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SALT LAKE CITY - The world of health and medicine can be confusing to many parents. But Nurse Suzy is here to help clarify some of the issues that are important to you and your family.
This week's question deals with how to treat tendonitis.
Question: At the start of summer I was out doing yard work and cutting thatch with shears. Since then, my arm from my hand through my elbow has ached. I have looked in medical books and I figured I have tennis elbow along with something like carpal tunnel. I bought a brace for both and wear them, taking ibuprofen at night. It all seems to be helping except when I am not wearing the brace and I strain those muscles again. How long does it take to heal if I continue to not use my arm very much? Would a cortisone shot help, or should I just wait for time to heal it?
Answer: Tennis elbow is a form of tendonitis — inflammation of the tendons — that effects the tendons on the outside of the elbow. Tendons are cords of fibrous tissue that connect muscle to bone, which aids in movement. They usually become inflamed due to constant repetitive motion of the muscle.
Tendonitis is very common in sports because of the repeated movements and strain on the muscle. But it is becoming more and more common in everyday life. Many people are more active and their employment requires repetitive motion, such as computer programing, typing, etc.
There are many options and ways to treat tendonitis. I will name just a few:
- Rest the affected area for at least 3 weeks. 2. Heat the area several times a day (may help some, not all). 3. Ice the area several times a day (may help some, not all). 4. Apply heat rubs or pain-relieving ointments (like BENGAY) to the area. 5. Take anti-inflammatory medication every 6 hours for a few days. 6. Use tendon bands, which you place on the area of inflammation to compress the tendon and help relieve stress. You can find these in medical supply stores. 7. Massage can help or hurt the injury, so use with caution and ask a doctor if you want to opt for this treatment. If not treated, tendonitis will cause scaring of the soft tissue. In most cases, soft tissue takes longer to heal than a broken bone.
The most effective technique, of course, is prevention. Here are some suggestions:
Stretch the tendon before and after activity
Light stretching is an excellent tendonitis prevention technique. You should stretch the tendon lightly before and after strenuous activities. Stretches must be held for at least 20 seconds to be effective. When you stretch, hold the stretch in the same position — do not bounce! Bouncing as you stretch puts excess strain on the tendon and may lead to damage.
If you feel a pain in your tendons or joint, stop the activity
If you start to feel light pain around your tendons around joints, it could be a sign that they're under too much pressure and tendonitis is going to develop. In most cases resting, even for short periods of time, will let your tendons heal very quickly.
If you cannot find relief with these suggestions, seek help from your doctor to make sure there is not something more serious going on.
Suzanne Carlile, "Nurse Suzy," has been a nurse since 1982. Her main focus is critical care and nursing education. She holds a master's degree in nursing, is a Certified Emergency Nurse, and a member of NNSDO Intermountain West Chapter.
