Do I Still Have TE?

JackB1 · Dec 2, 2009

OK, here's my story.....

I got back into tennis 3 months ago and played A LOT to start off with, with bad technique and an awful 1HBH and stiff racquet. I have since learned technique, switched to a 2HBH and a flexible racquet and things are much better, but......I still have pain, mostly after I play. If I straighten my arm out completely and stretch out my fingers, I feel a pain on the outside of my elbow. If I relax my arm, I feel nothing. It's not a terrible pain, but it's like a mild, sharp pain and I get it after every time I play. It subsides after a day or 2. Is this still my lingering TE? Can I just accept this as part of the deal and keep playing with it? I always ice after playing and take Aleve afterwards. I can play almost every day and I really don't feel it during play, unless I fully extend my arm on an overhead or similar shot.

Is this typical for a 50 yr old guy? Any advice would be appreciated.

Mazilla2219 · Dec 2, 2009

Is any other part of your body sore? If so, lets chalk it up to old age, but from what you are describing it does sound like your TE is lingering. Did you rest at all when you felt the original pain? From what you stated you've already tried ICE and NSAIDS and the pain still remains after you play. From my experience with my medial TE (pain on the inside of my arm near the elbow with palm facing up.) I had tried taking NSIADS and ICE and had to resort to stop playing for an extended period of time 1-2 weeks. After that I started up slowing playing again (1-2 days a week) with doing some forearm workouts in between. Take a rest from tennis for awhile, focus on your coniditioning in the interim. If it hurts let it rest.

JackB1 · Dec 2, 2009

Mazilla2219 said:
Is any other part of your body sore? If so, lets chalk it up to old age, but from what you are describing it does sound like your TE is lingering. Did you rest at all when you felt the original pain? From what you stated you've already tried ICE and NSAIDS and the pain still remains after you play. From my experience with my medial TE (pain on the inside of my arm near the elbow with palm facing up.) I had tried taking NSIADS and ICE and had to resort to stop playing for an extended period of time 1-2 weeks. After that I started up slowing playing again (1-2 days a week) with doing some forearm workouts in between. Take a rest from tennis for awhile, focus on your coniditioning in the interim. If it hurts let it rest.

It is lingering, but it's not getting worse and is slowly getting better. WHen it began and was really bad, I did take about 1 week off, but that's it. I then continued to play 2-4 times per week.

I was just wondering how many guys continue to play with this minor pain afterwards and if it's not getting worse, is there any risk?

mike53 · Dec 2, 2009

JackB1 said:
Can I just accept this as part of the deal and keep playing with it? I always ice after playing and take Aleve afterwards.

Yes you can, but you will be accepting the risk that is will get worse with time. Getting yourself on an every other day targeted program like this:

http://orthopedics.about.com/gi/o.h...=0&zu=http://www.eatonhand.com/hw/nirschl.htm

would probably keep your elbow healthy indefinitely. And I might cut back on the ice and aleve unless you have visible swelling or a recent trauma. The goal is 100% range of motion, non-medicated pain free during your tennis.

yemenmocha · Dec 2, 2009

You don't want it worse. I had 6 months off with therapy and cortisone, then a failed comeback, and now almost 12 months later I'm still not able to hit.

This is far worse than breaking your arm or leg (which heals much faster).

Take this very, very seriously.

Mazilla2219 · Dec 2, 2009

JackB1 said:
I then continued to play 2-4 times per week.

I was just wondering how many guys continue to play with this minor pain afterwards and if it's not getting worse, is there any risk?

Is this 2-4x/week in a row or spaced out, if the pain is minor and you still want to play at least space it out as someone else mentioned. I still get a twinge around the arm area every once in awhile, but I am still doing some therapy.

tstar · Dec 2, 2009

JackB1 said:
I have since learned technique, switched to a 2HBH and a flexible racquet

What racquet are you using. I also got back into tennis this past summer and the last time I've swung a racquet was 10-31. I'm doing some PT and ice, but a flexible racquet is probably some I should consider.

