Is it tennis elbow, golfers elbow or pickleball elbow??!!? Despite the name suggesting what sport you may play, elbow pain can affect anyone who performs an activity that strains the tendons and muscles around the elbow joint. Vacuuming counts too!
Tennis elbow is called Lateral Epicondylitis. It is pain on the outside of your elbow. The pain starts slow and gradually worsens over time. Gripping or lifting objects, particularly with wrist extended. You can also feel some weakness in the affected arm.
Golfer’s Elbow is called Medial Epicondylitis. It is pain on the inside of your elbow. Typically the pain is from throwing, gardening, weightlifting or carpentry. You may notice pain when gripping and squeezing objects. You can get weakness in the wrist and hand.
Regardless of which type of pain you have the first line of defense is to adjust the elbow. You will notice that I may adjust not only the elbow, but the wrist too.
At home the most important, and possibly the most difficult, is REST. Giving your body a chance to heal can be the best option. Apply ice to the area for 10 minutes on and off. Put ice cubes in a zip lock bag. Wrap the bag with a damp towel. Apply the damp towel wrapped ice on the elbow. You can continue this rotation as needed.
You can utilize a brace for your elbow. The elbow band helps to distribute the stress of the attachment of the tendons around the elbow. There is also a compression elbow brace that I recommend. I would use the compression brace for everyday use. Then the elbow band for when you are doing an activity.
Anti-inflammatory supplement: Inflammatone from Designs for Health has herbs like Boswellia that help to decrease the inflammation naturally.
I like deep blue cream. You can massage it into your muscles around the elbow. Deep Blue now comes in a neat roller ball that everyone is loving.
Text us ELBOW if you want a deep blue or inflammatone. If you have a friend or a loved one who is experiencing elbow pain. Send them our way by giving them our number (630) 941-8733 to call or text us for an appointment.
Yours in Health Naturally,
Dr. Kelly