Tendonitis - help!

[yadiraj]

I have a question for any of you. I have tendonitis in my elbow a.k.a. tennis elbow. It is taking a long time to heal (about 6 weeks now). I didn’t want to stop doing weights due to the fact that I’m one of those individuals that has a difficult time adding muscle. What I’m doing at this point: am using a heavy weight on my healthy arm and a lighter weight on my other (one that doesn’t cause pain). Do you think that this will present a problem of imbalance? I can use heavy weight for any exercise(s) that doesn’t require bending at my elbow.

Just want to hear your opinion on this issue and any advice you can give me. Thank you!

 

[sarahs]

I would take time off from upper body strength. It will heal much faster but since that doesn't seem to be an option for you, I would avoid exercises such as the French Press. This will cause strain on the elbow. Also, ice after your workouts.

I have had tendonitis in my lower leg, which prevented me from doing any cardio for 3 weeks. After that I started back slow and iced after every workout. It would flare up if I started doing to much high impact at first so I would have to take a couple days off, here and there. In the long run this helped tremendously (I certainly was going crazy not being able to do cardio) and it has not flared up in about 2 years now.

Tedonitis can be very painful and stubborn. Just remember that the less you do now to aggravate it, the better it will be down the line.

Good Luck!

 

[yadiraj]

Thank you for your response. I'll try to take it slow and easy. It is difficult to give up something you "love and enjoy" doing. Plus knowing that is hard getting and keeping the "little" muscle I've got.

Thanks again!

Yadira

 

[dona]

I have tendonitis in and around both of my knees and one of my hips.

I don't shy away from any Cathe exercises. In fact, a good intense workout really warms
up the areas and makes them a bit looser and less painful for a little while.

I DO have to take a bit of extra warm up time if the workout has a lot of impact moves in it.
That amount of time depends on how sore the joints are that day.

I don't think you should have to go light on the sore side. You should get the arms very
warmed up before weight work. Also, NEVER hold the weight with a straight elbow.
ALWAYS, keep (at least a slight) bend in the elbow. I found this out after I strained an
elbow last fall. You might try going slower with your heavier eights and only after a good
warm-up.

Dona

 

[yadiraj]

Thank you Dona! I'll try to warm-up longer, see if that helps me.

Yadira