Hi Miata family,

I've loved cars since I was a toddler like many of us. I bought a red ND3 GT on a whim and discovered that Miata really is always the answer. Can't imagine a better car for the road. After three months of delightful driving, the dream turned into a nightmare. I've been struggling with tennis elbow (lateral epicondylopathy) on both arms for 6 months. It's gotten bad enough that even picking up a glass of water or opening a doorknob causes a surge of pain. As a result, I'm very seriously considering selling my darling Miata. I can't do my job properly, can't type, can't lift weights, can't drive my regular car without pain. I'm 5'9", feet to hip crease is 40 inches (long leg, short torso body type), and my hands are 8.5 inches from wrist to middle fingertip.

Things I've tried:

* I have big hands so I increased the thickness of the steering wheel with a wheel cover and Fat Gripz ones
* Cravenspeed shift knob because it's bigger
* I wear elbow sleeves and elbow braces. still have pain
* saw orthopedics...they want to do injections but the evidence for efficacy isn't reassuring and seems like a band-aid
* saw PT, doing exercises, so far not helping
* saw OT, they gave me a wrist brace, reduces pain while driving but then I have a flare of pain later that day (I only drove 35 miles)
* have talked extensively to chatgpt, followed recommendations of moving the wheel closer to my body and moving the seat forward slightly. I end up with my elbow bent at 90 degrees which doesn't seem ideal and hasn't helped

Am I genetically doomed to reject the greatest automotive masterpiece?

Tennis elbow from ND3 - feeling desperate