Acupuncture for the Treatment of Tennis Elbow

An Alternative to Elbow Braces or Cortizone

I was diagnosed with tennis elbow (or lateral epicondylitis). The pain started when I was playing volleyball frequently. I was having issues in bending or twisting my right elbow. Eventually the pain became unbearable. I starting using an elbow brace at the advice of my HMO to see if the pain would go away. Once the pain did not subside, I was given cortisone shots to battle the pain. I was told upfront by the doctor that cortisone was only a temporary solution. In order to get rid of the pain, I would have to endure the shots more frequently or pursue other means, such as surgery.

After being discouraged about my predicament, I decided to do some research on the subject and came across an article describing for alternative medicine treatments, focusing on acupuncture. I reviewed my HMO policy and found that there were some providers available in my area. I asked my primary care physician if there would be any issue in seeing an acupuncturist. Luckily, I did not have any issues.

I was skeptical when I first made the appointment to the acupuncturist. My initial appointment was to discuss my problem and how to approach my treatment. Since I was under an HMO that was recognized by my doctor, I was told I would receive a discount on the service. I noticed when I entered the office, that there were numerous books, remedies, herbs and pamphlets on acupuncture and other forms of alternative medicine. I was fascinated about the subject. My doctor told me I would need to come in at least twice a week for a few weeks to see how I was progressing. The doctor took the time to explain the idea of using Chinese medicine and to analyze my symptoms.