Looking for acupuncture points for elbow bursitis

Submitted by Darach on Tue, 09/06/2011 - 6:06pm

Hi this is my first post so I welcome any replies or advice. I'm an acupuncture student and I would like to treat the sympoms of elbow bursitis in my father (60 years old). He plays a lot of golf so he initially thought it was tennis elbow or golfers elbow but after a bit of research we think he probably has elbow bursitis. Also, until recently, he had a desk job for years and regularly rested elbows on desk.  I've told him to ice the area regularly and also to take an anti inflammatory. What acupuncture points can I use to assist in his recovery?

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Feng Mei's picture
Submitted by Feng Mei on Tue, 09/06/2011 - 10:11pm.

If check his elbow "Mills

If check his elbow "Mills Sign" positive, that mean he has tennis elbow, points: Li4, 10, 11, Gb34, Lv3, and ashi points surround needles.

Darach's picture
Submitted by Darach on Wed, 09/07/2011 - 7:15pm.

Thanks for your assistance

Thanks for your assistance with the points. I don't understand what you mean by "Mills Sign" positive though?

Feng Mei's picture
Submitted by Feng Mei on Wed, 09/07/2011 - 10:03pm.

 Mills Sign is the elbow

 Mills Sign is the elbow extenor pull test. The patient extend elbow joint and hold fist then bend wrist joint, and spin front the forearm, if feel pain on out side of elbow, this is "+" positive. Mills Sign is for check the inflammation of Epicondylus Lateralis(tennis elbow).

Darach's picture
Submitted by Darach on Thu, 09/08/2011 - 11:29am.

Thanks for taking the time to

Thanks for taking the time to explain.........very much appreciated

klieft's picture
Submitted by klieft on Thu, 09/08/2011 - 1:37am.

golf elbow

Useful information! Are the same points applicable for a so called golf elbow?

Chad Dupuis's picture
Submitted by Chad Dupuis on Thu, 09/08/2011 - 8:30am.

Just to get you headed in the

Just to get you headed in the right general direction our page on acupuncture for arthritis is generally applicable to all types of pain and has a section of local and distal points for many specific areas of the body.  

There are a few things I would add to what feng said above - one, I always focus with strong tuina on the neck of the affected side in the C6, C7, T1 area as well as the SI 16/17 area to open circulation to the arm.  Generally the points Feng mentions are fine, the ashi points, however, are important and will often be what makes the difference treatment wise.  You choose those by palpating locally and selecting the areas of most pain, but also slightly distally by choosing areas that are either painful or feel extremely tight to you.  Tuina around the area is helpful.  Finally, while it is more for acute injuries (broken bones, sprains, etc.) the herbal formula Jin Gu Die Da Wan often aids tendon related overuse conditions such as these even in cases where the improvement from acupuncture is minimal.  It is not a long term treatment, generally, just one round (each bottle is ~10 days at a normal dose) will get relief, which is often permanent so long as the area is kept loose after events that previously triggered the discomfort.

Chad J. Dupuis, L.Ac.
Yin Yang House Acupuncture and Wellness Center

Darach's picture
Submitted by Darach on Thu, 09/08/2011 - 11:32am.

Thanks Chad I'll definately

Thanks Chad I'll definately be refering back to that page as I continue my studies

miguelín's picture
Submitted by miguelín on Wed, 11/02/2011 - 11:48am.

i have had this condition (

i have had this condition ( elbow bursitis) a couple of times and it can become quite ugly. last time i stimulated the points you mentioned here in a couple of sessions and the symptoms more or less disappeared within days. however, i have 2 questions regarding this issues:

1. i was tought that point SI3 is one of the most effective points or might even be considered a cardinal point for any inflammation, yet is not among the ones you mention. can that explained to a tcm-aficionado that has not received a complete training on tcm but has a resonable understanding of its basic pinciples?

2. since this is a condition that i am confronted with every couple of years, i wonder if i can use tcm, or rather needling in particular, to make the structures in the elbow stronger and thus increase the likelhood that this particular condition will not again bother me. my impression is that there has always remained some kind of a tender spot in my elbow that is likely to be the point where the next inflammation is going to start. do you have any recommendations that i can try to prevent this in the long run?

chad and all you others, thanks a lot for your help! i love this site!

 

miguelin

 

 

 

concerning long-term treatment and one particular point w

Fjennings's picture
Submitted by Fjennings on Fri, 09/09/2011 - 8:01am.

Golf elbow

I ahve to say I'm not in favour of "ice the area regularly" - lets in Cold & Damp in my opinion.

Feng Mei's picture
Submitted by Feng Mei on Fri, 09/09/2011 - 9:06am.

