The Treatment of Modern Western - Biblio.nhat-nam.ru

44LATERAL EPICONDYLITISLateral epicondylitis, also called tenosynovitis and, more colloquially,tennis elbow, consists of inflammation of the tendonsattached to the lateral side of the elbow at the epicondyleof the humerus. Patients with tennis elbow experience pain inthe lateral aspect of the elbow which may radiate into theforearm and occasionally into the hand. The pain occurs withgrasping activities and may be accompanied by a sense ofweakness. An achy discomfort may also be present at rest orat night after activity. This inflammation may be caused bysudden violent injury or by repetitive strain or micro-trauma.Tennis elbow occurs equally in men and women and is mostcommonly seen between the ages of 35-50. Tennis elbow isnot only found in tennis players but in baseball players, swimmers,carpenters, plumbers, meat cutters, musicians, or anyonewho repeats an arm motion over and over.The Western medical diagnosis of lateral epicondylitis mainlyconsists of physical examination of the affected area elicitingabnormal tenderness to palpation over the lateral epicondyle.X-rays may show calcium deposits on the lateralepicondyle but are not typically required to make this diagnosis.Bone spurs only occur in 20% of tennis elbowpatients. The Western medical treatment of tennis elbowmainly consists of rest, anti-inflammatory medication, andthe application of ice. This is supplemented by stretchingand strengthening exercises, straps, wrist braces, and cortisoneshots. Surgery is indicated in approximately 5% of caseswhen all the above measures have failed over a course of severalmonths and pain continues to prevent activity. In general,tennis elbow surgery achieves excellent relief of pain in85-95% of patients. 1 However, patients typically require 3-6 weeks recuperation before returning to work and severalmonths before returning to sports or heavy use of the arm.CHINESE DISEASE CATEGORIZATION: Tenniselbow is called zhou lao, elbow taxation, zhou tong, elbowpain, and shang jin, damaged sinews, in Chinese medicine.DISEASE CAUSES: Taxation detriment with possible contractionof wind cold evilsDISEASE MECHANISMS: Overwork taxation causesdetriment and damage to the sinews and vessels of the elbow.On the one hand, there is insufficient blood to nourish thesinews, while, on the other hand, there is blood stasisobstructing the free flow of the vessels. This may then becomplicated by external contraction of wind cold evils due todefensive qi vacuity.TREATMENT BASED ON PATTERNDISCRIMINATION:QI & BLOOD VACUITY WITH WIND COLDIMPEDIMENT PATTERNMAIN SYMPTOMS: Recurrent or enduring pain which isworse on exertion, worse on exposure to cold, and better onobtaint of heatTREATMENT PRINCIPLES: Boost the qi and nourish theblood, warm the channels and free the flow of impedimentRX: Huang Qi Gui Zhi Wu Wu Tang (Astragalus &Cinnamon Twig Five Materials Decoction)INGREDIENTS:Sheng Jiang (uncooked Rhizoma Zingiberis) 12gHuang Qi (Radix Astragali)12gBai Shao (Radix Paeoniae Albae)9gGui Zhi (Ramulus Cinnamomi)9gDa Zao (Fructus Jujubae)12 piecesANALYSIS OF FORMULA: Within this formula, Huang Qiboosts the qi, while Bai Shao nourishes the blood. ShengJiang and Gui Zhi scatter cold and free the flow of the chan-