Tennis (elbow) anyone?

[Jane Smith]

So, I have self diagnosed myself after researching it online.

I have all the classic symptoms of tennis elbow, and I got it from brushing out Lucy and Ethel Mae,

 

It started a week and 1/2 ago after I bathed and brushed both dogs.  I waited a week and had my DH brush them to hopefully help it heal.  Well, last night I really had to work on Ethel's matts, because my DH just didn't do a very good job, and if I don't get them out before this weekend, my groomer is going to not only charge me an arm and a leg, but will probably want to shave her.  I work up to extreme pain in my elbow and forearm and I can't even raise a cup of tea to my mouth.

I have taken IB, so I will see if that helps.  I will also try to ice it today.

 

Has anyone else had this happen from brushing?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Jane, I'm going to disagree with your diagnosis and say that your pain is a muscular strain rather than tendonitis. I have some experience working with clients who had tennis elbow, otherwise known as lateral epicondylitis, which is a type of tendonitis, and brushing dogs, no matter how you do it, would not likely cause it unless you were working in a grooming shop doing it all day, every day, and even then, it's doubtful that the kind of movements used in grooming a dog would result in that particular form of injury.

One tip I would give you is to relax your grip when you're working on the dogs. Be aware of how tightly you are gripping the brush or any other implement, and try to hold it as loosely as possible.

I am also not a doctor, and I guess anything is possible. At any rate, I hope that rest and icing helps and you feel better soon.

 

[Jane Smith]

I was hoping it was muscle strain (and it very well could be), but after talking with my good friend that has played tennis all her life, and I explained my symptoms, she said it sounded exactly like tennis elbow.

 

Sadly, I am very familiar with tendonitis.  Since getting Lucy and Ethel, and until they learned to not pull on the leash, I had to have 2 shots of cortisone in each shoulder for tendonitis.  They practically pulled my arms out of the sockets.

I brush both dogs very thoroughly every other day, and it certainly does take a toll on my arms after 2 years.  I'm no young pup anymore. lol 

 

I am going to give it until Friday, and will then make an appointment. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I think that's wise. I hope it turns out not to be a chronic condition.

Also, once you are feeling better, maybe some simple upper body strength training exercises would help make grooming the dogs easier.

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

I think so too. Unless you are doing some sort of funky brushing move, I don't think it's the right movement for tennis elbow. Think of a tennis swing motion...

 

I think you do need some physiotherapy though. I hope you have insurance. I get a lot of pain from too much computer use (imagine that!). I find accupuncture and massage really helps.

[Jane Smith]

This is what I found googling it:

Tennis Elbow Causes
Any repetitive motion of the wrist, including tennis, hedge clipping, excessive use of a hammer or screwdriver, painting, or any activity that requires excessive constant gripping or squeezing can cause the condition known as tennis elbow.

It went on to say that many people with this condition have never played tennis.

It does look like the cure for both muscle strain and tennis elbow are pretty much the same. Rest, and ice.

I also sit behind a computer 10 hours a day, and it even hurts to just reach for the mouse.

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

oh Jane, that sounds terrible. I know the feeling of having repetitive strain and how frustrating it can be. I'm sorry you're dealing with this. Maybe you should keep working on your DH's brushing skills. Good luck with the rest and ice!

[Sharon & Monty]

OMD YES! And I have a bum shoulder.  It never bothers me unless I use it!  ha ha.  I've also developed a trigger thumb that is killing me as I type this.  Yesterday I went to pick up a cup of soup and nearly dumped the whole thing, thumb would not move and its very painful.  I dont want to go, but its gotten serious now, so off to the doctor I go.  

 

btw, I would call your elbow serious too, but probably what they would tell you is dont' use it!  Its that easy.  Hope you feel better soon.

[Butz + Daniela]

I had tennis elbow (diagnosed) from playing tug'n'toss with Butz with a big rope. We played pulling on it and I also lifted him up and made him fly. First I had shoulder pbls which got fixed with injections and shock wave therapy. Then it started to hurt in the elbow and between elbow and arm. So far I got injections and an Epicondylitis-clasp, some bond to strap on below the elbow. It actually did not help much, same as you I could not lift a pot of coffee. What helped for me was total rest of the arm as often as possible. I tried to do e'thing with the other arm and also do it more relaxed/less cramped. After 4 weeks its better again, but I still feel some pain when e.g. they pull on the leash. My doc was also talking of radiotherapy which is supposed to help well.

Its incredible how we suffer from our sweeties... Right now I have a heal spurn from too much walking and running with the dogs, of course ;-).

[Debbie and Thomas]

I had a case of "tennis elbow" after painting a room in my house.  I couldn't lift a fork to my mouth.  A friend got it on both arms after carrying in mutiple bags of ice with each hand into his house for a party he was having.  His wife had to feed him!  He told me about a product that will ease the strain on your elbow...you can purchase at any pharmacy.  It is a simply band that you attach to your forarm about 2 inches below your elbow.  It tightens with velcro.  I felt relief right away...Somehow it takes the strain of the tendons in your elbow when you are using your arm.  Mine dissapeared and I never got it back and I work in construction...renovating houses.

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

yes, those bands are helpful!

[Camilla and Darwin]

Hope you feel better quick!

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

I've had this from work and the braces help and I had to ice it multiple times a day.Sorry you are in pain Iknow where you are coming from. I think it's from any competitive motion especially clenching onto the brush for that long. Hope you feel better soon.