Tennis Elbow Help please

[spaceygirl]

Hi fellow VFers.
Over the last 6 months or so, I have had very painful forearms (my right being worse than my left). The Orthopedist diagnosed tennis elbow and I did a little pt and it seemed to improve. Lately it is back with a vengeance. I am struggling with trying to continue to exercise but also trying to avoid using any handweights (even for squats and lower body work). Have any of you out there had any experience with this? Will I lose alot of muscle tone/fitness if I lay off the weights for a month or more? I was thinking about doing 1-2 Yoga routines during the week but I do not even know how to structure my exercise.
Background info-I am an at home exerciser-4-5 days per week for half hour to 45 minutes per session (1 of which has been yoga)
Thanks in advance!

[txhsmom]

Yes, I've struggled with time periodically. The older I get, the easier it seems for me to injure myself, and the longer it takes for me to heal. Rest is the most important thing. Wearing the elbow band helps as well.

You will lose some muscle tone & strength in that arm if you lay off the weights for a month, but you'll regain it fairly quickly once your elbow heals up and you can exercise again. I wouldn't continue to lift heavy weights while your elbow is hurting - I just wouldn't. Probably not what you want to hear.

I found that being on a statin drug complicated things - it seemed to cause me to be more likely to develop tendonitis and then kept me from ever healing completely.

Carol

[eam531]

If you are going to do yoga, I would steer clear of power yoga practices--the repetitive chatturanga/updog/downdog sequences will exacerbate your injury. In fact, until your elbow heals, I'd recommend concentrating on standing postures and seated postures and entirely skip any postures where you are supporting your body weight with your hands.

[Sancho]

I play tennis regularly. Although I have not had to deal with tennis elbow, many of my friends have. Their course of action is to wear a sleeve or brace all day long, so that when they do things like pick up a gallon of milk, they are supported. They all still play tennis while they have the pain and eventually it goes away. The sleeve a lot of people like is the Copper Fit elbow sleeve. I think most of their pain, however, is above the elbow not below in the forearm.

[desie]

Healing happens much more quickly if you rest the arm and avoid doing things that cause pain. And Betsy is right, yoga will make it worse if you do any of the poses where you support your weight on that hand. Wear the support sleeve over it. You might have to wear a sleeve or band around the injured area for a very long time in order to use that arm for doing work. It really does get better if you can rest that arm.

[hedygs]

I feel your pain. I have tried rest and still hasn't gotten better. I am at my wits end. This pain is so limiting.

[cherimac]

It seriously took a year for mine to heal...twice. After the second time I learned no lifting weights over 10 pounds for me. Period. Since then, I haven't had a flare in three years. Big hugs.It's tough.

Oh-some people say KT tape helps a lot.

[Jewels5]

Originally Posted by spaceygirl

Hi fellow VFers.
Over the last 6 months or so, I have had very painful forearms (my right being worse than my left). The Orthopedist diagnosed tennis elbow and I did a little pt and it seemed to improve. Lately it is back with a vengeance. I am struggling with trying to continue to exercise but also trying to avoid using any handweights (even for squats and lower body work). Have any of you out there had any experience with this? Will I lose alot of muscle tone/fitness if I lay off the weights for a month or more? I was thinking about doing 1-2 Yoga routines during the week but I do not even know how to structure my exercise.
Background info-I am an at home exerciser-4-5 days per week for half hour to 45 minutes per session (1 of which has been yoga)
Thanks in advance!

I had experience with this a couple (few?) years ago and strictly did the PT exercises along with Classical Stretch. I still have to be careful and typically don't lift anything higher than 8 pounds. I'm also careful doing pushups and planks in moderation. Those forearm strengthening exercises from the PT really helped though. Also sitting at a computer with proper alignment of the arms/elbows, etc. and posture is important. It's one of the worst pains--I remember even a simple thing such as lifting a coffee cup was painful! Good Luck!

[Jewels5]

Originally Posted by cherimac

It seriously took a year for mine to heal...twice. After the second time I learned no lifting weights over 10 pounds for me. Period. Since then, I haven't had a flare in three years. Big hugs.It's tough.

Oh-some people say KT tape helps a lot.

Cheri, it seems I remember your words of advice when I was going through this!

[FitBoop]

Originally Posted by spaceygirl

Hi fellow VFers.
Over the last 6 months or so, I have had very painful forearms (my right being worse than my left). The Orthopedist diagnosed tennis elbow and I did a little pt and it seemed to improve. Lately it is back with a vengeance. I am struggling with trying to continue to exercise but also trying to avoid using any handweights (even for squats and lower body work). Have any of you out there had any experience with this? Will I lose alot of muscle tone/fitness if I lay off the weights for a month or more? I was thinking about doing 1-2 Yoga routines during the week but I do not even know how to structure my exercise.
Background info-I am an at home exerciser-4-5 days per week for half hour to 45 minutes per session (1 of which has been yoga)
Thanks in advance!

DH had very bad tennis elbow and what helped was use of an elbow wrap. Also, doing wrist curls with 2 pounds after the pain has gotten better. Other than that, rest it. It will go away in time. It is better to rest and take a break from lifting weights or doing yoga, and let it heal. You will get your strength back quickly once you are able to exercise pain free.