Re: tennis/guitar elbow

On 16 Nov 2009, tom walls <tomwalls@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in
rec.music.makers.guitar.jazz:

Anybody have trouble with "tennis elbow" related to guitar
playing? I've had a sore elbow for several weeks now, and -- after
a period of denial -- I'm beginning to associate it with my
playing. I can play fine(well, as good as ever) but when I quit my
elbow is REALLY stiff. I'm already seeing a physical therapist, so
I'll continue working with him on this, but I'm curious whether
anyone else has experienced this.

I've had tennis elbow for about 2 1/2 years now. At first it was in my
left arm - sore elbow, soreness traveling down my forearm. Weak grip. I
sucked it up for about ten months, thinking it would go away on its
own, before seeing the doctor. Unfortunately, they told me there was
little they could do about it, that it would go away on its own. They
prescribed me some ibuprofen as and anti-inflammatory, and gave me a
brace to wear, and showed me some stretches. Otherwise, they mentioned
having cortisone shots, but they said that would relieve the discomfort
for a certain period of time, but not really cure it. I took the
ibuprofen when I had pain, wore the brace to bed, didn't do the
stretches much. Finally, after a year and a half it faded away.

Now the pain is in the OTHER arm. I'm treating it the same way, but
it's not gotten much better yet. I may see the doctor again, I guess.
I'm not happy about having to wait another year before it (maybe) goes
away.

I don't think my condition is due to guitar playing, although that may
aggravate it. I think it may have been more due to weight lifting
(which I stopped) and/or the way I hold my arms when I sleep. Playing
guitar doesn't seem to cause me pain, but I also play ukulele, and that
DOES (because my arms are folded tighter, I think.)
.

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