No, I do not golf. It is like tennis elbow except medial, not lateral.
I had a problem with it last summer and finally went to a good orthopedist. I got a cortisone shot which was great for about 4 months. It is back and I am hoping for a magic cure. Not sure if more injections is what I want, but may go that route if nothing else works.
I am on NSAID’s. Have tried a strap above and below it. A doc gave me some voltaren gel. Still hurts the same
I know, I need to stop swimming and long rides which cause the greatest pain. Naturally, I have some big races coming up.
I can live with the pain, but was hoping there was an easier solution.
Find someone who does ART. I had the same problem after changing my swim stroke. ART fixed it.
Excellent! good to hear.
I don’t know what your history is.
Mine is a lifetime of physical labor, hard sport and stupid stuff like competetive arm wrestling and pushups.
Have both bursitis and “golfers elbow” in both elbows, and I’m afraid its chronic in my case. Its limiting in the sense that hard labor will absolutely inflame my elbows with the resultant swelling, pain, numbness and loss of sleep. NASIDS do help, but I try to stay off of them as much as possible.
Twice a year, (I actually schedule my work around this if possible), my Doc will allow Prednisone (which really helps) and a jug of Lortabs (which I dearly love!).
I just deal with the pain on the bike when all flares up. Swimming causes me no issues; you may need stroke help.
I only mention all of this in hopes that you can take care of your issue, and as a warning to not abuse it.
Best…Kai
You may want to find someone to do a PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma injection) injection under ultrasound in your chronic case. Some promising new research/results with chronic tendinosis/ligamentous issues.
Beside the treatments, find the source of the problem. Often it’s overgripping, possibly caused by a change of technique, attempt to drive further, change of driver (size of the grip), etc.
Karl - Sorry to hear about the elbow. As you already know, golfers elbow - or medial epicondylitis - is pain at/near the muscle insertion over the inside of the elbow. Sort of like tennis elbow but on the opposite side of the elbow and less frequent. It seems to occur in men more than women, dominant over non-dominant arm. Although pain is the predominant complaint, people will sometimes note forearm or hand weakness, numbness radiating into the hand, usually little finger and ring like when you hit your funny bone. I’ve had some folks complain of a just plain stiff elbow.
As noted above, you’d like to know why you “got” it. Was it overuse or repetition of placing the elbow in an overloaded state or was it a single forceful episode that over taxed the muscular origin? The diagnosis is usually made by your story and findings on physical exam. Often x-rays are obtained to look for arthritis, missed trauma, etc. Very rarely will someone think about an MRI.
In any event, I think you’ve done many of the right things from the strap, NSAIDs, etc. I’ve had very good success with PT/Occupational Therapists who’ve gotten the patient to be absolutely anal about stretching and icing among other things.
Failure of the above, in my office, gets a 2nd injection as they just seem to work. Very occasionally a surgical procedure will be needed but in most people’s hands, only after failure of an extensive conservative effort.
Thanks for the response. All have been helpful
My X-ray was negative (no pun indended)
I must have admit that I have been bad about icing. I may go in for a second injection if goes on much longer. Iam doing Calif 70.3 in a month and then Vinemna at the end of July. Trying to time it so it does the best good.
I have no idea about the cause. No trama I remember. Lots of cycling seems to be the most punishing on it.
It hurts worse in the middle of night, sleeping on it or not moving it? After it I move it around it feels better.
Any luck with ART or similar massage?
I had the same problem. It’s fairly slow to heal on its own (I had a two week business trip with nothing but running for workouts and it was still there).
For me the cause was how I was holding the brake hoods on my bike (swimming aggravated it, but was not the cause). I’ve started being very cognizant and careful about how my hands are positioned and this has solved the problem.
Yes, I seem to do better on the side of levers rther than in the top of road bars. Les stress on the outer finger muscles and flexors.
Is that what you’ve found?
Yup. My default position was to have my wrists bent outward, with the heels of my palms on the hoods. I now make an effort to grip the hoods the way I would the drops (i.e. with my thumb inline with my forearms).
I had similar problems a few years ago. My chiro had just been given a sample Zero Tension mouse to try and gave it to me as a test. My elbow got better in a matter of days and I avoided my chiro for six months because I was afraid he would ask for the mouse back.
I switched firms a few months ago and didn’t bring my mouse in for a few days. My elbow flared up and then I brought in the mouse and all pain subsided.
I found this link for it. http://www.ergodirect.com/product_info.php?products_id=15450
Looks weird and takes a bit of adjustment but I am a convert.
that is a great idea, looks cool too.
I will try using my left for the mouse and see if that helps.
Exactly, it does seem to help. I need to get on the tribike more now anyway, hope that helps too.
Physical Therapists are very well trained in both Golfer’s elbow (medial epicondylitis) and Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis). I am in my first year of DPT school, so if you still have a problem in 2 years, hit me up haha. But you should really check out a PT, it might only take one session, they will get you on a program, then you could see them for short ultrasound or TENS units followed by a great home exercise program.
You might want to look at the ASTYM website and see if there is a certified therapist in your area who performs the technique. ASTYM has a documented success rate of 93.3% with golfer’s elbow. I have been doing the technique for over 4 years and have been getting great results. What I like about ASTYM vs. some of the other instrumented-assisted techniques is that ASTYM was developed and researched by medical doctors and physical therapists, and they are still involved with the technique. Based on their research findings, how patients react, and the feeback from practitioners, the technique continues to evolve and improve from it’s beginning methods. In addition, if I have any questions or problems with the technique…for example, if my patient has diabetes or some other medical issue, I can call a doctor who can guide me. As a PT, I like to know that not only are my treatments effective, but also safe for my patients, and this group has helped me with that.
Thanks! I found a place around the corner that does ASTYM. I had not heard of it.
I was diagnost with carpel tunnel by a EMG (for cervical spine issue). No symptoms of carpel tunnel, but RMG suggested i. Do you think there is connection?
Anyway, I will follow through with the ASTYM.
Karl
Carpal Tunnel can cause pain to radiate from the wrist to the elbow and even into the shoulder, but it is an ache. If you have pain with palpation at the medial epicondyle and pain with resisted pronation and wrist flexion this is most likely medial epicondylitis. Medial epicondylitis is more often associated with cubital tunnel (ulnar nerve at the elbow). The EMG would have tested this area also.
I would recommend you do all of the above and this (frustrating) self limiting disease will go away within a years time. Or rest ice nsaids and it will also get better within one year.
Surgical treatment is not a good option and complications range from chronic pain to elbow instability (MCL tear - like the pitchers).
Sorry, but your post reminds me of a very old joke:
ART (active release therapy) or MFR (myofascial release) should actually CURE the problem (odds are it is a repetitive stress injury like most golfers elbows, etc.). Back when I was a practicing massage therapist, I saved a few people who were told their only option was to have surgery…