Epicondylitis

Chris Schultz

Chris Schultz

Carpal tunnel level member
Location
Minturn
I’ve searched the forums, some of them are old/didnt get me too far. The last few months I’ve developed epicondylitis bad, in both elbows… simultaneous golfers and tennis elbow. I’ve tried a lot: rest, ice, heat, massage, accupuncture, stretches, strengthening exercises…. nothing is giving me noticeable relief/results with any longevity. It’s frustrating, and starting to concern me about my future. Has anyone here had issues? Found anything that’s worked?
 
The Metolious Grip Saver has a rubber band system that gets incorporated into squeeze balls of several firmness/resistance levels, and strengthens the muscles both ways, which I found to be the best for long term resolution of the pain while healing an injured ulnar nerve.
 
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I started using a small ascender on the rope above my hitch as a grip aid. Not tied to anything.
Best remedy is rest, as in not doing shit at all. Take some time off and alleviate the pain. When you start doing things pay VERY close attention to how you’re using your body. Check in with how your body is feeling and try to identify specific things that set it off.
It took me a good few cycles of this to find the main contributors for me. Flicking branches out getting them to flip butts to the chipper, excessive one handing a top handle out into the tips, and tending slack on my hitch.

It hurt like hell and took me over a year to figure out how I move that sets it off. It’s come back here or there but I quickly change my habits and it nips it quickly.

Another thing that few speak about is sleep. I am not a sleep mover and can get stuck in one position which wreaks havoc in my shoulders, elbows and wrists.
 
I forget about hydration a lot more when it's not hot out. I am sure that you guys really have to make that extra effort year round
 
Thanks for all the insights! I definitely think the way I sleep is a huge piece to this…… and this is my reminder to make a conscious effort to be more mindful of that, same with one handing the saw….. I know I’m pretty dialed in the hydration department, so I guess maybe now would be a good justifiable time to try out one of these echo saws, oh darn.
 
Chris Schultz said:
Thanks for all the insights! I definitely think the way I sleep is a huge piece to this…… and this is my reminder to make a conscious effort to be more mindful of that, same with one handing the saw….. I know I’m pretty dialed in the hydration department, so I guess maybe now would be a good justifiable time to try out one of these echo saws, oh darn.
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Tendons take a freakin long time to heal. Same with connective tissues, they just don’t get the blood flow.
This is where the sleep stuff comes in too.. like sleepy time cuddling on one arm, not rolling over…

The single best thing that ever helped me when I partly severed a tendon was an occupational therapist that used an ultrasound gun. Then massage. The logic is that macro or micro tears create scar tissue and stiffen/shorten the tendon while healing it.
Movement and use is great except for a heavy use. So things like jogging to warm up and get the movement yet no actual use.

For me I kept working because well I had to, and I have no doubt that’s why it took me about two years to get it in check. About 6 years later it still flairs up if I forget to tune in, but now I listen and can identify the warning pinges so recovery is just a week or two at most.
 
This started to become concerning about three months ago….. Luckily for me I can scale some of the industrial demands way back, and prioritize this recovery over the winter months.
 
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