I seem to have tennis elbow (have been to the doctor so pretty sure that's what it is). I have no real idea how I've got it, I don't do much heavy lifting (no kids for instance) and my job is desk-based. Using keyboard/mouse doesn't seem to affect it unless I'm working all day with the mouse (which I rarely do). Have tried (at doc's suggestion) ibuprofen gel (which did nothing), and taking ibuprofen in the morning (which helps a bit, but I'm wary of taking it for weeks at a time).
The problem is I have a bad feeling that cycling is making it worse. As this is how I get to work, it's very far from ideal. I do a train-bike commute at the moment, on a folding bike which is probably not helping (braking is painful, as is riding into a headwind or uphill, I seem to grip the bars which causes pain). The alternative is the bus, which I did for 4 days two weeks ago to try and rest the elbow - and I'm still ill (I always catch some lurg whenever I'm forced onto the bus, they are so filthy, this time it's two weeks of a hacking cough and hardly any voice with no sign of improvement - I CANNOT have months on the bus).
My question is has anyone had this and successfully healed it? I seem to keep tweaking it. I've had suggested heat pads, an elbow brace, compression band around the lower arm - are these worth a go? Would a sit-up-and-beg type bike help? I think I need to get weight off my arms, though the pain seems to be from gripping - braking feels the worst.
Essentially I need to be able to ride!!