Tennis Elbow

[asbahhur]

Just got diagnosed with it. Any tips from past experiences on how to treat it or how to play with the pain?

[Blade]

Are you getting it from playing and practicing golf, or from work?

[asbahhur]

From overuse due to golf. I play competitive golf and I've been hitting about 400 balls a day off of bad mats and the doc said that that's what caused it

[SPY ZINGER]

My dad had success using an air cast on his forearm.

[Blade]

I had that problem a couple of years ago. I tried a strap around the upper forearm which does help. It doesn't get rid of it though. I even tried those magnetic bracelets out of desperation. I say that because I never believed in that stuff. I don't have a problem with it anymore. I think that's mostly due to the fact I figured out how to swing better without having the tension in my arms I used to have. Not sure it had anything to do with the bracelet although it can't hurt. I'm not pounding 400 or more balls a day anymore either though. Seems like once you have a decent repeatable swing, that would lead to diminished returns compared to working on something less abusive to your body, like the short game. Not sure much of anything will help if the overuse continues. Taking Ibuprofen before practice can help keep the swelling down during the session which would help a bit. Wouldn't call that a solution though. Listen to your body. Right now it's saying, back off Buddy. I need some time to recover between these marathon sessions!

[asbahhur]

Yeah I wish I could take some time off but I have some tournaments coming up that I need to be playing on. I have the brace, anti-inflammatory meds, and I've been icing the crap out of it. Probably more course time and less range time will be on the future plans

[JMiller]

Yeah I wish I could take some time off but I have some tournaments coming up that I need to be playing on. I have the brace, anti-inflammatory meds, and I've been icing the crap out of it. Probably more course time and less range time will be on the future plans

 

Well, you sort of have an issue then because the only real way to "treat" the problem long term is to take time off and keep your forearm muscles from activating the tendons in your elbow. That's probably why the air cast worked form someone it immobilized the muscles / arm more then it would without it allowing the tendons to repair themselves over time without prolonging or re-lapsing the injury.

 

If you absolutely can't take time off, then you are stuck with ice/heat, anti-inflammatory drugs and pain medications if it hurts too bad to do daily activities. I will say you are running the risk of injuring the elbow more and if it's chronic you'll end up having to get surgery to repair it. I don't like to suggest short term remedies as it might lead a a worse long term condition down the road.

 

 

 

I had golfers elbow starting in the summer and went up till September I had to shut down my golf game last year do to the issue in September I stopped playing a bit a August to help to heel but i came back too soon and it re-lapsed. The best decision I ever made this past season was to just call it a year and get healthy for the next season (this year).

 

I went into the details with my instructor and we went over what could be causing the injury in my swing if anything. We also set up some drills to get my putting and short game better. Putting didn't take much grip or power to make a stroke. Chipping and pitching we decided to train my left arm (lead arm) to control the face and release a little better with strength training and repetitions using a clubs head weight like a 60* wedge to strengthen the forearm muscles in the left arm.

 

Assuming you are a RH golfer and the injury is in your right arm, you should take time off from practicing / playing and focus on giving it some rest, you can still work on putting and chipping, pitching using your left arm (good arm) only in small drills / swings don't over do it and screw up both arms however.

[BK in TEXAS]

I had that problem a couple of years ago. I tried a strap around the upper forearm which does help. It doesn't get rid of it though.

It does help. I think it helps absorb the shock so you are at least not doing as much damage with each swing. I pretty much wear one at all times now.

 

HOWEVER.....I am not a doctor, and I don't think anyone on here is. If you are serious about tournament golf get your butt off the keyboard and into the doctors office, or at LEAST a Physical Therapist.

[GolfSpy_X]

Check out a couple things that are pretty new and very effective for this type thing. Problem is not many people hear about them because one is not covered by insurance and the other one does not line the doctors pockets. But trust me they both work very well. Both are being used by both college and professional athletes and both have no side effects at all.

 

1. PRP Injections - You can read about this here for more info: http://orthopedics.about.com/od/injectio2/p/prp.htm

Basically they draw your own blood spin it around to get the platelet cells out of the blood then re-inject them at the site of the injury. This stimulates the recovery process.

Downside most insurances do not cover this and can cost between $350-500.

 

2. Prolotherapy - Same exact theory as above only difference it only cost like $5 for the injection and all it is is (sugar water). Yeah sounds simple but this has been used for years and it works. It creates an irritant around the area to promote faster healing.

 

Check them both out and see if either is an option for you. I have seen both do wonders for athletes.

[asbahhur]

^^^^

Thanks I will definitely be checking those out. Thanks for the suggestions everyone!

[Siamese Moose]

I have been treated with a couple cortisone shots, but got my biggest relief from physical therapy. There are three similar stretches I was taught to do, 10x, 2 sets, at least 3x a day. I don't have drawings, so I'll try to explain. With your arm straight (can be out or by your side or in-between, whatever's comfortable) with a straight hand bend your wrist in towards your body as far as you can. Hold 10 seconds. The second stretch is basically the same, except point the hand down. The last is the same again, but turn the hand out, trying to turn your pinkie to the sky. Now repeat all three using your other hand to pull on the primary hand to increase the stretch. While playing I do these while walking down the fairway (OK, walking through the rough ) between shots.

You also want to do negative lifts with small weights (1-2 pounds). With your arm on a table and palm facing down over the edge, use your other hand to lift it up. Then using only the injured hand lower the weight slowly. Repeat 10x. Do NOT lift the weight using your injured side. Another way of doing this (and easier) is to buy a FlexBar to do isolated eccentrics. There's an explanation here. Good Luck!

[Tyk]

Be conscious that swinging with pain messes up your swing. Your body will try to find a way to avoid swinging into that pain. If you're practicing in pain, it's pretty hard to practice right. Tennis elbow is a pretty crappy injury in this regard because you usually can play with it but in my experience the only thing that really helps it is giving it time to heal. The little forearm braces give some relief, especially from the nagging irritation when one isn't being active. Last time it hit me was a couple years ago, I did the brace and physical therapy and it helped, but what really did the trick was a rough spell of winter weather that kept me off the course for 6-8 weeks where I was really able to let it heal. Not what you want to hear I know.

[JBones]

We have discussed this on here before, as I know Tyk and I both suffer from extreme tennis elbow flare ups. I use the below product quite frequently and it helps a lot.

 

http://www.amazon.com/Tennis-Elbow-Brace-Ice-Pack/dp/B004R7X83S

[GolfSpy_X]

Also just a reminder for those of you who get flare ups for seems like no apparent reason, many medications can cause the flare-ups. Ask your doctor if something you are taking could be the cause as well.

[Max L698]

Thanks for the advises.

[SkypeTeachingPro: apirlp71]

Just got diagnosed with it. Any tips from past experiences on how to treat it or how to play with the pain?

Is it in your lead elbow? That's where it usually occurs. Pain underneath is referred to as golfer's elbow and is less common. 

 

Understand I am no doctor and do not give out medical advice, but I have had this before as do some of my students and it's always the same old advice, rest, ice and anti inflammatories. They also have supporting straps that wrap around your forearm that you can get at your local pharmacy. I would check with your doctor obviously before you take anything.

 

Several things can cause this including an early release of the club head in the downswing, hitting off of mats, hitting the ground too hard and behind the ball and over extending the elbow at any point in the swing. 

 

I hope that helps and the best thing is to lay off a bit until it's better.

[sp0rtsfan86]

From experience: rest is the best.

 

Ice works wonders too as that knocked down the swelling for me and allowed me to at least stretch the elbow.  I also went to a chiropractor and had him check it out. All seemed to work well. 

 

My advice is just to rest and go from there.