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lena_chita
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Dec 6, 2011, 4:33 PM
Post #1 of 23
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Until yesterday, I have never heard of this stuff.
I have been dealing with pinched radial nerve for weeks (slowly healing) and secondary tendonitis in the elbow and wrist&shoulder pain due to favoring/protecting that arm.
My PT has been going crazy because she wanted me in cast or splint or a compression strap for tendonitis, but didn't want any of that compression/immobilization for the radial nerve. She had me wear the wrist splint some of the time, but the splint really was making things worse for me, instead of better.
Finally yesterday she consulted another PT in the office, who is apparently a specialist in kinesio taping, having written articles on the subject.
She taped my arm for me. I was really skeptical that this criss-crossing of single-layer of tape pieces here and there will do anything at all for me, but amazingly, it did! For the first time in weeks I was able to use a laptop and do things without much pain/fatigue. I am sold! Now, I need to learn how to do this taping on my own-- or rather, teach someone to put it on me, since I can't very well do it one-handed.
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rtwilli4
Dec 6, 2011, 5:15 PM
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It does work well when applied appropriately but it (like many things in the medical field) is a bit overused and will be abused as a cure instead of a band-aid type treatment.
That is, it does help my elbow feel better when I have to sit and type for a long time or drive or whatever... but exercises are the only way that I've actually been able to keep my tendonitis from coming back.
I like Leukotape. It is super sticky, doesn't roll, and has the perfect amount of stretch to it.
I don't know why more climbers don't use it. I guess for the same reason that most people see a family doctor or a chiropractor instead of a Physical Therapist when they have a back problem or muscle pain.
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jae8908
Dec 7, 2011, 12:08 AM
Post #3 of 23
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^ this. also, everyone doesn't know how to tape correctly where it will work. Some PTs and some sports trainer/exercise science people know how to do it correctly from taking classes on the subject. Having seen some myself, it is a very complicated discipline depending exactly what needs taping.
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lena_chita
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Dec 7, 2011, 1:40 AM
Post #4 of 23
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rtwilli4 wrote: It does work well when applied appropriately but it (like many things in the medical field) is a bit overused and will be abused as a cure instead of a band-aid type treatment. That is, it does help my elbow feel better when I have to sit and type for a long time or drive or whatever... but exercises are the only way that I've actually been able to keep my tendonitis from coming back.
Oh, for sure. I don't mean to say that tape is a substitute for keeping opposing muscles in balance, or that I am going to be taping my arm from now until I die.
I guess what amazed me is that simple tape applied in a specific pattern could be such an effective substitute for all these splints and straps that I had to suffer through.
I literally went from being unable to type for more than 30sec without a splint to support the wrist, to being able to use a keyboard pretty much normally. I still take breaks and do the stretches and all, but it is like night and day. I expect that when the radial nerve symptoms are gone, I would slowly wean off the tape and use the exercises, but right now I am not supposed to do anything other than stretches.
rtwilli4 wrote: I like Leukotape. It is super sticky, doesn't roll, and has the perfect amount of stretch to it.
I remember leukotape. My PT tried it years ago for my wrist (unrelated old injury, different hand). I didn't like it much, because it was way to stiff for the purpose and I needed to put something under it before taping. It wouldn't have worked for the taping that the PT put on my arm right now, but I guess it would be appropriate where you need the stiffness.
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gblauer
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Dec 7, 2011, 1:55 AM
Post #5 of 23
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sorry to hear about your tendonitis etc. Does it impact your climbing?
Do you think this type of taping could help my arthritic fingers?
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potreroed
Dec 7, 2011, 2:28 AM
Post #6 of 23
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Sounds like you could use a real rest, like a couple of months. Sounds drastic but will do you good in the long run.
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lena_chita
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Dec 7, 2011, 2:34 PM
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potreroed wrote: Sounds like you could use a real rest, like a couple of months. Sounds drastic but will do you good in the long run.
Yeah, I haven't climbed, or done anything involving putting weight on the arms, in couple weeks now, and still have 3 weeks of strict rest to go. The tendonitis is secondary to pinched nerve -- I didn't get it from climbing, but rather from favoring the arm and using it is a wrong way because of the nerve.
The kineseo tape was not to enable me to climb through pain. It was more about being able to do routine daily tasks and not wreck my wrist or shoulder while I was waiting for the pinched nerve to heal.
