By Resurgens Orthopaedics
Kathy has been playing tennis for decades. Her passion for the sport remains as strong as ever, driving her to compete and stay active. A longtime ALTA tennis player, retired physical education teacher, and lifelong athlete, Kathy built her routine and social life around movement. When debilitating elbow pain started threatening that, she knew something had to change.
“I had worn an elbow brace for over 30 years as a preventive measure,” Kathy said. “But eventually, the pain just got worse.”
She first felt sharp discomfort while playing tennis on a cold, windy day. Over time, the pain in her right elbow intensified. Despite her best efforts with conservative care, it became impossible to ignore. Kathy tried everything: physical therapy, acupuncture, shockwave therapy, and multiple cortisone injections. Each option helped temporarily. But the pain kept coming back.
“I couldn’t even pick up a coffee mug. I couldn’t turn a doorknob. I couldn’t shake hands,” she said. “And I was still teaching PE at the time. It just wasn’t sustainable.”
The real breaking point came during a league tennis match. Every time Kathy hit a backhand, the pain made her shout in frustration. She couldn’t finish the match. “I was literally yelling every time I had to swing. That’s when I knew I couldn’t keep doing this,” she said.
Kathy had already seen Dr. Milan Patel at Resurgens Orthopaedics for previous elbow care. When the conservative care was no longer enough, Dr. Patel explained that since other treatments were no longer helping, it might be time to consider a procedure to repair the tendon in her elbow.
For Kathy, it was an easy decision. “There was no hesitation. I trusted him completely,” she said. “He told me honestly that the surgery would reduce pain, but he couldn’t guarantee I’d ever play again. I appreciated that honesty.”
Kathy’s operation was in March 2016 and by October, she had cautiously begun hitting tennis balls again. Just three months after that, she was back on the court playing competitively. After her first match back, the emotions hit hard. “I cried,” Kathy said. “I was just so grateful to be able to play again. Tennis is a huge part of my life. It’s where I’ve made a lot of friends. I even got my last teaching job through someone I met on an ALTA team.”
Since returning, Kathy has gone on to compete in four USTA state championships, winning two of them, and her mixed doubles team won the City Finals. Now, she plays regularly and continues to find purpose and community on the court. “I never played at a super high level,” she said, “but I’ve always loved the game. It keeps me moving. And more than that, it keeps me connected.”
To anyone dealing with chronic tennis elbow, Kathy offers this advice: “If you keep playing through the pain and don’t seek help, you’ll reach a point where you won’t be able to play at all. Go see someone. There are treatments that can help before it gets that bad.”
When asked what she would say to Dr. Patel and his care team if they were standing in front of her today, Kathy smiled. “I’d thank every one of them. They made a huge difference in my life. I honestly don’t know what I’d be doing without tennis.”
Kathy’s story proves that with the right care and commitment, it’s possible to win your toughest match on and off the court. It is a reminder that pain should not define what comes next. With the right support, the right physician, and a determination to adapt, returning to what you love is possible.
Kathy’s story is proof that you can return to the court after injury. Schedule your appointment with Resurgens Orthopaedics at resurgens.com/schedule.
