Golfer’s Elbow
Bad elbow persists for three years.
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This article appeared in Rock and Ice issue 204 (September 2012).
I have had a bad case of golfer’s elbow for three years now. My ortho shot me twice and I had PT for six weeks. I read Rock and Ice Numbers 156 and 176 and started the regimen four days ago. The tick tock with 7.5 kg is painful (about a 4) but fatigues me after 10 reps. No pain when the arm is static. Is the pain during PT anything to worry about? I rarely play with pain, so this is something new for me.
——Kj, via rockandice.com
I play with pain all the time, though it is rarely my own.
You have not extrapolated with regard to what the PT is doing to you. The use of blunt nails is always suspicious, but outside of that give him or her
free rein and it will likely be good for you.
Perhaps you are referring to the pain associated with the exercises? Four out of a possible five might be a little much, but only slightly. If you are
talking about a possible 10 then you’re not really playing with pain, more like poking funny faces at it from behind Mommy’s leg.
“My ortho shot me twice.” No matter how I interpret this statement, it’s quite outrageous. However, I think you are talking about cortisone and, given that you likely have tendonosis, it’s at best pointless and at worst damaging.
You may need to refine the elbow angle to better target the problem tissue. I’ll put a video on my web page (www.drjuliansaunders.com).
Masochism is the conjoined twin of sadism, though both parties will deny the proximity of the other. Armaid (www.armaid.com) is the new tool of choice for every budding masochist. Personally, I found it quite helpful when I had elbow tendonosis and other elbow issues in recent years. If you have unlimited funds and time, PT sessions will be the better option since you are also buying a whole lot of skill and education. If you don’t, get an Armaid device and, as Rick James famously said, “Enjoy yourself!” Ten minutes of forearm crushing in this vise every other day will loosen up the muscles and encourage some blood flow to the area.
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