works.

They do sell neoprene sleeves with a built in "TE" band. Here is one:
http://cgi.*e*bay.com/LP-Tennis-Elbo...item35a8e7a829
I like using the sleeve to warm up because it provides compression and warmth to a cold elbow. But I prefer just a "Band-It" by itself for most of the time.

[jimanuel12]

Originally Posted by JackB1

They do sell neoprene sleeves with a built in "TE" band. Here is one:
http://cgi.*e*bay.com/LP-Tennis-Elbo...item35a8e7a829
I like using the sleeve to warm up because it provides compression and warmth to a cold elbow. But I prefer just a "Band-It" by itself for most of the time.

i found one this morning on the net, have already ordered it.
should be to my home by friday, thanks.

[cprox]

I tried everything to resolve my tennis elbow pain: wraps, ice, rubs, physical therapy (including deep massage), "elbow friendly" racquet strung at low tension with gut, even 6 months off. Finally, I got an MRI and I had a 90% tear in my extensor tendon which required surgery to repair. After another 6 months off for rehab I'm playing 5 days per week with a ProKennex PSE 20 strung with Babolat 17 gauge gut at 53... totally pain free. So, there can be a resolution to elbow pain if you get the right diagnosis. GOOD LUCK!

[ollinger]

cprox
nice illustration of the danger of recommending remedies to people who haven't had a good diagnostic assessment, as goes on here all the time.

[Suezee]

Check out my thread titled "is it tendinitis or tendinosis?" I am a physical therapist who is fairly familiar with tendon problems, and understanding degenerative tendinopathies might help you understand why your problem is such a challenge to recover from. The treatment I eventually describe is called ASTYM, and it has a success rate of about 90% with lateral epicondylosis. As a tennis player myself, I treat alot of people from my club, so my reputation depends on it! This specific treatment can really get you started, and you may find that some of the other recommendations like raquet type, hand position, and strings can then really make a difference. (Those subjects are definitely NOT something I know about). Anyway, check out the thread and see what you think. I have an idea how frustrated you feel. I was out of the game for 7 months with a shoulder injury and just recently got back to playing. Can't get any games off my 15 year old son, but I'll keep trying.

[mikeler]

Originally Posted by Suezee

Check out my thread titled "is it tendinitis or tendinosis?" I am a physical therapist who is fairly familiar with tendon problems, and understanding degenerative tendinopathies might help you understand why your problem is such a challenge to recover from. The treatment I eventually describe is called ASTYM, and it has a success rate of about 90% with lateral epicondylosis. As a tennis player myself, I treat alot of people from my club, so my reputation depends on it! This specific treatment can really get you started, and you may find that some of the other recommendations like raquet type, hand position, and strings can then really make a difference. (Those subjects are definitely NOT something I know about). Anyway, check out the thread and see what you think. I have an idea how frustrated you feel. I was out of the game for 7 months with a shoulder injury and just recently got back to playing. Can't get any games off my 15 year old son, but I'll keep trying.

This was a very informative thread and I highly recommend searching for it to anyone experiencing elbow issues. While I did not use this particular therapy, I was getting ready to try it when I got a severe stomach bug. After that, my elbow got way better. If anybody can figure that one out, let me know!

[jimanuel12]

Originally Posted by Suezee

Check out my thread titled "is it tendinitis or tendinosis?" I am a physical therapist who is fairly familiar with tendon problems, and understanding degenerative tendinopathies might help you understand why your problem is such a challenge to recover from. The treatment I eventually describe is called ASTYM, and it has a success rate of about 90% with lateral epicondylosis. As a tennis player myself, I treat alot of people from my club, so my reputation depends on it! This specific treatment can really get you started, and you may find that some of the other recommendations like raquet type, hand position, and strings can then really make a difference. (Those subjects are definitely NOT something I know about). Anyway, check out the thread and see what you think. I have an idea how frustrated you feel. I was out of the game for 7 months with a shoulder injury and just recently got back to playing. Can't get any games off my 15 year old son, but I'll keep trying.

thank you very much for the information, i checked it out and i have a clinic here in my home town.
if this thing does not heal soon, i will check it out and see what happens.
by the way, i am using the penetrex cream and it does seem to be improving since i started the cream, sounds crazy but the arm is better.

[Suezee]

Originally Posted by mikeler

This was a very informative thread and I highly recommend searching for it to anyone experiencing elbow issues. While I did not use this particular therapy, I was getting ready to try it when I got a severe stomach bug. After that, my elbow got way better. If anybody can figure that one out, let me know!

This is off the current subject, but did you take anti-biotics when you had your stomach bug?

[Slazenger07]

Originally Posted by jimanuel12

thanks, i will look into that sleeve.
i am using the penetrex cream now, for about 3 days, can't tell too much difference, but it may be too soon.
will let you know.

Yea thats not enough time, you'll need to use it for a week or two, depending on the severity of it, before you'll start to notice a big difference.

[Slazenger07]

Originally Posted by jimanuel12

thank you very much for the information, i checked it out and i have a clinic here in my home town.
if this thing does not heal soon, i will check it out and see what happens.
by the way, i am using the penetrex cream and it does seem to be improving since i started the cream, sounds crazy but the arm is better.

Told ya man, somehow this stuff works. Great product

[jimanuel12]

Originally Posted by Slazenger07

Told ya man, somehow this stuff works. Great product

so far, so good, i can tell a little difference. not willing to call it a miracle cream yet, but will wait and see.
hope it works for me, i do not want to start another theray right now.
thanks

[mikeler]

Originally Posted by Suezee

This is off the current subject, but did you take anti-biotics when you had your stomach bug?

I did not take anything during that time except for gallons of Gatorade.

[jimanuel12]

Originally Posted by Slazenger07

Use Penetrex Cream...its awesome, Ive had chronic T.E. for a couple years now, I have used Penetrex 3-4 times a day for two weeks and it feels so good I actually played for a little while without my elbow brace the other day, which I havent been able to do in forever.

i meant to ask you, do you use the flexbar exercises also or just the cream and leave out the exercises until the arm is better?

[Slazenger07]

I dont use a flexbar, just the cream. My arm felt great playing for 3 hours yesterday...no pain.