Re: "Tennis Elbow" in Librarians

[Carol Simpson <csimpson@TENET.EDU>]

On 9 Nov 1996, Elizabeth Letterly wrote:

> I would dearly love to hear how others are coping, because I don't think
>
I had a related condition.  After years of suffering with what I thought
was carpal tunnel syndrome, I gave up home remedies and went to a hand
surgeon.  He ran all the necessary tests and declared that it was not
that at all. He advised ibuprophen and rest.  I wasn't satisfied so I
went to my family doctor for a referral.  He asked about three questions
and declared that I had DeQuervain's tenosynovitis.  He injected the
tendon sheath (it REALLY doesn't hurt to do that - and I am a MAJOR
chicken!) and I was better within 3 days!

The problem with this (my problem was in my thumb) and the tennis
elbow-like symptoms is that you have repetetive stress of the same
tendons while gripping and moving heavy (or many) books. My elbow would
hurt when the thumb would get particularly bad.  My doctor said the
inflamation would grow, affecting other areas in the limb.  Sometimes it
hurt all the way up to my shoulder.

My advice: don't give up. Ask for a consultation.  And don't think a
specialist has all the answers.  The hand surgeon couldn't see the forest
for the trees.  My family doctor looked at the WHOLE picture.

Carol Simpson                                   csimpson@tenet.edu
Facilitator - Library Technology                972-882-7450
Mesquite (TX) Independent School District       972-882-5565 (fax)