Health
YOU & YOUR
Joint Pain
My elbow was on
fire. The path to relief
surprised me
BY
JIM THORN TON
PHOTOGRAPH B Y
ADAM VOORHES
Heal the
Burn
My doubles partner and I lead
the final set 14–13. My elbow has
throbbed all day, but now it’s on
fire. Self-diagnosis: severe lateral
epicondylitis—an inflammation
of an extensor tendon commonly
known as tennis elbow. I ignore
the pain and hit a series of high-
bouncing slice serves. With that,
we win our first match since
July. My elbow, alas, refuses to
join the celebration.
It hasn’t always been so cranky.
In my younger days, I routinely
played four to six hours at a
stretch with no hint of elbow
complaint. Flash forward to age
59, and ice and ibuprofen are as
essential to my game as tennis
shoes. But after yet another visit
to the ice chest and medicine
cabinet, I know it’s time to call
in the big guns.
A week later I’m perched on
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