Tennis Elbow. Crap.

[VenusClapTrap]

I thought I’d sprained my elbow, but after two and a half weeks of no improvement I’ve just been told it’s tennis elbow. Apparently this will take months to clear up.

Aaaargh.

I’m a professional gardener. This means I can’t work. Being off work for the past fortnight has already been a total nightmare; now I have to tell my clients I’ll be off for months. I have a crate of bulbs sitting here and a delivery of 250 plants on the way for autumn planting, not to mention all the essential pruning and digging that’s waiting to be done. Oh. My. God.

I’m trying to remind myself it could be a lot worse - it will recover - but right now I’m wallowing.

I’m going to find myself a private physio; but any other tips anyone can send my way for a speedy recovery? Or cheery stories about tennis elbow clearing up overnight...?

Steroid injection. Hurts like hell at the time, but the relief is almost instant. Ask your GP, I've had it done twice.

Ooh. That’s interesting. I’ll definitely pursue that. Thank you!

Get a really good elbow support from Boots, saved me many a time.

Tennis elbow clasp. Can get it off amazon, off loads the strain around your elbow so healing can happen. I’d try that first before an injection

What does that do, Sisters? Relieve the pain, help to fix it, or is it a preventative? Sorry if that’s a stupid question!

Right, googling the clasp!

My husband had some laser treatment done that sorted out his tennis elbow pretty quickly. Think it should have been quite pricey though. He got it for free because the physio wanted to test it out.

This is brilliant, so many suggestions! I have been in a state of high dudgeon all day and you lot have given me hope.

Acupuncture. I had three steroid injections, physio, ultrasound, oral anti inflammatories, ibuprofen gel and the strap and nothing worked. One session of acupuncture and it was loads better, 3 and gone. I get it once a year or so now (I do things awkwardly due to other problems), but go to the physio for acupuncture and one session sorts it

DH had this. So painful, and caused by his work. Refused to take time off. What really helped was deep massage. He found a really good sports massage person and she helped a lot in a couple of sessions. He's since developed it in the other arm, and she sorted that quickly too. Monthly appointments with her keep tennis elbow and other pains at bay.

I also agree acupuncture. I had it for over a year, painkillers, splint etc nothing worked.

I went to an osteopath who is excellent at acupuncture too and within 2 sessions it was completely fine, I only wish I'd gone sooner!

That was about 4 years ago and I've had no problems since 🤞

There are lots of options to try. I found the steroid injection helped temporarily. Physio did nothing. Various splints and supports did nothing. Exercises did nothing.

I eventually had an experimental Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Injection that fixed it. I did have to pay cash for it though.

Thank you all. I’m going to order a clasp. I’ve found a local highly recommended physio place that also does acupuncture, so I’m going to book an appointment there. If all that fails then I’ll move onto injections.

Feeling more optimistic now.