So, I’ve been dealing with this killer pain in my elbow for a while now. You know, that nagging ache that just won’t quit? Yeah, that’s the one. It got to the point where even lifting a coffee mug felt like a Herculean task. I finally caved and decided to get it checked out, figured it was time to tackle this “tennis elbow” thing head-on, even though I haven’t touched a tennis racket in years.
First thing’s first, I did what any normal person would do: I Googled “tennis elbow pain relief warminster.” I mean, I needed to find some relief, and I’m no doctor, so the internet it was. I started with taking some over the counter painkillers, like ibuprofen. It took the edge off, but that gnawing pain was still there. It helped, yeah, but it wasn’t really solving the problem.
Then I started reading about some FDA-cleared laser treatment. And it addresses the cause of the pain by reducing pain, swelling. This is a option but I am not sure I would like to do this.
Then I started looking into physical therapy. I found a few places in Warminster and New Britain that seemed promising. But before I even got to that, I figured I’d try some home remedies. I rested my arm as much as possible, which is tough when you’re a busy person. I also started doing some gentle stretches and exercises I found online. Seemed simple enough. They were supposed to help with the tenderness, especially around the outside of my elbow, which was the epicenter of the pain.
- Rest: I tried to give my arm a break whenever I could.
- Ice: I’d ice the area for about 15-20 minutes a few times a day.
- Stretches: Did some basic wrist and forearm stretches.
The biggest thing I learned is that tennis elbow is pretty common. It’s not just for tennis players, which is a relief because, like I said, I’m no Serena Williams. Apparently, it’s caused by repetitive motions, like using a paintbrush or a hammer. Basically, anything that puts constant tension on those tendons in your elbow. The anatomy is kind of interesting, too. Your elbow is made up of the humerus, radius, and ulna bones, and the muscles and tendons around them can get inflamed.
I’ve also been trying to be more mindful of how I use my arm throughout the day. Turns out, even little things like how I hold my phone or type on my computer can make a difference.
After a couple of weeks of this routine, I did start to notice some improvement. It wasn’t a miracle cure, but the pain was definitely less intense. It’s still a work in progress, but I feel like I’m finally on the right track.