Calling Doctor Bill...
There is a product called CT Cream which is described as a "topical anti-inflammatory" using a "trans-dermal delivery system" to carry it through the skin.
I have a bad case of tennis elbow (actually fence-building elbow) and no such thing as a topical anti-inflammatory exists in Canada.
Is this stuff for real?
Motrin IB is keeping the pain at bay somewhat, but already my nukites are softening in force due to "favoring" the elbow. This is affecting my training so I'm really on the hunt for a remedy.
Is this latest product really too good to be true? NM
CT Cream
Moderator: Available
-
Bill Glasheen
- Posts: 17299
- Joined: Thu Mar 11, 1999 6:01 am
- Location: Richmond, VA --- Louisville, KY
CT Cream
I am skeptical...
Chances are what is bugging you is so deep that no such transdermal cream is going to get to where you are having problems. What you are talking about is usually a tendon problem, and they take a long time to remedy. Tendons are notorious for poor circulation. That means it takes a long time to heal, and a long time to make stronger.
There are a series of forearm exercises you can do that can help.
Do you know what supination and pronation are? There are machines in the gym now that exercise those motions. These usually get right at "tennis elbow."
Another thing to do along with it is to do tricep extensions and biceps curls.
Finally, I would do PNF stretches inbetween sets. Do a set of supination, PNF stretch in fully pronated position, another set of supination, another PNF stretch while fully pronated, etc.
Ask for clarification where you don't know what I'm talking about.
- Bill
[This message has been edited by Bill Glasheen (edited July 11, 2002).]
Chances are what is bugging you is so deep that no such transdermal cream is going to get to where you are having problems. What you are talking about is usually a tendon problem, and they take a long time to remedy. Tendons are notorious for poor circulation. That means it takes a long time to heal, and a long time to make stronger.
There are a series of forearm exercises you can do that can help.
Do you know what supination and pronation are? There are machines in the gym now that exercise those motions. These usually get right at "tennis elbow."
Another thing to do along with it is to do tricep extensions and biceps curls.
Finally, I would do PNF stretches inbetween sets. Do a set of supination, PNF stretch in fully pronated position, another set of supination, another PNF stretch while fully pronated, etc.
Ask for clarification where you don't know what I'm talking about.
- Bill
[This message has been edited by Bill Glasheen (edited July 11, 2002).]
-
Bill Glasheen
- Posts: 17299
- Joined: Thu Mar 11, 1999 6:01 am
- Location: Richmond, VA --- Louisville, KY
CT Cream
Two more things.
1) Always first seek an MD in person for medical advice.
2) Remember that ice arrests inflammation (better than just about any drug), and heat stimulates circulation and promotes healing.
So... Ice your elbow after work or after having worked it. Use heat before exercise or work. If not moist heat, one of those neoprene things on the elbow when you exercise helps. It tends to retain heat.
- Bill
1) Always first seek an MD in person for medical advice.
2) Remember that ice arrests inflammation (better than just about any drug), and heat stimulates circulation and promotes healing.
So... Ice your elbow after work or after having worked it. Use heat before exercise or work. If not moist heat, one of those neoprene things on the elbow when you exercise helps. It tends to retain heat.
- Bill
CT Cream
I agree that one should always seek the help of a physician in person. (MD or DO 
) Some general comments about "tennis elbow." Tennis elbow is in a class of injuries called overuse injuries. These injuries are common among athletes and usually result from overtraining a particular body area or from incorrect form during exercise. A common problem with treatment is a lack of adequate rest for the injured body part. If a person's elbow hurts during a particular movement, he or she should avoid that movement for a week or two. It is better to rest initially and solve the problem than to push it and have a chronic problem. Exercises are usually recommended after the initial rest period and Dr Glasheen has done a great job explaining them. The caveat is that one should allow the body time to heal first. If symptoms persist despite rest, ice, and NSAIDs (non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as advil, alieve, etc,) it is time to consider a steroid injection. Recent research has shown that steroid injections have the quickest onset of relief and the lowest incidence of relapse. However, one should always seek a qualified physician as the injections can have their downside if done incorrectly.
I know of a new non-steroidal anti-inflammatory cream that is used to treat psoriasis and eczema, but not for muscle, ligament, and tendon injuries.
Michael Kelly, DO
) Some general comments about "tennis elbow." Tennis elbow is in a class of injuries called overuse injuries. These injuries are common among athletes and usually result from overtraining a particular body area or from incorrect form during exercise. A common problem with treatment is a lack of adequate rest for the injured body part. If a person's elbow hurts during a particular movement, he or she should avoid that movement for a week or two. It is better to rest initially and solve the problem than to push it and have a chronic problem. Exercises are usually recommended after the initial rest period and Dr Glasheen has done a great job explaining them. The caveat is that one should allow the body time to heal first. If symptoms persist despite rest, ice, and NSAIDs (non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as advil, alieve, etc,) it is time to consider a steroid injection. Recent research has shown that steroid injections have the quickest onset of relief and the lowest incidence of relapse. However, one should always seek a qualified physician as the injections can have their downside if done incorrectly.I know of a new non-steroidal anti-inflammatory cream that is used to treat psoriasis and eczema, but not for muscle, ligament, and tendon injuries.
Michael Kelly, DO
CT Cream
" If not moist heat, one of those neoprene things on the elbow when you exercise
helps. It tends to retain heat."
I wore so many of those on my body I felt that I may as well wear a wet suit. They are fantastic in helping to heal. Seek a good Physio therapist, in my opinion they are your bodies best friend in times of need
helps. It tends to retain heat."
