lateral epicondylitis
 

Posted this over on SOCNET but I thought I'd also post here to get more feedback. Looking for some advice. Just wondered if anyone has ever undergone the lateral epicondylitis/ tennis elbow surgery. After three steroid shots the ortho doc I go to is unwilling to give another shot and wants to perform surgery (minimally invasive). Anybody out there had this done? Success rate? Recovery problems? Thanks for the input...Swamp

I have had a number of patients undergo this surgery with significant success.

FYI: Internet BBS communities are no place to second guess your orthopedic surgeon...another orthopedic surgeon's office is. Second opinions are not only your friend, but allow educated feedback on your specific situation based on adjunctive imaging studies and a thorough physical exam.

Good luck on your decision

Eagle

couldnt have said it better myself. That is some sound advice.

Thanks for the replies...I've decided to go ahead and get it done. A six week recovery should not be to bad...Will post my results, so anybody in the same boat can have some insight on recovery etc. Regards, Swamp

Just had this surgery in NOV 07
 

Yes. I had the surgery done in NOV 07.

I tweaked the elbow in APR 06 lifting weights (reverse arm curls) and tried to rest it, cortisone shots X 3, and lifting through it. I sought the advice of William Grana, a Sports Med. Dr. in Tucson, AZ. He is the head of the Ortho Assoc. in the U.S. and the lead ortho guy for the Chi Sox Spring Training.

He performed what is called Open Debridement (Dee-Breedment). The reason I am telling you this is because there are a few methods/versions of how to do tennis elbow surgery. I have to say that after some very patient P.T./Rehab, I am now 99% pain free and back in the weight room working on Machines and still doing my PT exercises to strengthen the weak arm.

I want to tell you how bad my Tennis Elbow was. For 1.6 years the pain was between a 6 and 10 pain scale (they always ask you, "on a scale 1 to 10) daily. I have never been so frustrated.

The surgery Dr. Grana performed involved cutting the NAI open, cutting and shortening the tendon, scraping the junk out of the area, drilling a few small holes in my bone to allow for blood flow, reattaching the tendon and sewing me back up. I was in a splint for two weeks. Muscle atrophy set it once it came off. The arm was noticeably smaller/skinnier. I started the PT exercises. Took 3 ibuprofen 3 X daily and iced the elbow for 15 minutes after my PT exercises. There was still pain ... you just adjust your routine as needed. I actually stopped my exercises because it was causing pain. So I laid low and did not use the arm for ANYTHING even though strength was returning. No turning of door knobs, no holding pots and pans while doing dishes, nothing .. you get my point.

Now, I am proceeding with what I like to call "cautious optimism." I think for the most part, I am rehabilitated.

Do your reasearch on the different methods of surgery for Tennis Elbow. I highly suggest Dr. Grana if you can fly into Tucson. I am extremely satisfied. You don't want a poor Ortho guy doing this surgery!

If you want to talk offline, drop me a note and we'll arrange.

Andy

Andy:

Fill in your profile and introduce yourself before posting again, as you were directed in your registration message.

Without that, we have no idea who is passing out advice or asking questions.

TR

Since there is nothing better than 1st hand knowledge, I thought I would post the results of this type of procedure after I have mine in 2 weeks.
I already ruptured 1 tendon off, wore down the annular ligament on the top of the radial head and have instability and alot of pain in the elbow. The above post sounds like what I am supposed to have done but the orthopedic surgeon said that it could all change depending on what else he finds in there.....nothing like letting a trauma surgeon get some non-operative time. I WILL GO STIR CRAZY!!!!
More to follow after Feb 15th. Good thing I have great disability insurance, since I sort of need fine and gross motor skills of the dominate hand/arm (the one being operated on). We make terrible patients!!

ss

I am now 24 hours after my surgery, living on oxycodone and alleve and it still hurts like a blow torch is aimed at my right elbow.
Had a scalene block that lasted ~12 hours and the surgery showed evil and badness. Most of the extensor tendons had separated off and other significant degenerative changes seen...leaking senovial fluid from the time of incision...it was a mess (as per the ortho surgeon). He wondered how the arm functioned so well these last 3 months.....and how i didn't have more pain to get me here sooner.
3 months non-weight bearing on my operating/dominant arm, followed by 2-3 months 'low' stress to it in terms of extention/supination, wear splint everyday not operating and may still need reoperative surgery......just what a surgeon wants to hear!!!!
Anyway, worst is over but pain is a wonderful reminder that I am still functioning.
TS, this would explain my left of center groups shooting the other day as I was likely compensating for the arm.....yes, spent the day with TS shooting AND IT CAUSED PAIN....but it was worth it.
No more shooting for 3-4 months as per the doc.....good thing the support hand shoots nearly as well as the strong side.

Physical and occupational therapy begin in 3 weeks......

It all comes down to the degree of injury that truly can't be assessed until the arm is opened and the surgeon does a retinal scan on the injury...MRI's just don't tell the entire story. As for experiences to share: if your joints hurt, get them looked at; pain is the result of injury and is telling you something. Had I let mine go too much longer, more complex reconstructive surgery would have been likely with a less of a chance at near complete functional recovery....so listen to your body!!!!

ss

Procedure
 

Well I had my "tennis elbow" surgery performed this past Monday so I'm roughly three days out now...the doc did a debridement of the scar tissue through an arthroscopic approach. I believe a total of six small incisions were made. Swelling is minimal but pain is surely present....will update more at a later time.

Day 11
 

Day 11 pain is all but gone...going back to the doc on Monday to get stitches taken out...Hope I can start back using my arm....