Who had a tennisellbow (epicondylitis)?
Question:
Answers:
I had the problem, came on after playing racquetball. Never needed the surgery, because it subsided with exercise and manipulation (not chiropractic - I used a tennis ball).
Also resorted to an occasional injection if it got really bad until I got diagnosed with hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). Learning about that helped me handle the problem with diet (believe it or not), rather than meds and doctors.
Mine, I admit, was a mild case, but if you want info on how blood sugar can cause nerve problems (although the info is more specific to carpal tunnel) check out the link at www.hufa.org. You can get to the carpal tunnel link through the symptoms page, too.
If you wish, you can e-mail me.
Web MD says the following:
Surgery for tennis elbow
Surgery Overview
Surgery for tennis elbow may involve:
Cutting (releasing) the tendon and removing inflamed tissue from the tendon.
Drilling small, shallow holes in the bone to encourage growth of new blood vessels. This helps bring blood to the area and stimulates tendon healing.
Repairing (reattaching) tendon tears if it is possible to do so without overtightening the tendon.
Surgery may be done arthroscopically, by traditional open surgery, or by a combination of the two techniques depending on the type of problem and the method the doctor prefers to use. Arthroscopy is not widely used.
Surgery can be done with general or regional anesthetic and can require an overnight stay in the hospital.
What To Expect After Surgery
Recovery varies from person to person, usually taking at least 4 to 6 months for a complete recovery.
Cigarette smoking slows tendon and wound healing.
Recovery depends on the amount of time and effort you put into a rehabilitation program.
How Well It Works
Various surgical procedures are used to treat tennis elbow. While some surgical research exists, none has produced solid evidence that can strongly support or discourage the use of any one procedure.1
According to small studies, most people (85% to 90%) regain full strength in their elbow and do not have elbow pain.2
Most people are able to return to their previous activities after tennis elbow surgery. It is important to change any previous technique, equipment, or activity that has been linked to the elbow pain.
What To Think About
Surgery for tennis elbow is seldom necessary because the condition usually improves with tendon rest and non-surgical treatment measures.
References
Citations
Buchbinder R, et al. (2002). Surgery for lateral elbow pain. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (4). Oxford: Update Software.
Ciccotti MG (1999). Epicondylitis in the athlete. AAOS Instructional Course Lectures, 48: 375–381.
Credits
Author Nancy Bateman
Editor Kathleen M. Ariss, MS
Associate Editor Michele Cronen
Primary Medical Reviewer William M. Green, MD
- Emergency Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer Patrick J. McMahon, MD
- Orthopedics
Last Updated March 4, 2005
i am going for the UCL repair surgery, but also may have epicondylitis like you have. What is the surgery called?
More Questions and Answers
- I am looking for information on GE Health Insurance?
- I consciously black out when I get up too fast from my sleep. My eyes are open but I see black for 2-5 seconds
- Going for HIDA Scan today, any advice?
- What are the side effects if any of donating your plasma?
- Does anyone have anything nice I can think about?
- What's the best pain reliever for arthritis? Thanks?
- can darker people still get skin cancer from sun exposure?
- What would cause rapid heartbeat after having a drink or two?