Chiropractor or Physical Therapist for Tennis Elbow

[taylor]

I've had lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow) for almost 6 months now. Too many roundoffs, front handsprings, and snatches with poor technique has finally caught up to me. It really sucks!!! I've iced it, rested it, tried rehab exercises on Youtube, and gotten acupuncture from 3 different acupuncturists and no pain relief in sight. I even went to a chiropractor who was well reviewed on Yelp and he didn't provide much relief either. Most recently I've been going to a chiropractor/fellow crossfitter but those sessions haven't helped much either and if it did very little. Now I'm considering going to a well reviewed physical therapist but he charges 4X more per sessions than the chiropractors. If it works great but I guess I'm a bit of a skeptic and would be extremely annoyed paying 4X more and feeling the same. Anybody have experience with this?

[mrs.b]

Have you had an MRI done? The rule for most joint injuries that have been rested during recovery is that they should heal on their own in no longer than four months. If not, you could have torn something that may need surgery. I wouldn't trust anyone else, no matter their specialty or level of public review, to do anything more without having it scanned to know exactly what's going on in there.

[taylor]

Have you had an MRI done? The rule for most joint injuries that have been rested during recovery is that they should heal on their own in no longer than four months. If not, you could have torn something that may need surgery. I wouldn't trust anyone else, no matter their specialty or level of public review, to do anything more without having it scanned to know exactly what's going on in there.

No I haven't got an MRI yet. The last time I got an MRI, I ended up getting surgery on my shoulder but I was in a lot more pain and had very little range of motion. I would think a tear would hurt a lot more and prevent me from lifting heavy weights. This just seems like more of a nuisance when I take off my shirt or tighten my belt. If it doesn't improve in another month or so I guess I will get an MRI. Off topic it was a bad week for the state of Alabama, Alabama and Auburn lost. I was rooting for Auburn, darn they were sooo close.

[taylor]

For now I've decided to go to another session with my first chiropractor again. And I also bought a Thera-Band Flexbar to try later tonight. Tennis Elbow: Step-By-Step Instructions For Treating Elbow Pain Using A Flexbar (Tyler Twist) - YouTube

[mrs.b]

Not necessarily, depending on the muscle, connective tissue, or nerves involved. Assuming you've rested it for those six months - and not tested it too soon with the aforementioned heavy weights - there are a variety of reasons it could still be hurting. Pain is the body's way of saying something is amiss; ignoring it for a short while is normal, but six months? As an on-again-off-again runner and someone with a very bad habit of pushing too hard in new workouts too soon, I've had a few muscle and tendon strains and tears. If I were you, I would seek a consult with a sports MD. Those sorts of injuries are right up their alley, and if anyone can get you back up to desired weights without unexpected aches and pains in very few (or maybe just one) visit, they can. Likewise, if you let them know you'd like to avoid surgery, they're the most likely to get you on a good rehab routine to safely recoup whatever is wrong without going under the knife.

If not, though, best of luck with the chiro and flexbar.

[taylor]

Fortunately after 2 more visits with my chiropractor since I last posted my elbow is almost pain free. My chiropractor used ultrasound along with the graston technique which breaks down scar tissue. I got to admit the session was somewhat painful but I knew that it was working. Mrs. B I noticed we have something in common I lived in LA and you live in LA, Lower Alabama. Thanks for the advice.