" extensive tear of common extensor tendon"

[topsltennis]

I have had many bouts with elbow injuries over the past several years... they have gotten increasingly worse... about 3 months ago I was doing a hitting lesson with a high level junior, went to hit a FH and felt an incredible pain shoot through the outside of my elbow causing me to drop my racquet and not be able to finish the lesson...for the next 3 weeks or so I had so much pain I was forced to hit a 2 handed BH which I had never really hit because I literally could not swing with one hand... every shot hurt on impact, but like so many times before, I powered through and eventually the pain began to subside... but... I developed this big , swelling looking area on the top, outside of the elbow...

I finally was able to get an MRI about 2 weeks ago... I got a copy of the CD and gave it to one of my clients who is a Dr. (not an orthopedic) but he said it looked like I had torn it previously, retorn it, and the swelling area was not swelling, but actual bone growth filling in where the tendon tore!

The clinic called subsequent to him viewing the MRI and said they saw 'an extensive tear of the common extensor tendon" and are referring me to an orthepedic clinic for follow up....

The strange thing is that I am able to play at pretty much full speed, moderate pain at times at impact, not much... and maybe some moderate pain at night if I had a long day on court...

This is all very interesting, I do this for a living and don't know what to expect when I get to the orthepedic whenever that might be...

any experts, your thoughts? what should I expect?? Is this surgery or rest? Either aren't really an option and since I'm playing ok, I don't know what to think... I guess my concern is the next time I injure it further because it seems to get worse each time....

 

[scotus]

Sorry to hear all that. You're probably getting a great deal of calcification where the tendons repeatedly tore.

At this point, you need to make an appointment with the orthopod you have been referred to and hear what s/he has to say. If you don't like what you hear, then get a second, third opinions from other qualified doctors in that field. Would not hurt to see someone who does prolotherapy and hear about that option as well.

I wish you all the best.

 

[topsltennis]

thanks for the reply... really strange injury how the pain was so horrible and has subsided, yet the tear is still there

 

[scotus]

One of the best things you can do while you get your elbow treated is either get a ball machine or hire someone to feed balls to your students, so you can focus on coaching without doing further damage to your arm.

 

[RogueFLIP]

Glad to hear that you've been feeling better since that last thread you had, but basically you've got a ticking time bomb on your elbow there. How long till it goes is anyone's guess.

The scar tissue and calcification of the tendon has compromised the structural integrity of the tissue, decreasing it's elastic ability.
Could also lead to bone spurs on the elbow or bone chips on the elbow. Those in of itself isn't dangerous unless some of its edges start causing friction into the surrounding tissue.

I know you can't stop playing, and in some way playing is keeping the mobility of the tissue active. I'd just try to learn wrist/forearm/elbow/shoulder stretches. Use a tennis ball/foam roller to try to break up tightness or spasms in the entire arm. Keep everything loosey goosey.