Though I will probably use it initially when I start climbing again.
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lena_chita
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Dec 7, 2011, 2:45 PM
Post #8 of 23
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gblauer wrote: sorry to hear about your tendonitis etc. Does it impact your climbing? Do you think this type of taping could help my arthritic fingers?
Thanks!
Considering how I didn't even know about the existence of kineseo tape until Monday, I am hardly an expert to say whether it will or won't work for your fingers.
My understanding is that it can help keep the joint in proper alignment, but it won't do anything for arthritis. The way it was explained to me is that when used in conjunction with the massage/manipulations that PT does it extends the effect of those manipulations, supports the muscle and prevents overcontraction. Obviously the PT was only explaining things as related to my problem, and not going into a lecture on all the things the tape might do for everyone.
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chadnsc
Dec 7, 2011, 4:51 PM
Post #9 of 23
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Kinesio taping probably isn't widely used by climbers because in my experience:
1. It's a very difficult skill to learn.
2. It tends to be most effective on minor soft tissue overuse injuries.
3. When effective it tends to help elevate discomfort and by itself does noting to prevent or accelerate healing.
4. The tape itself is expensive and seem to hold up poorly when active / sweaty.
I've had probably six Kinesio treatments on various injuries ranging from sprains, pulled muscles, and dislocated fingers. Overall I found the Kinesio taping to be an effective part of physical therapy about 40% of the time.
All that being said if it's working for you great! I'm glad that you're feeling better! 
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camhead
Dec 7, 2011, 5:29 PM
Post #10 of 23
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Tape is aid!
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lena_chita
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Dec 7, 2011, 5:56 PM
Post #11 of 23
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camhead wrote: Tape is aid!
Camhead has spoken!
But what if it comes in pretty hot pink and turquoise? I know someone who would love to complement their outrageous multi-colored shorts with some turquoise tape decoration on the shoulder.
It might even work as a bra substitute? (Ouch!)
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erisspirit
Dec 7, 2011, 7:50 PM
Post #12 of 23
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My PT was also very experienced with Kinesio taping. He would tell me stories however of seeing a patient who had someone else to their taping and it actually did more harm than good (ex: cause swelling). It seems like there isn't a lot of people out there who know how to do it properly.
it is pretty cool though
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onceahardman
Dec 7, 2011, 11:44 PM
Post #13 of 23
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lena_chita wrote: potreroed wrote: Sounds like you could use a real rest, like a couple of months. Sounds drastic but will do you good in the long run. Yeah, I haven't climbed, or done anything involving putting weight on the arms, in couple weeks now, and still have 3 weeks of strict rest to go. The tendonitis is secondary to pinched nerve -- I didn't get it from climbing, but rather from favoring the arm and using it is a wrong way because of the nerve. The kineseo tape was not to enable me to climb through pain. It was more about being able to do routine daily tasks and not wreck my wrist or shoulder while I was waiting for the pinched nerve to heal. Though I will probably use it initially when I start climbing again.
This is interesting, and I hope you will keep posting about the eventual outcome.
To my way of thinking, eliminating ALL symptoms through kinesiotaping (i.e. BOTH "pinched nerve", and "tendinitis" symptoms) sounds odd. Thinking about it in an Occam's Razor kind of way, I think it is more likely you have one problem which is showing itself in two slightly different, but related, ways.
The important thing, though, is that you get better. Please keep posting.
Kinesiotaping is a post-grad course of study open to PTs, OTs, MDs, DOs and maybe a few other disciplines. It can be expensive to learn, and the tape can be pricey, so you won't likely get any kinesiotape at a free clinic or urgent care center. It's not magic, but it can be very effective for certain conditions. I have seen unbelievable results in some cases, and no response in others. I'm glad you are doing well.
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cracklover
Dec 8, 2011, 4:30 PM
Post #14 of 23
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lena_chita wrote: camhead wrote: Tape is aid! Camhead has spoken! But what if it comes in pretty hot pink and turquoise? I know someone who would love to complement their outrageous multi-colored shorts with some turquoise tape decoration on the shoulder. It might even work as a bra substitute? (Ouch!)
Now there's a cool idea.
BTW, it seems that your one-star-stalker is back. That's a drag.
