Arborist Tennis Elbow

[chris_girard]

Well, the PT isn't working too good so far.

I just can't rest it enough to heal up properly.

Will, be getting a cortisone shot in 2 weeks.

 

[chris_girard]

OK, I got the cortisone shot on Wed. and did a little cutting and brush hauling this morning.

There is no pain in the elbow at all right now, but I know that that doesn't mean the tendon is healed yet.

The key will be to keep the inflamation at bay and continue with the PT. I'll be starting my weightlifting workouts again next week.

 

[Reg]

[ QUOTE ]
OK, I got the cortisone shot on Wed. and did a little cutting and brush hauling this morning.

There is no pain in the elbow at all right now, but I know that that doesn't mean the tendon is healed yet.

The key will be to keep the inflamation at bay and continue with the PT. I'll be starting my weightlifting workouts again next week.

[/ QUOTE ]

Sounds good Chris, if not a little soon to be lifting weights though?

 

[skew]

I was having a tennis elbow episode this season and seem to have come through the worst of it with a combination of pt, accupuncture and chiropractic. I feel much better now. At least in the elbow.

 

[chris_girard]

[/ QUOTE ]Sounds good Chris, if not a little soon to be lifting weights though?

[/ QUOTE ]

Reg, I won't be lifting too heavy. I had to run everything past my therapist first to get her ok.

Today I did barbell squats, seated presses and abs for the core. Everything went well, with no pain.

Hope it lasts.

 

[BarnHouse]

Hello all. Chris, did your P.T. recommend using one of those "Tennis Elbow" braces? It seems to help me, although my case doesn't sound nearly as severe as yours. I didn't see it mentioned in the previous threads so I thought it might be worth mentioning.

 

[chris_girard]

Hey BarnHouse, ya my PT prescribed a compression elbow brace which I used on 3 tree jobs but the additional pressure on the arm was worse.

Hopefully with rest and a little time will cure it.

Thanks for the tip though. It may help others.

 

[Nails]

I had that too. It really flared up when I ran saw a lot. All that gripping and such works on it, which is all the time during tree work. I used a brace, but it made it worse some like you said and wore on the skin from wearing it 10 plus hours a day. I wore the brace a little more for a second term and it kinda went away on its own. Seemed to be a mix of light brace use and rest that helped the most. Hope you get better.

 

[chris_girard]

Thanks Nails. I think the key will be to rest it as much as possible and wait to see what happens this winter.

 

[BarnHouse]

I had the same problem with the brace at first. My mind set was to tighten it as much as possible. Didn't think it was a bad thing until I stopped for the day and realized how much my arm hurt from the brace. Started wearing it looser and it's better.

Chris, if I lived up your way I would ask my PT about the benefits of skiing 3-4 days a week. I think pole planting may be a very beneficial exercise.

 

[chris_girard]

[ QUOTE ]
Chris, if I lived up your way I would ask my PT about the benefits of skiing 3-4 days a week. I think pole planting may be a very beneficial exercise.

[/ QUOTE ]

That's pretty funny. I don't ski and with my luck I'd end up braking something else!

 

[chris_girard]

Elbows are still bothering me a little bit, but nothing like last year.

Found this good article on elbow pain in climbers that you guys might find helpful. The doctor is a rock climber, but the biomechanics are closely related to tree climbing.

http://www.athlon.com.au/articles/r&i_dodgyelbow.pdf

 

[shovelhead]

watch out with too many shots in the elbows...my dr. said only 2 then sugery....mine hurt right now....ouch! Good luck!

 

[chris_girard]

Thanks Shovelhead. I'll watch out.

Hope your elbows start to feel better too.

 

[ChuckR]

Good article, Chris. Golfers elbow for me. Left elbow only. Quit with the pullups. Sticking to the rowing.

 

[chris_girard]

[ QUOTE ]
Quit with the pullups. Sticking to the rowing.

[/ QUOTE ]

Chuck, that's what I've had to do too. You would think that pullups would be good for climbers, but if you have dodgy elbows than I've found rows to be better.

My physical therapist told me the same thing last fall when I was doing pt for the elbows.

 

[shovelhead]

thanks for the article Chris....great info. I suddenly have hope. I aggrivated my right elbow yesterday usin a pole pruner on some ornamental work. Talk about bringing me down. Makes me wonder if I need to change professions. I hate the idea of just selling all the time. I want to be able to do the work as well...be safe! Thanks again!

 

[BarnHouse]

Chris - Good find. Thanks!

 

[chris_girard]

[ QUOTE ]
Talk about bringing me down. Makes me wonder if I need to change professions. I hate the idea of just selling all the time. I want to be able to do the work as well...be safe! Thanks again!

[/ QUOTE ]

Don't give up hope guys!

Remember what Dyllun Thomas said "Do not go gentle into that good night, but rage, rage against the dying of the light."

If you want to do something bad enough, there is always a way. Stay positive!

 

[southsoundtree]

what about extensor/ pushing exercises for the triceps, etc?

Seems that we pull and lift all the time, but don't push much. I heard that the triceps is about 2/3 of the normal muscle mass of the upper arm. When I saw my self in the window reflection, it seemed closer to the opposite proportion.

I used to rock climb a lot. I'd do, upon recommendation, push-ups to warm-up and to work the opposing muscle groups.

rowing is like climbing in a lot of ways, though some have said that they can do it as cross-training.

I think push-ups, bench presses with dumbbells, incline presses and military presses with dumbbells would be good, though I'm no physical therapist. At least start easy and feel it out.