Elbow Pain Treatment In Vancouver

Successful treatment for elbow pain based on knowledge and experience

Our Naturopathic Doctors have a 95% success rate in improving elbow pain within 6-12 sessions. This success rate includes treatments for tennis elbow ( lateral epicondylitis ), golfer’s elbow (medial epicondylitis ), and unexplained elbow or arm pain. The reason our Naturopathic Doctors are able to get such impressive results with their treatments is due to the comprehensive knowledge of the anatomy of the elbow coupled with specialized treatments that heal the root cause of the elbow pain.  The expertise to know what technique will most effectively treat each person’s elbow pain sets our clinic apart.

Our Naturopathic Doctors have been trained in and utilize techniques that are world renowned for curing elbow pain, like tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow. These techniques vary from gentle to aggressive. An example of the gentle techniques would be Pain Neutralization Technique and an example of aggressive would be Restorative Injection Techniques (a term used to talk about injections that utilize safe effective natural substances to heal the body through an injectable route of administration).

Our Naturopathic Doctors also give various natural creams and prescriptions to help calm inflammation without the toxic side effects to the liver and kidneys.

Read the following article from our newsletter for more info on how we would treat tennis elbow:

Relief from Tennis Elbow / Lateral Epicondylitis

Great treatments for Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis) that get you back in the game.

Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylosis or Epicondylitis) is reported to affect over 50% of regular tennis players at some point during their career. Oddly enough, the majority of people who suffer from this condition are not even tennis players. Tennis players only make up 5% of people suffering from this condition. Another oddity is that it is called lateral epicodylitis, suggesting inflammation as the cause, yet studies under the microscope do not show any classic inflammatory changes in the area. Actually, what is seen is microscopic tears of the tendon. The constant repetition of an offending motion inhibits the tissue from healing and leaves the person in pain.

The person suffering from this will usually have sharp, achy or burning pain in the outer elbow and pressure in the area may feel exquisitely tender. Patients will report acute pain after repetitive motions like scouring pots, playing tennis, or swinging a hammer. The pain may start a day or two after the activity, usually is exacerbated by grabbing and lifting things and is sometimes accompanied with sudden painful twinges. Patients complain of discomfort after playing sports or occupational activities involving repetition, holding up arms for extended periods of time or swinging of tools.

With the appropriate Naturopathic Treatments this can repair rapidly. The most conservative treatment methods that may potentially resolve early tendonitis is by applying frictional massage to affected areas, and / or a dry-needling technique utilizing an acupuncture needle. Both will mildly stimulate fibroblastic activity with careful needle manipulation. Offending activities need to be arrested and replaced with a therapeutic exercise regime involving strengthening the flexor / extensor musculature of the forearm. Strengthening of the arm flexors and extensors should also be encouraged.

Dr John’s favorite techniques, i.e. the ones that have given the best changes are the following:

Pain Neutralization Technique is rapid way of getting immediate relief. You will notice change in the first session but most people need multiple treatments to get full cure of the condition. It is a hands on treatment that seeks to immediately change the pain. We find a pain spot and then find a reflex point that takes it away.

Restorative Injection Techniques (RIT) bring about lasting relief in tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow as well as many other conditions, without the use of cortisone or other toxic drugs. We use a small needle to stimulate fibroblastic activity which begins to heal the tendons in the elbow. This will decrease elbow pain and improve pain free range of motion. What I like about this treatment is that we should see marked improvement within 3-6 injections for most elbow pain.

Myofascial release technique is a way of releasing fascial and muscular tensions that pull on the tendons and create the tearing in the elbow. This loosens the area and allows for less tension in the elbow with repetitive movements and thus decreases the likelihood of the microtears in the tendons of the elbow.

Home therapeutic massage can be performed after applying moist heat to the elbow for 10 minutes. The opposite thumb or blunt object can be moved along the extensor muscle fibers of the forearm and around the elbow. Application of castor oil or capsicum cream over the affected area may facilitate the treatment. A supplement prescription to aid healing may include protease enzymes.

Edwards, S. Autologous Blood Injections for Refractory Lateral Epicondylitis. The Journal of Hand Surgery Vol. 28A No. 2 March 2003

Song L. Fifty cases of external humeral epicondylitis treated by moxibustion and point-injection. J Tradit Chin Med. 2004 Sep; 24(3):194-5.

Tallman, D. Treatment for tennis elbow including autologous blood injection therapy. ND News and Review Aug 17, 2005 07:15