Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy for stubborn tennis elbow

I'm in my 4th month of elbow pain due to lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow). This started while I was getting PT for shoulder pain (shoulder MRI shows small sub-acromion tears). Treatment for that has been placed on hold until the elbow is resolved.

After 5 weeks of PT including stretches, gentle eccentric exercises, massage, heat, ultrasound, an arm band, practicing better posture, and trying to rest the arm as much as possible, there is still no improvement in pain in the elbow (or shoulder, but the elbow pain is much worse).

My sports ortho doc (a shoulder/elbow specialist) ordered an MRI of my elbow which I will schedule tomorrow. He is reluctant to do cortisone shots because of their risk to the tendon.

I asked him about PRP. He has done this treatment but doesn't push it because it is still cutting edge and insurance may not cover it. But since I asked, he was willing to discuss it as an option, pending the MRI results.

Has anyone tried and received good results from PRP for chronic unrelieved tennis elbow?

I am trying to avoid surgery unless it is absolutely necessary.

BTW, I'm 54 years with a full-time desk job but otherwise very active. A couple of people shared with me that after 1-2 years of unrelenting tennis elbow, they finally gave their arm complete rest until all pain subsided, then slowly rebuilt the strength in the elbow and now, a few years later, their elbow is healed. Since I am still working full-time, complete rest is pretty much out of the question for me; in fact, just getting ready for work in the morning sets it off so much that by the time I get to work it takes a few hours to settle down.

I'm hoping that my MRI will clarify the next step in treatment.

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- Only simple passive movements – flexion, extension, pronation supination exercises, without hyperextending the elbow
- Application of ice therapy on the affected elbow – put some ice cubes in a big bowl, allow the water to be chilled enough, dip your affected elbow in the chilled water for 2-3 mins, remove and allow rest for 30-45 secs, repeat procedure 5 consecutive times followed by assisted active movements at the elbow + gentle eccentric exercises.
The ice therapy will reduce pain and inflammation though there is chronic inflammation. - No need to apply heat because micro ruptures of the ligaments generally occur throughout activities of daily living, so the heat won’t favor the inflammatory process!!!
You may try my advice and hope to see some improvement in your condition. SHIV SAHAYE.

I totaly agree with the previous thread... why don`t you discuss using kinesio tape with you therapist (muscle inhibition technique),I do use it for my patient it worked pretty well with a lot of tennis elbow patients.

Thank you very much for your replies.

My PT and ortho doc (both highly rated) are very surprised I have shown no improvement yet. This leads me to think I have a particularly recalcitrant brand of this since they have treated many other cases.

I was given heat treatments at the PT facility but haven't used them at home. I haven't used ice only because I've read that heat can help draw blood to the site and enhance healing. I do wear the elbow band during necessary tasks and it seems to help (at least for the time being while I wear it).

I will stop doing the stretches that hurt the elbow and shoulder. However, there are others I do that are very gentle and are intended to improve scapular function and don't hurt while I am doing them.

I have read about so many different things on-line that helped other people and I have tried them all: flex/extend the wrist, stretch a rubber band wrapped around the fingers, and also the Theraband Flexbar.

I will give your suggestions a try and see if they work for me. I'm wondering how long I should wait to see if I feel relief -- 2 months, 4, 6 ??? -- before I consider surgery. If I do end up choosing surgery, then I want to be sure it is the only remaining option for me and not go into that unnecessarily.

OK, just try using the ice therapy treatment, you can let me know about the state of your condition after 1 month!
Do apply the treatment twice a day, it should be useful. take care & best of luck. SHIV ..

Well now I have Shingles!! This is quite uncomfortable and I don't feel like doing much, not even the mild stretches. Thanks to the stabbing pain that feels like needles being stuck in my side, I hardly notice the pain in my arm.

Wehn I am feeling better I will try the ice treatment.

hi guys. out of my 7 years of practice, tennis elbow can be cured by ust and ice daily for 10 days and again by reviews of same treatment for 3 days with a gap of 2weeks. i mean, 10 days of treatment, 2 weeks gap, 3days of treatment, 2weeks gap. 5 reviews like this. do it and u will say thanks for sure. note: rest to that hand is must, strap it up. no weight lifting. c u bye