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When your last option still sucks
Aug. 10th, 2010 07:18 amSince before June 2008 I've been seeing the doctor(s) about my elbow. I boxed / took a ring boxing class (never fought in the ring, just drilled and sparred) for about 7-10 years or so. My left elbow often got sore after throwing many hooks, or worse, mitting for someone with a strong hook. It always got sore - it always got better, until one uneventful day when it just didn't get better. I stopped boxing which just crushed my spirit - I loved loved loved boxing, but I could not return without directly impacting the problem. I thought I just needed rest, but weeks turned into months turned into...this. Holding a drink in my hand for too long leads to this tight feeling or burning in my bicep area?
I switched over to lifting, but the same problem was fighting me in the gym. I tried to just avoid areas that hurt my elbow, but it was never enough - there was no way to avoid my elbow in anything outside of a leg press or squat. I went to the doctors.
The regular doctors were worthless. The same old answers: if it hurts when you do x, don't do x. Rest 4-6 weeks. Take ibuprofen. Try stretching. I did all that early on - I tried and retried.
The orthopedic specialists called it http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tennis_elbow lateral epicondylitis and I couldn't help but notice my sports-playing ortho also had it. Bad sign - doctor has something you want cured? They say "tennis elbow" is on one side, while "boxers elbow" or "golfers elbow" was on the other. I had cortisone shots twice, x-rays and an mri, more months off from all gym activity (other than squats, and even then I racked weights with my right hand/arm only). No change.
I went to physical therapy, and they seemed clueless as well. Little rubs, some e-stim (cough), exercises that did not seem to make it any better...and the recommendation to return to the gym. I started back on my old beginner program, but as usual the more I tried to work out the more my elbow started screaming. It only seems to hurt or act up less lately as I'm more used to avoiding it - I almost instinctively avoid carrying groceries or other manly activities that might cause me to grip things with my left. The PT suggested I get a 2nd opinion on the elbow issue.
I went to a second ortho who trains/fixes sports people in this area (Redskins if I remember right). He said my symptoms were classic AND HE HAD IT TOO. Again, that bad sign. He said I had done what you could do, he had simply learned to avoid things like gripping too much
OH DEAR FUCKING GOD, really? Avoid gripping? Thanks Doc!?
and that while there is a surgery...it's not 100% nor are the results.
All this time I've been trying to find a way to avoid surgery, but it turns out even if I get the surgery I will not be 100%. If I understood his description correctly, they remove some of the torn tendons/tissue, and try to stimulate the remaining healthy tissue to attach and heal correctly. In short, no matter what happens I wind up with less tendons connecting.
I'm at a loss. I can't box, which means MMA is off the table, and even weightlifting is a constant battle to simply gain or maintain mediocrity. I can try surgery but the results are guaranteed to be less than 100%.
I just don't know what to do.
I switched over to lifting, but the same problem was fighting me in the gym. I tried to just avoid areas that hurt my elbow, but it was never enough - there was no way to avoid my elbow in anything outside of a leg press or squat. I went to the doctors.
The regular doctors were worthless. The same old answers: if it hurts when you do x, don't do x. Rest 4-6 weeks. Take ibuprofen. Try stretching. I did all that early on - I tried and retried.
The orthopedic specialists called it http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tennis_elbow lateral epicondylitis and I couldn't help but notice my sports-playing ortho also had it. Bad sign - doctor has something you want cured? They say "tennis elbow" is on one side, while "boxers elbow" or "golfers elbow" was on the other. I had cortisone shots twice, x-rays and an mri, more months off from all gym activity (other than squats, and even then I racked weights with my right hand/arm only). No change.
I went to physical therapy, and they seemed clueless as well. Little rubs, some e-stim (cough), exercises that did not seem to make it any better...and the recommendation to return to the gym. I started back on my old beginner program, but as usual the more I tried to work out the more my elbow started screaming. It only seems to hurt or act up less lately as I'm more used to avoiding it - I almost instinctively avoid carrying groceries or other manly activities that might cause me to grip things with my left. The PT suggested I get a 2nd opinion on the elbow issue.
I went to a second ortho who trains/fixes sports people in this area (Redskins if I remember right). He said my symptoms were classic AND HE HAD IT TOO. Again, that bad sign. He said I had done what you could do, he had simply learned to avoid things like gripping too much
OH DEAR FUCKING GOD, really? Avoid gripping? Thanks Doc!?
and that while there is a surgery...it's not 100% nor are the results.
All this time I've been trying to find a way to avoid surgery, but it turns out even if I get the surgery I will not be 100%. If I understood his description correctly, they remove some of the torn tendons/tissue, and try to stimulate the remaining healthy tissue to attach and heal correctly. In short, no matter what happens I wind up with less tendons connecting.
I'm at a loss. I can't box, which means MMA is off the table, and even weightlifting is a constant battle to simply gain or maintain mediocrity. I can try surgery but the results are guaranteed to be less than 100%.
I just don't know what to do.
