Here's 2 photos of a male patient in his 30's who had a fracture to his left elbow (believed to be supracondylar) when he was 4 yrs old. He was treated by a traditional healer but was not given the option of modern medicine. He has some physical deformity but is able to carry out manual work without any difficulty. He is happily engaged to his female companion who doesn't seem to mind the difference.
An 18 yrs old club-level badminton player came with the complaints of pain in his left elbow 2 weeks ago. It was during a local competition that he started having some dull aching pain until the final mixed doubles match that he could not tolerate the pain and had to avoid smashing. His coach had warned him that he needed treatment but he complained that the clinic was too far away and needed the sleep instead.
"I told you so", said coach Lim. He did however win the match as they were a better pair. The inner part of the elbow (medial epicondyle) was really sore and the forearm flexors (in front of the arm) was also in spasm. It was as if he had only trained on smashing and nothing else for a week. I wished he did not have 'cubitus valgus' which increased the risk of developing the injuries (cubitus valgus - elbow joint with the forearm turned outward).
Nevertheless, he was quite please after I sent him to the physiotherapist for some 'muscle release'. The following day the anti-inflammatory, muscle relaxants and 2 sessions off training helped relieve the pain and swelling. He could even carry his groceries and start some 'stroke-play'. I cautioned him that if he returned too soon to normal training and failed to complete his rehabilitation exercises he would be back very soon.
A UK trained Sports Physician consultant, experienced in treating elite athletes (Qatar Super League/NSC/NSI) as Team Physician (football, basketball, field hockey, boxing, martial arts, badminton, squash, tennis, cycling, aquatics, rhythmic and artistic gymnastics, golf, X-games, Equestrian teams, etc) for the Olympics, Commonwealth Games, Asian Games, SEA Games, Thomas Cup and World Cups. Licensed Continental Ringside Physician. Works with clubs, international, national, state sports teams and associations in promoting safe participation in able bodied and disabled sports. He was the Team Physician for KL Dragons (basketball) and Sapura Hockey Team. For the past 13 years, he was working in Aspetar hospital, Doha, Qatar as a Consultant Sports Medicine Physician and shockwave expert. He recently returned to head the medical care at Selangor Football club and Red Giants Medical Centre.