Tennis Elbow + Mucking Out = Pain - Any Ideas????

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Holtons Hollywood

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Hi all,

I've been suffering from tennis elbow for a few weeks now (self-diagnosed but pretty conclusive) and it just won't go away. I cant stop massaging horses, I can't stop the office work, and I can't stop mucking out! I'm working on ways to change the way I massage and do stuff in the office to take the pressure off the elbow, but I can't think how to change the way I muck out! It is palm-down, hand-closed/gripping, lifting work that hurts the most, but any lifting work with my hand gripping something aches. Any ideas very welcome! Or cures come to that! Thanks in advance!
 
no solutions i am afraid but can sympathise as i have the same thing. think i got it from poo picking. as you say i can't stop doing the jobs which have caused it. hopefully someone will have some suggestions!
 
Yup I did this to myself not long ago mucking out. I had to wear a compress bandage for weeks just so I could lift haynets and even then it was still sore! :(
Figured out I was trying to lift too much muck at once and I was using my arms rather than my core muscles to do the lifting. I now tense my stomach muscles and using my legs bent at first then straightening up I use my arms less and move smaller piles of muck at a time and have far less problems with it.
Hope it gets better soon, I know how much it hurts :(
 
Its mucking out I'm afraid - I have had it too! Rest is the best but that might not be an option. The supports help. Try mucking out with the fork on the other side of your body so you have th hand thats normally lower the higher one etc.
 
I suggest you go to the doc and get a diagnosis. I had tennis elbow many years ago, one steroid injection into the joint and it hasn't returned. Injection didn't hurt btw. I found supports and bandages too painful to wear. If you use a rake and bucket type thingy for mucking out switch to another tool as well. Those things are awful for your hands and arms, well they are for mine.

ps. To diagnose my doc got me sitting at his desk, lay my lower arm on it, palm of hand down and make a fist lightly. He rested his hand on my fist and asked me to try and raise the fist against his hand. Cue lots of pain.
 
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I had this last year. My GP told me to wear a compression bandage or tubigrip but not on the elbow itself. The tubigrip should go from the wrist to just below the elbow joint. A couple of weeks on and the pain had completely gone.
 
I had a problem a few years ago with my elbows, doc referred me for physio and they gave me one of those strap things that holds the tendon in place (I think) and they told me to rest it (yes ok!)

Anyway I broke my leg badly and was laid up for 8 months. Rest certainly did help and I haven't had any problems since.
 
I had bad tennis elbow a couple of years ago - I couldn't even lift a mug in the end. Doctor advised me to see a local chiropractor and he solved it completely in 3 sessions. It hasn't returned and is absolutely fine now. Better than having to have injections (I'm a wimp with needles).
 
kal40 said:
I had a problem a few years ago with my elbows, doc referred me for physio and they gave me one of those strap things that holds the tendon in place (I think) and they told me to rest it (yes ok!)

Anyway I broke my leg badly and was laid up for 8 months. Rest certainly did help and I haven't had any problems since.
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Same for me :) Sat in hospital with broken leg thinking at least my elbow will at last have a chance to get better! Bit of a dramatic way to heal it though, I wouldn't recommend it ! :D

Is there anyone who could muck out for you, even if just for a week? The doctor might be able to give you an idea of how long it would need to heal and perhaps suggest some effective pain killers?
 
Voltarol pain relief gel really helps with mine, plus a tubi grip when really bad.

Mine comes and goes, and find poo picking the culprit.
 
I actually had an injection into my shoulder yesterday. Its sore because someone stuck a big need into it (didn't hurt at the time though) but the pain I had prior to the injection is definitely getting better.

IMO its always better to get professional opinions though.
 
MCTM said:
I had bad tennis elbow a couple of years ago - I couldn't even lift a mug in the end. Doctor advised me to see a local chiropractor and he solved it completely in 3 sessions. It hasn't returned and is absolutely fine now. Better than having to have injections (I'm a wimp with needles).
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This sounds great, what sort of treatment did tey give you?

I've had this in both elbows, damaged one resting the other. The splints (below elbow to wrist) with the velcro fastenings are very good. Also consider ultra sound therapy.I do think that women of a certain age are more prone to these sort of injuries. I'm fine now but do take care not to over do it and always put splints on if doing repetive jobs for any length of time.
 
Scampi said:
can you straighten your elbow right out?
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Yes I can, but I can 'feel' the elbow as I do so.

Thanks for all the replies guys. It's not serious enough for me to head to the doctors yet (I try to avoid going unless I'm properly ill/hurt, get really annoyed at people who go to the doctor for any ailment, taking up the appointments for people who actually need to go!) but I will try moving my fork over to the other side and see how that goes. I was thinking about a support bandage for when I muck out and massage, but I worry about the elbow getting reliant on the support and not healing itself... Hmmmm, will see how I go.
 
To echo others, I had tennis elbow from mucking out (someone else's horse on my land, who hadn't mucked out in many weeks, plus my own daily muck out - 4 hours without stopping). I couldn't answer the phone, carry a handbag or take change out of my wallet. One injection of steroid gave me relief in a couple of days. I had no help, so I had to attempt my own horse's muck removal with my booted foot and good arm, while I rested the bad arm. I've never had the problem since (my back is another story).

Bite the bullet, have the injection. It's really worth it!
 
I suffer from what my physio has diagnosed as golfers elbow caused by mucking out. I have been given several excercises but the simplest thing that has really helped this winter is gaffer taping a tea towel to my fork handle making my grip larger and eliminating the pressure on the elbow. Takes some getting used to I will admit but it has really helped me.
 
I found using compression bandages worked and swapping my lifting arm for a week or so too helped, although was not as effective! Mine does come back every winter, although this one hasn't been too bad as everything is out, it does heal but you'll find if you keep getting it for years it does lead to arthritic joints when you get older - something to look forward too!:D It's my back that's knackered from years of lifting - I prolapsed a disc in my back 2yrs ago now and it's still agony - the things we put up with for our pets!!!! - we must be all nuts!!!:D
 
I think I'm starting to get tennis elbow, but mine is from using a mouse all day at work. It doesn't bother me when I'm mucking out or riding, however I'm sure it is getting progressively worse. THe only time when it really bothers me is when I'm in bed, I think it gets a bit stiffer once I stop moving it about so much. Some good advice on this thread which I will try in the hope it relieves it a bit.. I'm only 26 so I don't want to suffer with it all my life!!
 
I get this too, not too bad this week but with my OCD sweeping habit it can get really bad. I recommend Ibruprofen Extra Strength :)
 
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