Most people have already given elbow tendonitis a fair shot on their own before they start looking for a clinic. They bought a strap at the pharmacy. They took a couple of weeks off from tennis, or from the job site, and the elbow felt a little better. Then they picked up a gallon of milk and the pain was right back. That’s usually when someone starts searching for a clinic that can get to the bottom of it.
A Quick Word on Elbow Tendonitis
You’ll hear two names thrown around. If it hurts on the outside of the elbow, that’s tennis elbow, and if it’s on the inside, people call it golfer’s elbow. Funny enough, most of the people we treat for either one don’t play the sport. We see a lot of painters, mechanics, hairstylists, and people who live on a keyboard. What’s going on is pretty simple. The tendon that anchors your forearm muscles is getting beat up faster than it can patch itself.
So why doesn’t rest work? It quiets the pain for a bit, sure. The tendon is just as weak as before, though, and the first time you carry in a case of water, it complains all over again.
Questions We’d Ask Before Booking
Clinics don’t all go about elbows the same way. If we were the ones calling around, we’d ask a few things:
- Does someone put hands on the elbow and check the nerves near it too?
- Is the plan built around strengthening the tendon, or mostly rest and shots?
- Will they ask what you do all day with that arm, at work and for fun?
- Will the same person see you at each visit and track your progress?
How We Handle It in Gilbert
Your first visit starts with us finding the exact sore spot and testing your grip. We’ll also check your neck and the nerves along your arm, since tingling fingers can point to something other than a tendon.
From there, the bulk of the work is a slow, steady strengthening program for the forearm. Tendons get tougher when they’re asked to do a little more each week. We’ll add some hands-on work for the tight muscles, and we’ll look at your grip on tools, rackets, or your computer mouse. A strap can help while you heal, and an injection is an option if the pain won’t settle, though we’d rather start with exercise.
Expect the first real changes somewhere around week six or so. Older, stubborn cases can take a bit longer.
If your elbow has been nagging you for months, come see us at Modern Medicine of Gilbert, AZ. We’ll take a close look and give you a plan that goes after the tendon itself, not just the pain.
