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Dear group: Thanks to all who contributed. I included all the responses I've gotten because many of them contained unique and valuable information. I've decided to start with acupuncture. ************************************************************************ * Hi--I too have had tennis elbow--I have found that deep tissue massage (shiatsu/Swedish combo) has helped quite a bit. ************************************************************************ * Have you tried acupuncture? I have had success with elbow issues as well as carpal tunnel. Chiropractic care has also helped, but not as much. ************************************************************************ * I got a brace that is about 3 inches wide and goes around my arm when I do activities that aggravate the tennis elbow. I wish I could claim that it was actually playing tennis, but the truth is it's from crocheting. ************************************************************************ * If there is a qualified acupuncturist in your area, I would highly recommend that. I have had acupuncture for other things, and really, really, you do not feel the needles unless the doctor gets in the exact WRONG spot. I only had that happen once, and the doctor moved the needle 1 mm, and it was fine. ************************************************************************ * I fully understand your elbow predicament. I haven't played tennis for almost 40 years, the last when it was required in HS. But, the books and other things take a toll. I was wearing an arm band on each, the kind that cost $50 with prescription and insurance (this is after trying every other kind I had seen anywhere.) It was on a day I took my daughter to the chiropractor in the summer after doing 10 BOCES summer classes with storytelling, much of it signed and it was 90+ degrees and I was sweating something awful under those arm bands, the chiropractor looked at me and said I looked like Hell. How right he was. He said he could probably help with a process called "stripping the muscles". OK, it sounded awful, but at that point I was willing to try anything. (My doctor was more than willing to give me a referral since he had a whole long list of anti-inflammatory drugs we had tried, cortisone shots, PT, PT with some electric thing for the cortisone, and I don't know what all else.) So the chiropractor warned me that I would want someone else to drive me home after the treatment, and he was so right. He used ultrasound for heating the insides of the arms and then worked on stretching the muscles, which had atrophied and shortened greatly, over the years (nearly 5) of wearing the bands. At first I was there 3 days/week, then over the next six months it was gradually reduced to two, then once, then monthly. I have been on an "as needed" basis ever since, which means about every 6 weeks, unless I get into trouble. I still keep a band with me for the "in case" preventative measure such as moving a whole stack of books, but mostly I don't think about them. I do need to take ibuprofen at night to keep the inflammation under control, but that is minor and much less than I was taking before. It was truly a miracle cure and much better than drugs that made me sleepy. I have since been going twice a week to the Y for an aerobics/strength training class, so the weights help with the arms too. I have always been a swimmer, but for quite a while I used to need arm bands even to swim (not the good ones which would have disintegrated in the chlorine, but other ones), and the swimming seems to help strengthen the arms. The doctor says it is not contagious, but my husband has been having trouble for nearly as long as I have. He never had it as bad, so rarely visits the chiropractor and is OK just with the simple hand exercises we were given. He too hefts books, but not on a daily basis (he is a title searcher and the older indexes are still in big books, the new on-line). Sorry to have rambled so, but I would encourage finding a good chiropractor and asking for help. It made a world of difference for me. ************************************************************************ * I have tennis elbow also. There was quite a thread about tennis elbow a few years ago. The condition seems to be prevalent among librarians. You might search the archives. ************************************************************************ * While I haven't had tennis elbow, I suffered for years with a bad back before having surgery. After surgery I was told that I would always be without feeling in my calves. Two years later I tried acupuncture for another condition and was amazed to find that within two sessions, not only did I feel better than I had in a long time, but I also had complete feeling in my legs! For chronic problems, acupuncture can far outperform much traditional medicine. Don't let the idea of needles scare you; it really is quite relaxing! ************************************************************************ * I use a topical over the counter cream called Joint Flex - available at any drug store. I also found my tennis elbow was aggravated by not having my elbow supported when using my computer mouse! My computer is in a cramped space so I bought a chair with arms that were the same height as the mouse for elbow support. ************************************************************************ * I had a year-long bout with tennis elbow, etc., last year and tried numerous treatments, including most of the ones you have. What finally worked was I went to see an acupuncturist. The acupuncture treatments with the needles didn't seem to help much, but she burned an herb and used it to heat up my injured arm, which did seem to help. Then she gave me poultices to use for several weeks and they seemed to make the difference. After my second round of poultice treatment, I finally turned the corner. Another thing that helped was that after two rounds of physical therapy with your regular, sports physical therapists, I went to see two doctors who were hand and arm specialists. They both told me to see a certified hand physical therapist, who specialized only in working with people with hand and arm injuries. I ended up seeing a wonderful hand therapist. Most of the treatments she tried didn't seem to help, but she was a great person to talk to about my arm and how it felt, etc., and she gave me these grip tests which showed my progress, or lack of progress, etc. The bottom line is I was able to start playing tennis again last spring, and I can reach for bottles, books, etc. now without grimacing in pain or using my left arm to avoid feeling pain in my right arm. I'm not 100 percent better, and may never be at that stage, but based on how I had been feeling, it feels like I am! Good luck! The bottom line is keeping trying things until