If your elbow pain has been lingering for weeks, maybe months and you have already tried it all - rest, ice, a brace, pain relief cream, maybe even “just pushing through” you are probably wondering: Why is this not going away? And more importantly - What am I missing?
First, let me say this clearly: You are not failing at recovery. And your body isn’t broken. Elbow pain, whether it’s tennis elbow or golfer’s elbow, is persistent for a reason. And it’s usually not because you didn’t rest enough. In this blog, lets discuss why this happens and what can you do instead.
Rest Helps… But It Doesn’t Retrain:
In the early stage of tennis elbow and golfers elbow pain, rest and cold packs absolutely have a role. They calm the elbow inflammation. They reduce irritation. They help things settle down. But here’s what they don’t do: They don’t correct the movement pattern that caused the strain in the first place. If you are a busy, high-performing mom, your hands and arms are constantly working with typing, texting, lifting kids, carrying bags, cooking, driving and the one million other things that moms do in a day. When you go back to those same patterns without addressing the underlying load, the pain returns. Rest pauses the problem but doesn’t resolve it.
A Brace Can Reduce Pain But It Can Also Hide It:
Elbow braces are very useful as they redistribute tension away from irritated tendons. That can give the much needed relief in the acute stages and on a busy day. But if you rely on the brace without improving shoulder strength, posture, and forearm control, the root issue remains. In some cases, the brace becomes a crutch and the surrounding muscles become less efficient over time.The pain reduces temporarily and then flares again when the brace comes off. That pain cycle is exhausting beyond words!
The Elbow Is Rarely Acting Alone:
Your elbow is simply the point that’s yelling loudest. But the strain usually started higher up the chain. If the shoulder isn’t stabilising well, the forearm works harder. If posture collapses, the tendons absorb more load. If stress levels are high, muscles stay in low-level contraction all day. So even when you rest the elbow or use a hot or cold pack or a brace, etc the rest of the system keeps feeding it strain.
Elbow pain is often connected to:
- Poor shoulder stability
- Rounded desk posture
- Tight chest and weak upper back
- Tight neck muscles
- Overworked wrists and fingers
- Nervous system tension that keeps muscles braced
Once you address the full picture of posture, shoulder strength, load management, and nervous system tension the elbow finally has space to calm down.
Watch this video to learn '3 Easy Desk Based Tips for Busy Executive Mums to Prevent and Manage Tennis Elbow Pain'
Elbow pain doesn’t usually require extreme measures. It requires a smarter, more connected approach. And if you have been feeling stuck in the “why is this not improving?” phase you are not alone. If you have been doing “all the right things” and your elbow pain still does not go away, it may be time for a more complete approach. I walk you through simple, targeted strategies to reduce strain, restore strength, and calm irritation, without long workouts or guesswork in the course "Simple Solutions to Manage your Tennis Elbow" HERE.
You can get on the waitlist of the course "Simple Solutions to Manage your Golfers Elbow" by replying to this blog in the comments.
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