Golf elbow is the same as

Golf elbow is the same as tennis elbow if check Mills Sgin "+", you can use the same acupuncture points or tuina with herb wine.

Feng Mei's picture
Submitted by Feng Mei on Wed, 11/02/2011 - 5:46pm.

Hi, Miguelin: thanks your

Hi, Miguelin: thanks your reply! To prevent elbow inflammation in the future, the most important thing is warm up excercise before long run, for example: circle the forearms and elbow joints clockwise and counter-clockwise directions, self-massage the points: Li11, Ht3, Si8, Lu5, Ex-ue1 area, make sure the Qi and Blood totally active in your arms, when you feel arms' temperature raise up, that will be good ready to long run. 

miguelín's picture
Submitted by miguelín on Sat, 11/19/2011 - 5:29am.

thanks,   feng mei, i will

thanks,

 

feng mei, i will try how that works out in the long run, hoping that the recommended points will work regardless of me actually not being much of a runner, be it long or short distance ;-)

Alpha's picture
Submitted by Alpha on Wed, 06/20/2012 - 11:21am.

elbow bursitis with swelling

What about for a patient with negative "Mill's test" (no pain when turning wrist) who has "student's elbow," bursitis from elbow trauma caused by excessive leaning on a hard surface? This patient has a tender elbow bone and protruding swelling of the elbow.

gnigma's picture
Submitted by gnigma on Thu, 07/05/2012 - 10:21am.

Check the Meridians

For pain on the outside of the elbow, check the corresponding meridians on the opposite knee. For instance, if the pain is on the TaiYang (SI) meridian, check for ashi points on the TaiYang (BL) meridian at the opposite knee. If the pain is more towards the YangMing (LI) or ShaoYang (SJ) then check for ashi points in the corresponding meridians of the opposite knee  (ST & GB.) If the pain is not directly on a meridian, say between LI and SJ, check for ashi points between those meridians at the knee. You can also look for ashi points on the clock opposite meridians, on either knee. Have the patient flex the joint a little while the needles are in.

 

Try it; it works!

Jon Fellman's picture
Submitted by Jon Fellman on Wed, 07/25/2012 - 11:39am.

acupuncture points for elbow bursitis

Yes, I agree with gnigma's post above, check with the related meridan points on the knee. I would NOT use local points with an inflamatory condition.  It would be okay to use a distal point on the same meridian.
So if the pain is in the Right Hand Yang Ming Meridian, say right near LI 15, one would check:
1. The Left  Foot Yang Ming (around St 36, look for tender point)
And, or
2. The Left or RIght Foot Jue Yin Meridian around LV 8
And, or
3. The opposite elbow on the Tai Yin Meridian around LU 5.
And, or
4. The Left or Right Foot Shaoyin around K 10
And, or
5. The Same meridian at LI 4

Also, look for tender pts on opposit IT band between GB 31 and the knee.

So,

Rt side:  LI 4, LV 8 ashi, K 10 ashi

Lft side: Lu5 ashi, St 36 ashi, GB 34 ashi

NOTE: There may be more than one point at these areas that should be needled. You should palpate the painful area ( or have the patient feel or move it through challenging range of motion) before and after the needling to see if there is a distinct change in the pain. When you have needled the right points there should be an immediate and significant change. Leave the needles in for at least 40 minutes...

Jon Fellman's picture
Submitted by Jon Fellman on Wed, 07/25/2012 - 11:40am.

acupuncture points for elbow bursitis

Yes, I agree with gnigma's post above, check with the related meridan points on the knee. I would NOT use local points with an inflamatory condition.  It would be okay to use a distal point on the same meridian.
So if the pain is in the Right Hand Yang Ming Meridian, say right near LI 15, one would check:
1. The Left  Foot Yang Ming (around St 36, look for tender point)
And, or
2. The Left or RIght Foot Jue Yin Meridian around LV 8
And, or
3. The opposite elbow on the Tai Yin Meridian around LU 5.
And, or
4. The Left or Right Foot Shaoyin around K 10
And, or
5. The Same meridian at LI 4

Also, look for tender pts on opposit IT band between GB 31 and the knee.

So,

Rt side:  LI 4, LV 8 ashi, K 10 ashi

Lft side: Lu5 ashi, St 36 ashi, GB 34 ashi

NOTE: There may be more than one point at these areas that should be needled. You should palpate the painful area ( or have the patient feel or move it through challenging range of motion) before and after the needling to see if there is a distinct change in the pain. When you have needled the right points there should be an immediate and significant change. Leave the needles in for at least 40 minutes...