I wore so many of those on my body I felt that I may as well wear a wet suit. They are fantastic in helping to heal. Seek a good Physio therapist, in my opinion they are your bodies best friend in times of need
-
Ted Dinwiddie
- Posts: 537
- Joined: Thu Sep 16, 1999 6:01 am
- Location: Charlottesville,VA,USA
CT Cream
I'll add that Bill gave me the same information/advice about three or four months ago for the same problem. It is darn hard to ease off and not try to push through, but I did it. I iced and I NSAIDed and I avoided the stuff that seemed to make it worse. When it started to get better, I started doing stretching/conditioning exercises. I have NO PAIN now. I religiously do warm up exercises before workouts now. I used to short cut that part when I was pressed for time or just impatient. Now, if all I have time for is the warmups, then that is all I do.
I have learned that warm-up is CRITICAL to a productive workout routine and I have learned that rest is just as critical. I learned this the same way I seem to learn everything, the hard way. (Now to conquer the 10pm snack...)
2Green, take it easy and heal, then begin building new habits. You'll come back stronger than ever.
------------------
ted
"I learn by going where I have to go." - Theodore Roethke
I have learned that warm-up is CRITICAL to a productive workout routine and I have learned that rest is just as critical. I learned this the same way I seem to learn everything, the hard way. (Now to conquer the 10pm snack...)
2Green, take it easy and heal, then begin building new habits. You'll come back stronger than ever.
------------------
ted
"I learn by going where I have to go." - Theodore Roethke
CT Cream
Thank you all for the prompt and expert advice...all good! Don't worry, I understand all advice is strictly "off the record"!
I understand pronation/supination (palm up, palm down), but I don't know the term PNF.
I do have the Stretcher's 'Bible" ("Stretching" by Bob & Jean Anderson)which I got when I threw my back out, but it's an older book and I don't know if it refers to PNF.
Thank you all SO much again. NM
I understand pronation/supination (palm up, palm down), but I don't know the term PNF.
I do have the Stretcher's 'Bible" ("Stretching" by Bob & Jean Anderson)which I got when I threw my back out, but it's an older book and I don't know if it refers to PNF.
Thank you all SO much again. NM
-
Bill Glasheen
- Posts: 17299
- Joined: Thu Mar 11, 1999 6:01 am
- Location: Richmond, VA --- Louisville, KY
CT Cream
PNF stands for Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation. That's why they call it PNF. 
The concept is pretty simple:
1) Put the muscle or muscles in question in the fully stretched (extended, lengthened, etc.) position.
2) Find a way to lock yourself in that position. Traditionally these are done with a partner, but I have found a way to do all my PNF stretches without one.
3) Perform an isometric (maximum force while held still) contraction of the muscle or muscles in question for approximately 7 seconds. Be sure NOT to hold your breath and strain (Valsalva).
4) Relax and hold the position for a bit.
In the case of the supination and pronation, have your elbow at approximately 90 degrees while performing the PNF stretch. I've found ways of doing these by holding the hand/wrist with the other hand. You can also do these by holding on to some fixture like a ballet bar, while keeping the elbow stationary.
As for the exercises... I am blessed with a gymnasium that has a nice (isotonic) machine that does all the movements of the wrist/forearm (flexion, extension, supination, pronation, ulnar deviation, radial deviation). One can basically do the supination and pronation exercises at home via a weight on the end of a stick or bar. It's crude, but it works. Nakahodo is a classic example of someone that made do with simple (concrete on the end of a stick). Just be sure to hold the elbow down on some surface while doing the exercises so as to isolate the desired motion. Again, best to do them with elbow at approximately 90 degrees.
BTW, I second Dr. Kelly's comment about rest. Tendons in particular are nasty to work with. You often don't know you overdid it until 2 to 3 days later, and then you are in agony. Be patient, and be persistent. Time is your best friend here.
- Bill
The concept is pretty simple:
1) Put the muscle or muscles in question in the fully stretched (extended, lengthened, etc.) position.
2) Find a way to lock yourself in that position. Traditionally these are done with a partner, but I have found a way to do all my PNF stretches without one.
3) Perform an isometric (maximum force while held still) contraction of the muscle or muscles in question for approximately 7 seconds. Be sure NOT to hold your breath and strain (Valsalva).
4) Relax and hold the position for a bit.
In the case of the supination and pronation, have your elbow at approximately 90 degrees while performing the PNF stretch. I've found ways of doing these by holding the hand/wrist with the other hand. You can also do these by holding on to some fixture like a ballet bar, while keeping the elbow stationary.
As for the exercises... I am blessed with a gymnasium that has a nice (isotonic) machine that does all the movements of the wrist/forearm (flexion, extension, supination, pronation, ulnar deviation, radial deviation). One can basically do the supination and pronation exercises at home via a weight on the end of a stick or bar. It's crude, but it works. Nakahodo is a classic example of someone that made do with simple (concrete on the end of a stick). Just be sure to hold the elbow down on some surface while doing the exercises so as to isolate the desired motion. Again, best to do them with elbow at approximately 90 degrees.
BTW, I second Dr. Kelly's comment about rest. Tendons in particular are nasty to work with. You often don't know you overdid it until 2 to 3 days later, and then you are in agony. Be patient, and be persistent. Time is your best friend here.
- Bill
CT Cream
Last year I had a very painful elbow problem. I couldn't even swing a hammer. If I forgot about my elbow and tried to pick up anything, the pain made me sick. I found that vast quantities of ice, proper stretching, more ice, rest and even more ice helped the healing process. The toughest thing was to allow my body to recover. I hope you are able to rest the area and allow it to heal. The people giving you their suggestions in this forum are experienced and knowledgable. Please use this information wisely. I hope in short time you'll be kicking a** in your MA training.
