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Tennis Elbow success stories?

Halbert · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jun 2011 · Points: 612

https://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/skills/how_to_heal_elbow_tendonitis-3614

This article might be of interest.

My friend has had some positive result from the stretch layed out below. I haven't tried that.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=XphfEu8y9oY

Hope you find your cure

Avram Neal · · Salt Lake City · Joined Sep 2022 · Points: 0

Re: Guy Keesee  -

I have not had an MRI, but my sports doctor did an ultrasound and said he didn't see anything visually wrong.

My PT thinks because it's been 7 months it could clear up on its own at any time, and that I should just keep doing the exercises he prescribed.

grug g · · SLC · Joined Jul 2022 · Points: 0
Avram Neal wrote:

My PT thinks because it's been 7 months it could clear up on its own at any time, and that I should just keep doing the exercises he prescribed.

That is nice of him. But PT's and doctors are NOT experienced with climbing over-use injuries. It WONT clear up on its own. If 7 months of his exercises didn't work you wouldn't be here. 

Try the stuff recommended in this thread- there has been good advice. And stay positive - you CAN get through it stronger than ever. 

Jeff G · · Colorado · Joined Feb 2006 · Points: 1,108
grug g wrote:

That is nice of him. But PT's and doctors are NOT experienced with climbing over-use injuries. It WONT clear up on its own. If 7 months of his exercises didn't work you wouldn't be here. 

Try the stuff recommended in this thread- there has been good advice. And stay positive - you CAN get through it stronger than ever. 

I've been an orthopedic PT for 34 years and I've treated hundreds of climbers with overuse injuries.  Some of the advice on this thread is ridiculous and some is really good.  And just because something worked for one person does not in any way mean it will work for other people.  When you actually have to treat and help different people you soon realize that there is not a miracle cure for any diagnosis.

grug g · · SLC · Joined Jul 2022 · Points: 0
Jeff G wrote:

I've been an orthopedic PT for 34 years and I've treated hundreds of climbers with overuse injuries.  Some of the advice on this thread is ridiculous and some is really good.  And just because something worked for one person does not in any way mean it will work for other people.  When you actually have to treat and help different people you soon realize that there is not a miracle cure for any diagnosis.

YIKES. Triggered.

Jeff G · · Colorado · Joined Feb 2006 · Points: 1,108

Triggered?  Not sure what you mean.  I was just responding.

Austin Donisan · · San Mateo, CA · Joined May 2014 · Points: 674

For those using the Flexbar, how do you use it without irritating the opposite elbow?

The "Reverse Tyler Twist" felt really helpful for my bad elbow, but after a couple of sessions I now have 2 bad elbows...

Avram Neal · · Salt Lake City · Joined Sep 2022 · Points: 0

Had graston done yesterday, and am going to continue to have it done every week for about a month at least.

PT had me increase the weight I was using for my wrist exercises. Now doing 15 lb instead of 10 lb. He thinks I need to start increasing the load on the tendon.

He gave me the go ahead to start strength training so I am going to ramp that up as well.

Today the elbow is pretty bad as far as pain level. Tendon in elbow is sensitive to push on, and extending arm hurts. Not sure if it's because of the graston or the increase in weight on my wrist exercises (or both?). 

Guy Keesee · · Moorpark, CA · Joined Mar 2008 · Points: 349
Jeff G wrote:

I've been an orthopedic PT for 34 years and I've treated hundreds of climbers with overuse injuries.  Some of the advice on this thread is ridiculous and some is really good.  And just because something worked for one person does not in any way mean it will work for other people.  When you actually have to treat and help different people you soon realize that there is not a miracle cure for any diagnosis.

This has been my experience. I have had surgeries, both shoulders, meniscus right knee, tore my quadriceps clean off my left knee, leg and major back surgery so I have some experience working with various PT’s. They all have different philosophies and methods. Some treatments work better and some not so much.

Avram I hope you the best, good luck. 