something works. If the second round of poultices hadn't worked, I would have tried a new experimental treatment the third hand specialist I saw had told me about! ************************************************************************ * Thanks for posting this. I too am very concerned about it. Some things that might help: get a barcode scanner that can be put on a stand and stop using the hand trigger. Use a sheet of black construction paper under the holder so the scanner doesn't try to "read" the pattern on the countertop. Avoid grasping a full hand of books, get student help with shelving if you don't have an assistant. Aspercreme has been helpful to me - better a topical rather than taking a pill. I also need to get better garden cutting tools - or a gardener - to trim rose bushes, etc. with thick canes. ************************************************************************ * I feel your pain! I had a bout with this a few years ago, brought on my trying to chop my car out of the ice and emptying a drop box that was filled to overflowing and the books were all stuck in the top so I couldn't even open the door! I wore an "air pack" device around my arm. It's an armband that has a velcro closure and a little packet of air in the middle. The packet goes over the sore spot and acts to keep the tendons and stuff in the arm from moving when you move your arm. It was SUCH a relief!! I wore it constantly during the day for a few months, then less as time went by. Altogether it took about a year to clear it up, but in the meantime I was able to be relatively pain free without drugs while wearing it. It cost about $25 at a home health care store. It is hand washable. ************************************************************************ * To help prevent recurrence of the injury, I also wear it when I'm going to be doing a job with a lot of repetition, like inventory, where I spend several continuous hours pulling books off the shelf and replacing them. If I were shelving constantly, I'd probably wear it more often. I highly recommend this treatment! ************************************************************************ * I have had it for over 25 years. One of the first people I saw said the best thing to do for it was nothing and to do it all day long and while I can't to that it does create a mindset. I have learned what is sure to cause a flare-up and avoid those tasks or activities. I avoid using screwdrivers, hammers except when necessary. Other things, like using computers, I can't avoid but try to use good ergonomics. And some things like cooking, I continue to do knowing it might cause a problem. Rest is very effective. I also take Neurontin which is effective for both my arthritis and tendonitis. ************************************************************************ * Have you tried one of those arm bands (w/velcro)? My husband and I have had success with it. You wear it just below the elbow. I think I'm seeing joggers with them now, just below the knee. Worth a try! I have had it off and on over the years...the best solution and remedy I found was to purchase a "band" that wrapped around my arm just below the elbow. You can purchase one at any drugstore or pharmacy that carries arm and knee braces. When I finally discovered the cause of the pain this made sense and it worked for me. The nerve that runs down the arm apparently "slips" out of the "groove that runs over the elbow. What happens is that it slips out and causes stress on the tendons and muscles in your arm and hand. This band keeps everything in place so that it can get better. I at one time couldn't even pick up a glass with my right hand because of this and as soon as I started wearing the band that was corrected. I can't guarantee this will work for you, but it did for me and I never had to pay for shots or medication or PT. Hope this helps. ************************************************************************ * I've had a lot of trouble with my wrists and sometimes elbows. I have had great relief from chiropractic treatments. I also use Biofreeze, found at my chiropractor's office. I learned to rethink some of the things I was doing and to change my habits a little. For instance, much of my problem stems from working at a desk for long stretches (this was before I was a librarian, obviously.) and the strain of the muscles stretching across the upper back for the duration increases my pain. I learned to take stretch breaks, to do certain types of stretches, to raise my work to eye level, and to change the way I pick up things, even books. If the book is heavy, I pick it up with two hands. I learned all these tips from the chiropractor. If you have never been, you will be amazed at the relief you will get. ************************************************************************ * I wear an elbow brace/support that I bought at a local drug store (CVS) - cost about $25.00. It has a small air pillow in it. What it does is puts pressure on the muscles and forces them to work differently, thereby saving your elbow. Works like a charm for me. I wear it when I know I'll be doing a very repetitive motion- shoveling, moving shelves of books, scanning for inventory, canoeing/kayaking. I basically just carry it with me all the time. ************************************************************************ * The best treatments in the world are not going to be effective unless you are able to give the joint itself some rest...and that's much easier said than done! Have you ever partially immobilized your elbow by wearing a sling? ************************************************************************ * I had a cortisone(sp) shot and that only gave relief for a few weeks. The my doctor put me on prednisone for a week (dose strong at first and diminished through the week). Relief was not immediate but was lasting - over two years now. ************************************************************************ * I had great success with acupuncture. Sharon Hamer--Librarian Hyde School--Woodstock 150 Rt. 169, PO Box 237 Woodstock, CT 06281-0237 860-963-4726 HYDE The leader in family-based character education. -------------------------------------------------------------------- All LM_NET postings are protected by copyright law. To change your LM_NET status, e-mail to: listserv@listserv.syr.edu In the message write EITHER: 1) SIGNOFF LM_NET 2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL 3) SET LM_NET MAIL 4) SET LM_NET DIGEST * Allow for confirmation. LM_NET Help & Information: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/ Archive: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/archive/ EL-Announce with LM_NET Select: http://elann.biglist.com/el-announce/ LM_NET Supporters: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/ven.html --------------------------------------------------------------------