Hello
I've been struggling with a sore elbow (RHBH thrower) since after a round about 6 weeks ago. I've been taking the anti inflamatory meds and icing the elbow at night. I've cut back on playing and when I do, I use an elbow brace. It effects my grip...I can feel the soreness all the way through the arm, from just above the elbow to just above the wrist. I have normal strength in that arm for normal angle lifting such as groceries (with palm up) but if I change the angle of my wrist like picking up a paperweight palm down, it hurts.
Has anyone else experienced this condition and how and what would be recommended for expedited rehab...without disc golf...my life is :gross:
Great thing about the internet is that we can find a lot of information only a few clicks away. Do a search for tendonitis (I'll bet you have already) and compare the pain that you have and its location. You'll find differing advice, though the most common here in the western world is RICE (rest, ice, compression, elevation).
Look around some more and you'll find people saying that ice is not helpful in the long run, that what you really need is heat to promote blood circulation. Just don't use heat when there is inflammation or your elbow may swell to the size of your leg; ice is best for inflammation. Or, that you use contrasts - ice followed by heat followed by ice followed by heat. Or, you could use some of the sports creams such as BenGay, Icy Hot, Tiger Balm, etc.; but keep digging and you'll read that these are counter-irritants that provide a different sensation to take your mind off the pain (the ol' slam your fingers in a car door and notice that your back stops hurting). I've heard nothing but good things about massage - it get the circulation going and you can do it yourself (still, a good masseuse would be nice.)
I'm dealing with the same thing. I know what caused it and when it happened ... I was trying a new form tweak to squeeze out some more distance, it worked VERY well, so well that my tendons weren't ready for it.
I'm still playing because, to be honest, it doesn't hurt to play and, in fact, my elbow feels better afterwards. What does hurt is to use thumb pressure to grip something; a firm handshake will make me wince.
Like Widdershins, I don't like to just stop cold. But, I also don't want to wind up like David with surgery and having to take two years off. So, I haven't been throwing for max D; I decided my "new secret technique" was not worth the extra distance; and, I'm *trying* to take a day or two off from throwing at all each week.
If you can afford it and have the time and patience, go see a doctor. If it doesn't seem like simple tendonitis, go see a doctor. If it gets worse, go see a doctor. If you don't know what caused it, go see a doctor. If you DO know what caused it, don't do that anymore!