So far, the only thing that's happened since I developed TE in Aug 2016 is that I developed TE in the other arm in March 2017. First the left from lifting a rucsac on holiday, then the right just from doing housework. From what I had read, I thought that surgery just entailed cutting out the damaged tissue rather than sewing anything back together. I've been told that steroids are anything much other than a placebo. How long were you lumbered with it for? Have you recovered full strength since?
Symptoms for over a year before the op.
Lots of Physio, acupuncture, exercises,
Steroid injection helped for maybe 3 months. Never had oral steroids, only NSAID
I had PRP injection which according to specialist helps in 80%+ (he had it done effectively himself). Really didn't help and I had to have the surgery (I could barely lift anything, pull anything, pretty bad as I was doing loads of long haul work travel that year). I had the op about 3 days after getting back from Japan!
My tendon was detached, cleaned up and reattached with stitches and a biosbsorbable screw as I understood it. It was barely hanging on by a thread though. It was an open op, 2 inch scar. I also needed a follow up op to remove a lump of scar tissue around the internal stitches. Think surgeon does keyhole now, new technique in last 5 years...not sure though as website not updated
http://www.thelondonshoulderpartnership.co.uk/elbow-information/24/common-extensor-origin-release
Strength, yep, not that I'm very strong! And I do have quite a few other joint issues (recent diagnosis of possible inflammatory arthritis, which often seem to end up chronic
My surgeon has good info on the op on his website (London shoulder partnership).
http://thelondonshoulderpartnership.co.uk/elbow-information/elbow/tennis-elbow
Note all treatment was done privately through work insurance, NHS probably wouldn't cover nearly as much like the PRP
Sounds like you need to find a good private sports Physio and to try to rest. Daily heat and icing can help.
Good luck!