Advice: Tennis Elbow?

**bikemike** · 9th July 2009, 21:52

Ouch. Doc says I have tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis). I'm a desk jockey but been doing some heavy manual work again (denailing a pile of wood and cleaning up 500 used bricks, by hand) and I got some pain that dies away, and then on applying more work, the pain came back.

I went to physio and since I've caught the problem within about two weeks this means I have a good prognosis. But it seems like it can be pretty serious and even as it is it will take a couple of months to come right. Apparently some people leave it for months and by the time they de-staunch and seek help, it's too late.

Got lots of exercises to do and I have to use an elbow brace.

I have to practice rolling the wrist over. Bend it up, grasp a weight and roll off slowly. Remove weight with other hand, re-raise the affected side, grasp weight and roll off again. Also towel twist type actions, with the affected side rolling over, the other wrist rolling up. That is I am to keep doing roll-offs and not roll-ons!

At the moment, I am very comfy on the bike with no pain, and at this stage it seems less stressful for the injury than being on the pushbike which even with front suspension does send pain up the arm. Putting gloves on is the only painful bit.

I have difficulty grasping tightly and prolonged mouse use without rest is now clearly an aggravating factor that I will have to manage.

Any professional advise on how I ensure I get through this without further problems? I'm doing the exercises and am using the brace when I can. I don't want time off the bike - I've had one year off in 26! Anyone else done the therapy and healed up fine?

**PrincessBandit** · 9th July 2009, 21:56

I'd be interested in responses too as I get acute pain through the elbow of my right arm (part result of injury earlier in the year). After about 30 mins on the bike the pain is almost unbearable and only relieved by stopping (roadside or at lights) and resting my arm on the tank.
I probably should try a brace, but would like to know how you get on bikemike.

Dawn

**Mikkel** · 9th July 2009, 22:10

Originally Posted by bikemike

Any professional advise on how I ensure I get through this without further problems?

Dr. Chopper Reed prescribes that you harden the fuck up!

It's worked for me in the past too - keep on doing what you can without causing too much strain. If you can't be arsed talking to a real professional - i.e. a medical doctor (a regular one, not a shaman, witchdoctor or herbal healer) - you could consider consulting wikipedia, the section will most likely have been written by one.

**PrincessBandit** · 9th July 2009, 22:13

Originally Posted by Mikkel

Dr. Chopper Reed prescribes that you harden the fuck up!

It's worked for me in the past too - keep on doing what you can without causing too much strain. If you can't be arsed talking to a real professional - i.e. a medical doctor (a regular one, not a shaman, witchdoctor or herbal healer) - you could consider consulting wikipedia, the section will most likely have been written by one.

I musta run outta HTFU pills, so I'm doing my best without 'em. No harm in asking how to alleviate it if there's an answer out there though (other than aforementioned pills). Thank you for your professional answer.

**Headbanger** · 9th July 2009, 22:15

My Doc suggested I stop doing crap to strain em and eventually it would be sweet. And that was the extent of the treatment.

Does it hurt when you do this?

It does, right, don't do that then, That will be $50 thanks

Don't know how long it took, It just occurred to me a few months later that I hadn't had any pain for awhile.

**Headbanger** · 9th July 2009, 22:19

While we are on the subject, Does anyone else go to the doctor due to pain and then tell the doctor it doesn't hurt?

WTF is that about?

**Mom** · 9th July 2009, 22:21

I cant offer any professional advice on it, but I can comment. I have tennis elbow, it is a pain and very frustrating. Mine has settled for the most part, I actually forget I have it until I go to pick something up! Oh yeah, I remeber I cant do that or it hurts! Apart fromthat I think I have simply dialled up my pain tolerance and ignore it.

I have a support band to wear, helps with grip, but it also means muscle loss in my forearm, so I dont use it unless I have wound the thing up again and cant pick anything up unless I wear it.

I still ride. Started off being very worried about my ability to manage, but it seems to be ok. I dont pay any more for going for a ride than I do from grocery shopping. I have to shop, I have to ride.

It is a painful condition, and in my case probably chronic.

Hope yours comes right.

**Icemaestro** · 9th July 2009, 22:57

Pretty common injury - I'm in my last year of physio training working at a private practice - that's the standard treatment ay, just make sure you really do try avoid aggravating activities ay - more you can do that the less your going to stir it up, the faster the pain will go. One thing that may help is MWM's (if your physio hasn't already tried them) - with the physio holding a glide on your forearm as you do a painful movement - should result in pain free movement while the glide is on, and hopefully decrease your pain following treatment.

Cheers,

Mathieu.

**Icemaestro** · 9th July 2009, 23:00

As with anything that involves muscle strengthening - in this case strengthening damaged tendons that haven't healed right, it will take time. You think about how long it takes to strengthen your biceps or something for example - a good 4 weeks (not taking into account the initial gains made if you're a newbie to doing any weights - alot of that will be neuromuscular control)...you're dealing with tendon (therefore longer healing time than muscle belly) and something that's damaged. keep up the exercises every day, avoid the activities, do the pain relieving stuff with the physio and you'll be fine in 2-3 months if everything goes well :-)

**bikemike** · 10th July 2009, 09:02

cheers for that. What's MVM?

Riding the bike at the moment is pain free which is bloody great. Picking up a big cup of coffee on my desk, ouch. I have to switch to my strong arm!

So nothing specific about the bike, which is good so far. Physio had no idea about riding a bike, happy to take his advice on the rest :-)

**howdamnhard** · 10th July 2009, 09:09

Check out the " about.com " website. They have some good medical articles.

**bikemike** · 10th July 2009, 09:25

BTW, I already have my levers down so the line down my arm goes straight down the back of my hand without a kink - while riding normally on the road. On the GS that's rotating them down a bit from standard, and on the 04/05 there is a campaign sticker to be added to the inside of the handguard warning you about the risk of snagging the levers if you do this!

If I left them in the normal position It would be too sore to ride. Changed them in the first week :-)