I just got diagnosed with it. Haven't been near a tennis racket in years, and BTW sounds pretty effete to me.

Got it from throwing with the kids in the cold in early March.

How long can I expect to have it?

I recently got it too, from chopping wood.

My doctor says to get used to it - I'll have it in varying degrees the rest of my life. Ibuprofen helps. There's also something like an Ace bandage on steroids which will put pressure on the sore spot near the elbow, it specifically says on the package that it's for tennis elbow. I found that to help too.

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2002 E320 4-Matic
2008 Subaru Outback
2009 Subaru Forester

I've had it on and off in both elbows. Once it stayed for about nine months, the other times less. Cortisone injection solved it once. Other time, massive continual doses of Naproxen (Ibuprofen) for about 2 weeks, nonstop.
I've done the continual dosage of Ibuprofen on later episodes and it worked.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

What's with all the interest in tennis elbow all of a sudden? Must be something in the water... Just got it myself a couple months ago, thought it would go away on its own if I took it easy on the arm; boy was I wrong. Doctor said to immobilize and take ibuprofen 800mg 3x daily for one week, which definitely helped. I stopped the ibuprofen about a week ago and have just been using two braces; one is actually a carpal-tunnel brace but it helps by limiting my wrist motions; the other is the aforementioned arm bandage which puts pressure on the sore tendons. The arm bandage actually helps provide support and imparts a bit of strength to the arm as well. I plan on taking it all off in a 2 or 3 weeks and slowly exercising to regain strength.

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08 W251 R350
97 W210 E320
91 W124 300E
86 W126 560SEL
85 W126 380SE Silver
85 W126 380SE Cranberry
79 W123 250
78 W123 280E
75 W114 280

First time for me a week and a half ago. Nothing out of the normal, throwing bags of grass seed and fertilizer on a customer's truck and the next morning I could barely bend my arm. I figure it's just creeping towards 40 for me. It's better now, not quite 100%. I did buy one of those elbow straps at CVS and it did help considerably. None of my OTC pain relievers did squat.

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1980 300TD-China Blue/Blue MBTex-2nd Owner, 107K (Alt Blau) OBK #15
'06 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (for the wife & 4 kids, current mule) '03 Honda Odyssey (son #1's ride, reluctantly) '99 GMC Suburban (255K+ miles, semi-retired mule) 21' SeaRay Seville (summer escape pod)

Do you know who makes it and where I can find it?

Holy moly! That's a pretty serious dosage!!! How's your stomach?

Local drug store, look for the Ace bandages section. Also sporting goods stores.

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2002 E320 4-Matic
2008 Subaru Outback
2009 Subaru Forester

Just about anything will work. I used a strap off an an old ankle splint with a velcro fastener. Anything to put pressure around your arm just below the elbow.
The Ibuprofen is not so much for pain relief as for reducing the inflammation.

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

I got mine at CVS but I'm betting Walgreen's or whatever your local big pharmacy is would have it. A sporting goods supply store should, too, like Dick's or Modell's, etc.

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1980 300TD-China Blue/Blue MBTex-2nd Owner, 107K (Alt Blau) OBK #15
'06 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (for the wife & 4 kids, current mule) '03 Honda Odyssey (son #1's ride, reluctantly) '99 GMC Suburban (255K+ miles, semi-retired mule) 21' SeaRay Seville (summer escape pod)

Aleve is very good. i have the same thing in my shoulder, had 2 shots of steriods already. It's a lifelong thing.....

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"It's normal for these things to empty your wallet and break your heart in the process."
2012 SLK 350
1987 420 SEL

I had it twice. First time from playing tennis (lasted for 6 months) second time playing badminton. I just couldn't go through the wait again, so I pestered my GP until I got the cortizone injection which immediately relieved the pain. However now, and for the rest of my life, I only play both sports with an elbow brace which is wonderful (I paid $15 for it at a sporting goods store, there are a few diferent kinds, this was the cheapest and just as effective as the more expensive ones I believe). Actually, it is a strap that goes on my forearm just under the elbow, it reduces the vibration the rackets cause. It works. You should also strenghten your forearm muscles to help prevent future injury.

Alex

I got my arm band for $1 at Wal-Mart. It's in the pharmacy section, there are a whole bunch of straps and supports sold together, the brand is Mueller (reading off my arm right now). For a buck you can't beat it. If you go to CVS or Walgreens the same band will run you $35.

__________________
08 W251 R350
97 W210 E320
91 W124 300E
86 W126 560SEL
85 W126 380SE Silver
85 W126 380SE Cranberry
79 W123 250
78 W123 280E
75 W114 280

Aspirin can hurt your stomach linings, but not ibuprofen. Ibuprofen however can strain your kidneys, so prolonged high doses are not recommended. Ibuprofen is taken as a strong anti-inflammatory and my doctor said 1 to 2 weeks of 800mg x 3 daily will not hurt.

__________________
08 W251 R350
97 W210 E320
91 W124 300E
86 W126 560SEL
85 W126 380SE Silver
85 W126 380SE Cranberry
79 W123 250
78 W123 280E
75 W114 280

So I got one of those Ace bandage type things. It sort of feels like it's helping a little when I'm wearing it, although I wouldn't swear to it.

I find it a nuisance in the hot weather, and a real relief when I take it off. How long do you keep wearing it?

Do you wear it when you sleep?