| Tennis elbow is the pain located on the outside of | | | | - Rest. After several months of frustration I set |
| the elbow most commonly occurring when | | | | aside 1 month where I would play no tennis. |
| gripping. It is associated with playing tennis, but | | | | - Changing racket and string combination. |
| can affect activities from doing the house work | | | | Despite my best efforts I was experiencing no |
| to shaking hands with a friend. For many people, | | | | improvement and the injury was in fact |
| especially coaches or serious tennis players, tennis | | | | deteriorating. |
| elbow can become the bane of your life. I know | | | | Various invasive procedures like injecting cortisone |
| because I am a tennis coach who had a 12 month | | | | were the next option, but this procedure had |
| battle with tennis elbow and I would like to share | | | | very weak evidence of success. Using my |
| my experience with you in the hope of helping | | | | favorite research tool the internet I turned up a |
| other coaches or tennis fanatics overcome the | | | | procedure which was achieving promising results |
| injury. | | | | called an "autologous blood injection." This involves |
| Tennis elbow is an overuse injury - technically | | | | drawing blood from your body and re-injecting |
| called lateral epicondyle - that affects the tendon | | | | into the elbow. The injection is made under CT |
| on the outside of the elbow. For a tennis player it | | | | scan so that it is made at exactly the right point |
| most commonly occurs due to the constant | | | | on the elbow tendon. |
| stress on the tendon from hitting 1000's upon | | | | The theory is that when blood is taken from the |
| 1000's of balls. This stress can be compounded by | | | | body it reacts by releasing its healing agents. |
| mistiming the ball, especially on the one handed | | | | When that blood is then re injected into the |
| backhand. Interestingly the incidence of tennis | | | | injured elbow tendon it will speed the healing |
| elbow is far less common in double handed | | | | process. Tendons are notoriously slow healers as |
| backhands. | | | | they don't have the blood flow that muscles |
| In my case it was caused by trialling a stiffer | | | | enjoy. The autologous blood injection gives the |
| racket - so many of today's modern rackets and | | | | tendon the "kick along" it needs. The research on |
| strings create a stiffer feel which can place extra | | | | the blood injections showed promising results, |
| stress on the elbow tendon. After just one hour | | | | although often patients need 2 - 3 injections to |
| the pain had become extreme and I was to | | | | fully resolve the problem. |
| endure it for over twelve months. As a full time | | | | I was prepared to try it. The first step was to |
| tennis coach this was a less than ideal scenario. | | | | visit a sports physician who scheduled a scan on |
| With my income on the line I quickly had to get | | | | my elbow. Sure enough the scan showed a |
| to work treating the problem. As a coach rest | | | | significant tear in the elbow tendon. Next the |
| was not an option, but I was quickly on the | | | | injection was organized to be performed by a |
| internet - which has a huge amount of data on | | | | very well regarded surgeon under CT scan. While |
| tennis elbow. In no particular order I undertook | | | | a local anesthetic was administered the procedure |
| the following treatment program: | | | | was very painful. This pain however was short |
| - Physiotherapy. Once a week massage and | | | | lived, and I was quite comfortable 1 - 2 hours |
| manipulation ran into $1000's of dollars over time. | | | | after the injection. |
| - Anti inflammatory drugs. 3 times a day I took | | | | The first week I completely rested the arm in a |
| ibuprofen with a cup of green tea [which was | | | | sling to give the procedure the best chance of |
| highly recommended treatment also] | | | | success. After two weeks the tennis elbow |
| - Strengthening and stretching. 3 times a day I | | | | appeared to have gone. For the first time in |
| completed a routine which aimed to strengthen | | | | twelve months I was able to play and coach |
| and stretch the forearm extensors and triceps | | | | without pain - I would estimate it has been a |
| surrounding the elbow joint. | | | | 90% recovery and a fantastic result. |
| - Elbow brace. I trialled several forms of elbow | | | | Clearly each case of tennis elbow is different - |
| strap which were designed to take the stress | | | | and sufferers should consult their physio and |
| away from the elbow tendon. | | | | sports physician to get the best possible diagnosis |
| - Heat and ice. Three times a day I would ice the | | | | and treatment. My particular injury was a |
| elbow then put a heat pack on to stimulate the | | | | tendonosis, which is a degenerative problem and |
| healing process. | | | | therefore a candidate for the autologous blood |
| - Acupuncture. Once no progress was achieved | | | | injection. Tendonitis might be treated by more |
| with physio I took a course of acupuncture each | | | | traditional methods. |
| week. | | | | |