Expert: Dr. Victor Dolan, DC, DACBSP - 3/26/2009

Question
hello,
    I need advice here and hope you may help.  I have chronic pain (tennis elbow) from my right elbow because I play of badminton three times a week. I am playing badminton with elbow brace, and normally the pain will be gone after warm up. Normally, there is minor pain and tenderness on the outer side of the elbow after the game.
    But recently, there is apparent swelling out joint-area of the elbow. There is pain from my elbow when the racket contact/swing to the shuttlecocks.  I have some strange sensations feeling after the game, Such as clicking, grinding, knocking from upper lateral epicondylitis area when I bend my elbow.  Those symptoms will be gone after two to three days with good rest. However those symptoms will came back again after I play badminton.

I am still able to left/hold more than 30lb with no pain, but the arm feel tire very quick; the stiffness feeling from the elbow. There is pain from my elbow when throwing stuff or hold a racket and swing), but no pain when I straighten or raise my wrist and hand.  No pain when I make a fist, grip an object, shake hands, or turn door handles. No lost of motion from my elbow too.  

Plus, what cause/how does sensations feeling - clicking, grinding, pop sound come up?  I am really what to know about it

best regards
Feng

Answer
Tennis Elbow , Lateral Epicondylitis



Hello Feng,

Sorry to hear of your pain in the lateral elbow, 'Tennis Elbow', Lateral Epicondylitis.

You tell me you have Chronic Pain, wear a tennis elbow brace, normally there is pain and tenderness on the outer side of the elbow....
'Normally' there is pain?

Recently there is apparent swelling, clicking, grinding, knocking.
You really want to know what is going on.

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm,
You really want to know what is going on?, Did you read this letter?, You TELL me this is a chronic problem.  YOU tell me the elbow hurts after playing.  YOU TELL me 'lateral epicondylitis',,, so someone has made a diagnosis.  You tell me you wear a brace, so someone is attempting to treat you.
              You tell me that with pain and swelling, you continue to play, now-- there is grinding, clicking, knocking.

You want to know what is going on?
Your problem is progressing.

Your mild Lateral Epicondylitis is moving towards Severe Lateral Epicondylitis.

I do not know how often you are visiting your Doctor of Chiropractic, massage therapist (LMT), or physical therapist(PT) right now?- once per week?

I do not know what therapies they are doing to your Tennis Elbow.

You need a re-examination, re-evaluation at your sports chiropractor or LMT, or PT.  They need to change your treatment schedule, perhaps change your treatment therapies, perhaps prescribe a period of rest.

See your treating health professional, have a new examination, get appropriate treatment, perhaps take a rest from competition.

I highly recommend the local sports chiropractic doctor, muscle stimulation, ultrasound, adjustment if found needed, kinesiotaping for support.  In my Staten Island Sports Chiropractic office, I would utilize all of the above.

After this discussion, please find some information that I hand out to my Staten Island Tennis Elbow Patients.

I hope this all helps. If you have further questions, do not hesitate to re-contact me here at ALLexperts.com @
http://allexperts.com/ep/965-100794/Chiropractors/Victor-Dolan-DC-DACBSP.htm




Thank you for your question. I wish you good luck and Good Health Naturally,


Dr. Victor Dolan, DC DACBSP
http://drvictordolan.chiroweb.com (Email newsletter)




Get to the cause of your pain,,,,
do NOT just take pain pills to cover up the problem! :




PAIN

Pain is a ‘red light on the dashboard’.

Pain is your body telling you that something is wrong.

That RED LIGHT on the dashboard of your car-
-- do you ignore it until the car breaks down,
or do you get it checked and correct the problem?

Pain,
pain in your body-
-- do you ignore it until your body breaks down,
or do you get it checked and correct the problem?

Pain,
do you cover up the pain by taking a painkiller?
Take a painkiller, mask the pain, and allow a problem to progress in your body?


NOTICE ON PAIN RELIEVERS:

Label changes ORDERED by FDA; the FDA announced proposed label changes for OTC over-the-counter pain relievers to include the potential for stomach bleeding and liver damage (FDA news 206- 207; 12-9-06) ;

The American Heart Association issued a scientific statement recommending medical doctors change the way they prescribe OTC pain relievers from a first choice to an alternate of recommending non-pharmacologic treatment (AHA statement 2-26-07).