Nate Slavin · · Columbus, OH · Joined Jun 2020 · Points: 20

In conjunction with eccentric exercises, avoiding pullups, and pretty much only climbing cracks these days, I have found the main thing that helped for me was changing the position in which I sleep. I was sleeping on my stomach with one or both of my arms bent 90 degrees and stuffed under my pillow. I noticed my elbow tendons would ache badly after awaking. I'm a side sleeper now and all is well! Just something to look into... 

grug g · · SLC · Joined Jul 2022 · Points: 0
Austin Donisan wrote:

For those using the Flexbar, how do you use it without irritating the opposite elbow?

The "Reverse Tyler Twist" felt really helpful for my bad elbow, but after a couple of sessions I now have 2 bad elbows...

Set of 10 on each arm after doing forearm stretches. I use the green one (light duty). 

Austin Donisan · · San Mateo, CA · Joined May 2014 · Points: 674
grug g wrote:

Set of 10 on each arm after doing forearm stretches. I use the green one (light duty). 

Set of 10 what? The Reverse Tyler Twist irritates the opposite elbow when I do it. Not sure if I'm doing it wrong.

John Lombardi · · Fort Collins, CO · Joined Aug 2013 · Points: 995
Austin Donisan wrote:

Set of 10 what? The Reverse Tyler Twist irritates the opposite elbow when I do it. Not sure if I'm doing it wrong.

I used the flexbar for awhile but migrated to doing all exercises on a dumbbell or with weights. It might be a bit too much to start, but long term it allowed me to progress exercises in a more calculated way. I started with 3lbs when I had terrible tennis elbow, but am now at 25lb. The reverse tyler twist on the flexbar I replaced with this exercise: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lv77TE13slE

Austin Donisan · · San Mateo, CA · Joined May 2014 · Points: 674
John Lombardi wrote:

I used the flexbar for awhile but migrated to doing all exercises on a dumbbell or with weights. It might be a bit too much to start, but long term it allowed me to progress exercises in a more calculated way. I started with 3lbs when I had terrible tennis elbow, but am now at 25lb. The reverse tyler twist on the flexbar I replaced with this exercise: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lv77TE13slE

Thanks, I'll try that.

Avram Neal · · Salt Lake City · Joined Sep 2022 · Points: 0

Going to keep updating this thread with pertinent info in the hopes that it can help people in the future dealing with the same issue.

I saw a trigger point massage therapist over the weekend, and he seemed very confident that the issue was actually being caused by the muscles on the under part of my forearm (medial?). That they got strong quickly while climbing, and have now caused a balance issue between medial side and lateral side.

He worked his magic ONLY on the medial side of the forearm. He never even touched the lateral side, and I felt quite a bit of pain relief (albeit temporarily) from that.

He told me to use my armaid on the medial side once every two days, and to really go at it, and he thinks that will start allowing my tennis elbow to let up and heal. I'll see him again sometime after holidays.

Getting 2nd dose of graston done later this week.

John Gill · · Colorado · Joined Apr 2019 · Points: 27

Self massaging following Bonnie Prudden's advice fifty years ago worked for me. Since then I always stretched the inner forearm muscles after exercising or climbing.

Avram Neal · · Salt Lake City · Joined Sep 2022 · Points: 0
John Gill wrote:

Self massaging following Bonnie Prudden's advice fifty years ago worked for me. Since then I always stretched the inner forearm muscles after exercising or climbing.

Thanks John!! I will look into her techniques. I'm hoping the inner forearm is the key, because working the lateral side doesn't seem to be helping as of yet (After 7 months!)

Matt Speth · · Denver · Joined Aug 2014 · Points: 45
Bruno Schull wrote:

Hi Avram. 

I have had two bouts of serious medial epicondylitis.  Both were frustrating, debilitating, long lasting, and stubbornly resistant to all interventions, including rest, eccentric exercies, special stretches, and so on.  

Both cases lasted for over one year. And both times the injuries resolved.   Why?  How?  I finally identified the repetitive movement that was causing the pain...and it wasn't climbing.  

I've had a similar problem as this, and mine was similar - posture problems with a bad bike fit.  Climbing exacerbated the injury and made it most apparent, but getting away from the bike is what made the real difference to me.

Darryl Krieg · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2009 · Points: 20

I have had tennis elbow a couple of times. I use a “BrandIT” works great. I ice it and rub the spot to break down the scar tissue.  

grug g · · SLC · Joined Jul 2022 · Points: 0

Well? Update OP?

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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