Any Tennis Elbow Success Stories?

[hazyblue]

Anyone? I could really use one.

I've been diagnosed with tennis elbow and prescribed with pain relief patches. They said there's no need for rest. Given such light treatment people could say I should not be worrying. But it's hard not to worry when you are affected both arms and the pain has worsened, and the doctors that you've seen had dismissed the need to examine you further than an x-ray of just one elbow. It's hard not to worry when, even if I wear braces, other parts of my elbow hurt when I lift. It's hard not to worry when my elbows are crying for rest but I can't use my paid leave because the doctors don't think there is a need.

Given the chance I want to be absent from work but keeping this job is important to get me back to being a nurse. I'm currently working as some nursing assistant.

P.S. Am I over-reacting with my desire to rest? If I remember correctly, if you have any joint injuries, you're supposed to not strain it further. Is there a new update that I missed wherein rest is not important?

Thanks in advance.

[AnnieOaklyRN, BSN, RN, EMT-P]

Only your physicians can tell you what is appropriate as far as your diagnosis goes. We are not physicians here so we cannot tell you what is best for your elbow. Please seek a second opinion if you feel your physician is not giving you the answer you are looking for.

ANnie

[hazyblue]

Sorry, apparently, my post wasn't clear.

Point 1: I'm overwhelmed with my tennis elbow. Overwhelmed enough that it may affect my career. Thus, I am looking for people who beat this problem.

Point 2: I was wondering if the immediate care for joint injuries in general is no longer Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation. Is it?

I'm sorry if I appeared to be looking for medical advice. I was just describing my feelings. Again, sorry.

[roser13, ASN, RN]

Tennis elbow does not involve the elbow joint, so it is not a joint condition.

Wear wrist cock-up splints, particularly at night. Routinely massage the lateral aspect of your elbow, just where the muscle mass meets the bone. Wear a pneumatic bubble wrap on that same spot where you're massaging.

This is not medical advice. It is passing along PT tricks that I learned.

[berrylion]

What I found helpful is Egoscue exercises. Go to youtube and look for egoscue exercises for tennis elbow.

They may look strange but they work. There is also a book called pain free at your pc. In that book there is a set of exercises that you do when in pain.

Hope this is helpful !

[hazyblue]

So you good people didn't have to stop working or have to limit heavy work, and your elbows didn't worsen? My colleagues are kind enough to limit my workload but such a thing makes me feel useless/dispensable and I do want to return to the usual.

[nursej22, MSN, RN]

I had lateral epicondylitis as a result of pulling arterial sheaths. It was considered work related injury. I was prescribed an anti-inflammatory for a few weeks and referred to a wonderful occupational therapist, and slowly the pain went away.

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

Best wishes - please contact your provider for further info.