Maybe someone out there can help me with this, as the doctor didn't seem too worried about it yesterday. I have had what I believe to be Tennis Elbow for the last month, and all that I have tried has not worked - even self-treated Bowen Therapy (I am a Bowen Therapist myself). It just became sore one day, and now I can't even pick up an empty cup without it hurting. I am about to try anti-inflammatories, but am dubious about it because I am on medication for small oesophageal and peptic ulcers. Does anyone know of something else I can try first? It's painful and very annoying.
Romy, my husband (a therapeutic masseur) has successfully treated this problem by releasing pressure on the brachial nerve in the vicinity of the scapula on that side. The supra-spinatus is one of the muscles involved, but the whole rotator cuff area needs to be loosened up.
This is not, I suspect, something you can do yourself, even as a Bowen therapist, so you need a GOOD masseur; John would be willing to help if you were anywhere near Geraldton, where we are property-sitting for the next couple of months. Alternatively, the only Queensland therapist we know from experience is an osteopath in Hervey Bay - Tom Cheeseman, at 444 Boat Harbour Drive; he's well worth a visit if you are anywhere close.
Hope you sort it soon, Romy - good luck!
Andrea
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Free-ranging, in a Southern Cross 5th wheeler, in between property-minding (to save money!).
Thanks so much for your advice and kind offer, Andrea. I am nowhere near you or Tom at the moment. Bowen Therapy has a rotator cuff move (after BRM's on the back and a Shoulder procedure), so I'll attempt it myself without them as I can't do them on myself, and see what happens. We're heading off to Townsville on Tuesday for our daughter's wedding next Saturday (21st May) so, if I can find a therapist beforehand, I'll to get a Bowen treatment up there. It's the best I can do as far as massage therapy goes, but maybe it will help too. Thanks again!
Thanks sandsmere. I've had cortisone injections in both my heels for plantar fasciitis (before operations to correct it), and while the cortisone can hurt at the time, it does give blessed relief, so that's another option - although the pain seems to be right on the very top of one of the bones in the elbow. However, I'm now beginning to wonder if it really is tennis elbow, and whether it's not RSI. I only thought of this, this afternoon. I write music for piano, so I play the piano every day; sometimes for up to two hours or more at any one time. This afternoon while playing, I noticed the pain seemed to be a lot worse. I hope that's not what's going on, as my piano and I (and my digital camera) are practically joined at the hip! I couldn't imagine not being able to play it, but the help I've had with this from GN members has given me many different options, so one of them is bound to work. Thank you everyone and I'll be sure to let you know which one works the best.
I played competition level racquetball for 27 years, and developed "tennis elbow" - found that you can get a small strap, elasticised but very strong, which is placed just below the elbow, worked really well. Having taken up lawn bowls and squash recently, I am finding occasional tenderness in that area again. Am off to town to look for one of these straps this week, though I have seen ones for the knee on one of those shopping sites - that may work as well - will investigate. If you want to try a natural anti inflammatory - find yourself some calendula balm or cream - Priceline have it, made by Martin and Pleasance, can be very helpful in reducing inflammation in joints, I have found. I use it for all sorts of things - bunion, eczema, my friend uses it every day on her arthritic fingers - we swear by it, but I will get the strap, because I would rather prevent pain.
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jules "Love is good for the human being!!" (Ben, aged 10)
Thanks Jules47. The calendula cream sounds like a good, natural thing to have in the first aid box, so I will try to get some along with the strap. Firefly suggested the elasticised strap too, so I'd like to have one on hand. My husband had one of those straps for his knee (he was playing competition tennis at the time) but it had magnets in it and attached via velcro, however I remember him saying it was very, very good. The pain is not in my elbow joint though, but on top of one of the bones of the elbow. I don't know what's causing it, tennis elbow, RSI or something else, but I have had some progress overnight that I was going to let everyone in here know about this morning, because they've all been so very helpful, yourself included, so here goes.
I threw caution to the wind last night, and took an anti-inflammatory (Mobic capsule) before going to bed last night, as it was the only thing I had on hand to try. This morning, I woke up to very reduced pain in my elbow! I couldn't believe it. The pain is still there, but no-where near as bad, so I think it's working. I feel okay and have no side effects. I palpated the bone that had been affected, and there's now very little pain in it. It still hurts right down the forearm to pick up a cup, but I don't think it's as pronounced this morning. I'm now trying to remember if I bumped my elbow on something, and, as a result, it became inflammed. The main thing is, the anti-inflammatory seems to be working!
Once again, the power of communication. I am so grateful to everyone in Grey Nomads for their input. I will definitely get that strap and calendula cream, as they can travel with us, and we can both use them if/when necessary. Thank you all again!
You may like to try to treat it from inside out ..try to eat food's rich in natural anti-inflammatory ..thing like food rich in omega- 3 fatty acid ... ..wont be quick fix but will help in long run ......
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The clearest path in life is always the one behind you....
There is a Pain Treatment called Prolo Therapy. My friends are having it, and say it is very good.
The Practitioner they use, is going to start specialising in that very shortly. You can check it out on Google. It is a natural therapy, involving injections. [Non-drug.]
The Dr. bulk-bills, so they don't have to fork out cash every time they have a treatment.
Thanks Sheba. Dr Google will get a visit from me. I took another Mobic (anti-inflammatory) last night and my elbow is even better this morning - and I'm still without side-effects. I'll continue to take it for another few days, and see what happens after that. Thank you all again.
