Bill - Still suffering from Lateral Epicondylitis

[canuckguy]

Bill:

When we were in LR, you worked on my left elbow, which yielded some short term relief. Since then I've had a couple of other PT sessions, involving ultrasound and accupuncture (with electro-stimulation). I also met with a Chiropractor the other day who practises something called "Trigenics" (I know, sounds too close to Dianetics). Again, good short term relief.

However, being dumb and stubborn, I haven't really give it enough time to heal completely, and now it seems worse than ever. Two days in a row of cleans and snatches certainly didn't help.

I'm pretty sure that the movement patterns from those cleans and snatches are a major factor, so I guess I'll just have to eliminate them from my program, at least for the time being. And work on technique if/when I am ready to re-introduce them.

QUESTIONS:

Could tricep extensions also be an issue, in terms of the stress they would put on the joint? Any other exercises that I should be concerned with?

Any treatment recommendations, other than rest & ice? I know you weren't keen on the ultrasound therapy. What should I be asking my PT for instead?

Anything else I can do at home, beyond rubbing it with a spoon, as you recommended in LR?

Thanks for your help.


Blair


PS: Thanks too, for your quick reply to my son, Adrien.

[Bill Hartman]

I just started messing with Trigenics. I don't like it much compared to what I already do.

Anyway, avoid exercises with a pronated grip against gravity like the ones you mentioned. The exception is a eccentric wrist extension that bryanc posted on here a long time ago. Do a search and you should find it in the rehab section under lateral epicondylitis or bryanc.

As far as treatment goes, they can stick the ultrasound. Not going to do anything for you.

Get some instrument assisted soft-tissue mobilization (AKA IASTM, or SASTM, or ASTYM, or just ASTM). Lateral elbow pain usually isn't inflammatory at the stage that you're at...it's degenerative so you need to create an inflammatory situation so you can heal. ASTM does that rather quickly and it's focal so it doesn't screw up much else.

So there's your plan. Enjoy.

Bill