GO
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lena_chita
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Dec 8, 2011, 5:47 PM
Post #15 of 23
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onceahardman wrote: lena_chita wrote: potreroed wrote: Sounds like you could use a real rest, like a couple of months. Sounds drastic but will do you good in the long run. Yeah, I haven't climbed, or done anything involving putting weight on the arms, in couple weeks now, and still have 3 weeks of strict rest to go. The tendonitis is secondary to pinched nerve -- I didn't get it from climbing, but rather from favoring the arm and using it is a wrong way because of the nerve. The kineseo tape was not to enable me to climb through pain. It was more about being able to do routine daily tasks and not wreck my wrist or shoulder while I was waiting for the pinched nerve to heal. Though I will probably use it initially when I start climbing again. This is interesting, and I hope you will keep posting about the eventual outcome. To my way of thinking, eliminating ALL symptoms through kinesiotaping (i.e. BOTH "pinched nerve", and "tendinitis" symptoms) sounds odd. Thinking about it in an Occam's Razor kind of way, I think it is more likely you have one problem which is showing itself in two slightly different, but related, ways.
I probably wasn't clear about this. The kinesio tape didn't do anything for the nerve. The pinched nerve symptoms I've had for over a month, and they have been getting slowly better (I started out with periodic really sharp pain radiating to the middle finger, the feeling that you are locked and unable to move the finger or unbend the elbow during the sharp pain episode, and the burning/tingling/numbness on the back of the hand more or less continuously. Now I am down to occasional tingling on the back of the hand)
The tendonitis problems didn't start until almost a month after the pinched nerve, but once they started they were causing me a lot more pain and trouble in day-to-day activities than the by-now-waning nerve symptoms.
The kinesio tape helped tremendously with the wrist and elbow pain. It didn't stop the tingling. And it didn't eliminate all pain instanteneously, but it was a huge improvement that i saw in a course of a day, and it continued getting better over the next few days, to the point now that I do not feel any pain with daily tasks.
onceahardman wrote: The important thing, though, is that you get better. Please keep posting. Kinesiotaping is a post-grad course of study open to PTs, OTs, MDs, DOs and maybe a few other disciplines. It can be expensive to learn, and the tape can be pricey, so you won't likely get any kinesiotape at a free clinic or urgent care center. It's not magic, but it can be very effective for certain conditions. I have seen unbelievable results in some cases, and no response in others. I'm glad you are doing well.
Thanks. I had another PT appointment today. She had to take it off for US/massage, and then re-taped my elbow and went more in-depth on what I need to pay attention to when taping it.
Couple more appointments left, and hopefully my bf can make it to one of them, so he can get the first-hand instruction on how to put the tape on.
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camhead
Dec 8, 2011, 8:46 PM
Post #16 of 23
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cracklover wrote: lena_chita wrote: camhead wrote: Tape is aid! Camhead has spoken! But what if it comes in pretty hot pink and turquoise? I know someone who would love to complement their outrageous multi-colored shorts with some turquoise tape decoration on the shoulder. It might even work as a bra substitute? (Ouch!) Now there's a cool idea. BTW, it seems that your one-star-stalker is back. That's a drag. GO
Hehe, just one, 1-star stalker? Didn't it used to be two? I wonder what happened???