NSAID Acceleration of ARTHRITIS; an important side effect of Aspirin and other NSAIDS is that it will inhibit cartilage repair and accelerate cartilage  destruction ( Journal of Rheumatology, 1982; 9: 3- 5 ). Many times people take NSAIDS for the pain of Arthritis, not realizing these drugs may make the underlying condition worse. These medications cover up the pain, and cause the problem to worsen.


Pain can often be the result of the Vertebral Subluxation Complex.

Vertebral Subluxation ( ‘VSC’ , ‘subluxation’ )
Vertebral Subluxation is actually a quite common condition. Doctors of
Chiropractic look for pathological conditions which may require referral to other specialties, and also look for ‘Subluxation’. Other disciplines look for pathology, but overlook the importance of alignment and movement in the spine which affects our nervous system (the master control system- ALL health disciplines learn this). VSC- ‘Subluxation’ – can be the cause of many symptoms and conditions.




Only a Doctor of Chiropractic will evaluate and treat for VSC, as
well as other pathology.



The course of VSC is highly variable. Some patients with VSC literally cannot walk, yet other patients with similar test findings may be able to run marathons or lift heavy weights. Some patients immediately develop symptoms related to the VSC, some patients take years to develop symptoms. Some people suffer for only a few days with pain and symptoms, some people suffer for months. Some
people recover in days, some take months or years, depending upon severity of the condition.

A subluxation interferes with the proper functioning of the nervous system (the master system which controls and coordinates all function within the body) and may cause various other conditions, symptoms and problems.


The Vertebral Subluxation Complex describes what happens when spinal bones lose their normal movement patterns and position. When subluxated, joints are in a stressed, vulnerable, compromised condition. Subluxation may cause Arthritis, Disk Herniation, or aggravate such conditions.
Vertebral Subluxation cannot be corrected through chemicals
(medicine), stretching, yoga, vitamins or physical therapy alone.
Subluxation- a neuro/skeletal/muscular- mechanical- problem requires a mechanical correction- - - a manipulation, best performed with
the chiropractic adjustment.

Dr. Victor E. Dolan, Doctor of Chiropractic; Diplomat, American Chiropractic Board of Sport Physicians; Diplomat, American Academy of Pain Management; Certified Clinical Nutritionist (IAACN); FIRST Chief of Chiropractic in a  Hospital in New York State (DHSI); As Seen in PREVENTION Magazine





In the meantime,,,,,,
Rest and Ice:





P.R.I.C.E. =

P protection. R rest. I ice. C compression. E elevation.


Hurt yourself ?? injury/ trauma/ bruise/ not even sure - - a broken bone ??

You should certainly get to the Doctor or trained health professional to be
examined if you think it is bad enough.
BUT in the meantime, some simple steps may help.

PRICE.



The PRICE protocol will usually help just about any musculoskeletal injury.

P = Protection; protect the area from further injury- stop what you are doing,
can you pad or bandage the area ? Tape the area? Do something to protect the
area !

R = Rest; rest the area as much as possible, if a part is damaged, give the
body time to repair the area

I = Ice; ice is a potent anti-inflammatory; it will slow swelling, help with
pain control (ice is analgesic), place ice over cloth over the injured area for
5, 10 minutes, off the injured area for 30 minutes; then back on again

C = Compression; to help prevent swelling compression may be helpful- for
example if it is an ankle, wrap the ankle with an ace bandage and ice the area.
Many body parts may not be applicable to compression.

E = Elevation; again to fight swelling and pain, raising the injured body part
above the heart may be helpful- ie raise an ankle or knee, you lay down, raise
the injured part



PRICE may help : Sprains, Strains, musculo-skeletal injury, bruise,
contusion

Sometimes a slip, trip, fall, heavy lift, athletic injury, or a motor vehicle accident can cause a bump or bruise, sprain or strain. Sometimes also involved with the injury is a vertebral subluxation (or other joint subluxation)
(subluxation is a mechanical problem- of any joint- and requires a mechanical correction). In the spine, a sprain/strain is a misalignment, a ‘kink’ in
the joint, a stretch of the muscles, tendons and/ or ligaments:- more properly termed a Vertebral Subluxation. Sometimes symptoms can come immediately, sometimes days, weeks or even months later!- Well after the actual trauma !!!

Spinal = Vertebral Subluxation Complex (a.k.a.
‘subluxation’) ; ( subluxation COULD be any joint )
The vertebral subluxation complex is the underlying cause of many healthcare problems.

A subluxation interferes with the proper functioning of the nervous system  (the master system which controls and coordinates all function within the body) and may cause various other conditions, symptoms and problems.