Thanks,

Tony

Mazilla2219 · Dec 2, 2009

tstar said:
JackB1 said:

I have since learned technique, switched to a 2HBH and a flexible racquet

What racquet are you using. I also got back into tennis this past summer and the last time I've swung a racquet was 10-31. I'm doing some PT and ice, but a flexible racquet is probably some I should consider.

Thanks,

Tony

Click to expand...

Tony, what racquet were you using prior?

tstar · Dec 2, 2009

tstar said:
Tony, what racquet were you using prior?

The Head TI.S6 which I now realize is to stiff, but I like this racquet. I was thinking of going natural gut at the lowest tension, but maybe a new flex type stick is in my future.

JackB1 · Dec 2, 2009

tstar said:
JackB1 said:

I have since learned technique, switched to a 2HBH and a flexible racquet

What racquet are you using. I also got back into tennis this past summer and the last time I've swung a racquet was 10-31. I'm doing some PT and ice, but a flexible racquet is probably some I should consider.

Thanks,

Tony

Click to expand...

I currently use a Head Youtek Radical Pro, which is very good for the arm.

tstar · Dec 2, 2009

JackB1 said:
tstar said:

I currently use a Head Youtek Radical Pro, which is very good for the arm.

Click to expand...

I saw in another thread that you previously had the RDiS 300. What did you like and dislike about the Yonex? Sorry about the thread drift:shock:

JackB1 · Dec 2, 2009

tstar said:
JackB1 said:

I saw in another thread that you previously had the RDiS 300. What did you like and dislike about the Yonex? Sorry about the thread drift:shock:

Click to expand...

I liked everything about it EXCEPT it felt a little stiff for me.

Bud · Dec 2, 2009

JackB1 said:
It is lingering, but it's not getting worse and is slowly getting better. WHen it began and was really bad, I did take about 1 week off, but that's it. I then continued to play 2-4 times per week.

I was just wondering how many guys continue to play with this minor pain afterwards and if it's not getting worse, is there any risk?

Check out the DMSO thread

http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=212795&highlight=dmso&page=2

My experience starts on post #27

Also, what frame and strings are you currently using?

JackB1 · Dec 2, 2009

Bud said:
Check out the DMSO thread

http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=212795&highlight=dmso&page=2

My experience starts on post #27

Also, what frame and strings are you currently using?

What the heck is DMSO exactly and where do I buy it? Isn't it toxic?

86golf · Dec 2, 2009

If you are having pain even after taking Aleve, then yes you have some TE issues. It would be my opinion to get off the Aleve, drop tennis for 2 weeks, use heat and stretching exercises that others have recommended.

For me that has really helped. Playing and icing is just going to continue to inflam those tendons.

Bud · Dec 2, 2009

JackB1 said:
What the heck is DMSO exactly and where do I buy it? Isn't it toxic?

*hint*

Read the thread

JackB1 · Dec 3, 2009

Bud said:
*hint*

Read the thread

I did! The thread mostly talks about guys applying it and experiences, but doesn't really explain what it is.

mike53 · Dec 3, 2009

JackB1 said:
I did! The thread mostly talks about guys applying it and experiences, but doesn't really explain what it is.

It's a chemical solvent that can be used as a pain reliever.

JackB1 · Dec 3, 2009

mike53 said:
It's a chemical solvent that can be used as a pain reliever.

so it won't help to cure anything then? it will just mask the pain?

isnt that similar to those "heat rubs" like Ben-Gay?

mike53 · Dec 3, 2009

That's what I would suppose. Back in the 80's I tried dissolving crushed aspirin tablets in DMSO and applying the mixture to an inflamed 1st mtp joint. The solvent properties of the DMSO penetrate the skin and carried the aspirin directly into the joint sac. But I quit that and solved the problem with better shoes and improved technique.

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