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cracklover
Dec 8, 2011, 8:57 PM
Post #17 of 23
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lena_chita wrote: onceahardman wrote: lena_chita wrote: potreroed wrote: Sounds like you could use a real rest, like a couple of months. Sounds drastic but will do you good in the long run. Yeah, I haven't climbed, or done anything involving putting weight on the arms, in couple weeks now, and still have 3 weeks of strict rest to go. The tendonitis is secondary to pinched nerve -- I didn't get it from climbing, but rather from favoring the arm and using it is a wrong way because of the nerve. The kineseo tape was not to enable me to climb through pain. It was more about being able to do routine daily tasks and not wreck my wrist or shoulder while I was waiting for the pinched nerve to heal. Though I will probably use it initially when I start climbing again. This is interesting, and I hope you will keep posting about the eventual outcome. To my way of thinking, eliminating ALL symptoms through kinesiotaping (i.e. BOTH "pinched nerve", and "tendinitis" symptoms) sounds odd. Thinking about it in an Occam's Razor kind of way, I think it is more likely you have one problem which is showing itself in two slightly different, but related, ways. I probably wasn't clear about this. The kinesio tape didn't do anything for the nerve. The pinched nerve symptoms I've had for over a month, and they have been getting slowly better (I started out with periodic really sharp pain radiating to the middle finger, the feeling that you are locked and unable to move the finger or unbend the elbow during the sharp pain episode, and the burning/tingling/numbness on the back of the hand more or less continuously. Now I am down to occasional tingling on the back of the hand) The tendonitis problems didn't start until almost a month after the pinched nerve, but once they started they were causing me a lot more pain and trouble in day-to-day activities than the by-now-waning nerve symptoms. The kinesio tape helped tremendously with the wrist and elbow pain. It didn't stop the tingling. And it didn't eliminate all pain instanteneously, but it was a huge improvement that i saw in a course of a day, and it continued getting better over the next few days, to the point now that I do not feel any pain with daily tasks. onceahardman wrote: The important thing, though, is that you get better. Please keep posting. Kinesiotaping is a post-grad course of study open to PTs, OTs, MDs, DOs and maybe a few other disciplines. It can be expensive to learn, and the tape can be pricey, so you won't likely get any kinesiotape at a free clinic or urgent care center. It's not magic, but it can be very effective for certain conditions. I have seen unbelievable results in some cases, and no response in others. I'm glad you are doing well. Thanks. I had another PT appointment today. She had to take it off for US/massage, and then re-taped my elbow and went more in-depth on what I need to pay attention to when taping it. Couple more appointments left, and hopefully my bf can make it to one of them, so he can get the first-hand instruction on how to put the tape on.
You and your doctors know your situation best, but there may be something to what OAHM says, in that a pinched nerve and tendinitis may be related.
I've had symptoms similar to those you describe as stemming from a pinched nerve. And in my case tendinitis (epicondylitis) caused the tingling and numbness, mostly on the pinky-side of the hand, as well as in the pinky and ring finger, and running up the outside of the arm. When that tendon swells, it digs into the nerve that enervates that area.
Oh, and BTW, you may be onto something with your idea of kinesio tape bra. It's already being made and sold with duct tape:
http://gogreenwithceleste.blogspot.com/...introducing-eco.html
or more homemade:
and think how much more colorful kinesio tape would be!
Cheers,
GO
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ptlong2
Dec 8, 2011, 9:24 PM
Post #18 of 23
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cracklover wrote: and think how much more colorful kinesio tape would be!
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lena_chita
Moderator
Dec 8, 2011, 10:14 PM
Post #20 of 23
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cracklover wrote: You and your doctors know your situation best, but there may be something to what OAHM says, in that a pinched nerve and tendinitis may be related. I've had symptoms similar to those you describe as stemming from a pinched nerve. And in my case tendinitis (epicondylitis) caused the tingling and numbness, mostly on the pinky-side of the hand, as well as in the pinky and ring finger, and running up the outside of the arm. When that tendon swells, it digs into the nerve that enervates that area.
This makes sense, and actually is part of my bag of symptoms.
I didn't think I needed to go into minute details, but it was something like this:
1) damage to the supinator muscle (probably a small tear/bleeding) that lead to
2) muscle swelling/pinching of the radial nerve. That resulted in shooting pain into the fingers and tingling/burning/cold feeling on the back of the hand.
then about a month later came 3) tendonitis, with a all the accompanying pain and a little bit of tingling on the pinky finger side.
OMG, the pain!!!!
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lena_chita
Moderator
Dec 12, 2011, 5:00 PM
Post #22 of 23
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A bit of a setback. :(
A was at PT on Thursday, she re-taped the arm after the session, and I was enjoying a completely pain-free Thursday/Friday/Saturday
By Sunday morning the tape was curling off at the edges, and I impulsively took it off, figuring that well, maybe it isn't doing all that much, anymore.
By Sunday evening dull achy feeling was back. The tape I ordered didn't show up in the mail yet. And my next PT appointment isn't until tomorrow.
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eric_k
Dec 19, 2011, 7:00 PM
Post #23 of 23
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KT tape http://www.kttape.com/index.php commonly used in the running and cycling world by DIYers. I have used it myself for Achilles pain with good results. It does take some time to get it right, but it comes with instructions and their are videos online. Like many have said it is in no way a cure all, but it can help to get you going again in the later stages of healing.
Eric
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