Elbow Issue - need some advice

[swampthing]

Get your shocks replaced. Seriously. You are all tensed up. Trying to push that bow at the target while your pulling it the other way, then holding that position for a count. You are all tensed up and rigid. Allow your body to go with the flow. Try loosening up, smoothing out your shot sequence to more of a rhythmic motion, don't stop, make it all one smooth continuos motion. Bend the bow arm, don't try to draw back towards your ear.
   Then research all the bicep/tricep/chest/and back stretches you can find, warm up your body, and do 'em.   Tendonitis can be reversed if you don't wait until you have scar tissue all around the injury site, and, DON'T CONTINUE TO DO WHAT CAUSES HARM!!!!

[rick7]

i shoot both recurves and longbows. i have had elbow pain for about 3 years now.  i even quit shooting for a while to see if the pain would leave. it did some but not enough to suit me.  i have found that if i grip the bow loose and not have a death grip i feel very little pain. i shoot 50 lb bow and i can shoot a lot more.

[ALDO]

Again, Thanks to all of you for your input.  I am going to drop weight and try a different style longbow as soon as the ACS bow comes back.  I will have to put my centaur down for a bit.  Won't try shooting at all until next week.  Enjoy the Labor day weekend.
ALDO

[bowslinger]

Aldo,

I have had tendonitis in both forearms and wrists.  My problems typically occur when I over use my arms.  For instance, shooting a 59-pound longbow three to 7 days a week does not hurt them.  Lifting weights 3 to 4 days per week does not hurt them.  But lifting weights 2 to 3 times per week and shooting a bow two to three times a week is risky business.  Is there any other activity you engage in that may be contributing?

Rest, anti-inflammatory drugs like NSAIDs (ibuprofen) can help alot.

As far fetched as this may sound, trying different yoga exercises may help.  I was diagnosed with the onset of carpal tunnel syndrome in  my wrists by an orthopedic surgeon.  I did an internet search for wrist exercises for carpal tunnel syndrome and found several variations of the same stretching exercises.  After a few weeks of following these exercises, I have no more symptoms.  May not work for you but it may be a cheaper and less painful remedy.

Good luck!

[Gil Verwey]

In my drawing elbow I used the Formaster to eliminate tennis elbow.

Gil

[Benoli]

I had a bad case of tennis elbow and was ready to accept a Dr.'s decision to stop shooting, cortisone shots or surgery. Luckily my Dr. is not a fan of either so he asked me to buy a book on sport injuries he commonly refers to and try some exercises first. According to him Tennis elbow is most often caused by a lack of strength of certain muscles causing others to pull excessively on the main elbow tendon. Anyway I bought the book and did the exercises and it not only went away but it’s not come back in two years. I’ve since recommended it to three others and two of them had the same success. It could be worth a try – “Sports Injury Handbook” by Allan M. Levy, MD and Mark L. Fuerst. The exercises are simple and can be done while watching TV or at work.

[ALDO]

Thanks for that Albert, I will look up the book.  
ALDO

[Lamey]

and to help alleviate the pain, go get some horse Linament from the feed store.  I like the gel type,  rub that in and a few minutes later, no pain.

[Troy D. Breeding]

Sitting reading all this with the same problem. Mine is in the bow arm. Spent two days with a sledge hammer and wedges in hand trying to get all my firewood up before hunting season gets here.

Now I'm setting here with a sore tenden that I don't want to make worse by shooting.

Currently using Voltaren Gel to decrease the inflamation. Can't take Advill or anything like it for the problem. UC prevents taking anything like it.

Hopefully a few more days and I will be back to norm. The pain has decrease better than 75% since it happened.

Troy

[toehead]

last August I purchased a substantially heavier long bow than i had been shooting.  It shot great but soon after shooting it I noticed the pain in my left elbow just like you mentioned.  Hurt like heck on release.  So I dropped back down to mh 55# recureve and really layed off shooting (used that bow on a hog hunt that I had arrows built for). As soon as the hog hunt was over (last weekend of September) Dropped donw to a 49# rd longbow and shot it all winter and spring.  This did wonders for my elbow pain!  I also learned to bend my elbow more on my bow arm and I ordered the same model longbow I loved so much only 14# lighter!  So far so good.  Good luck

[Bakes168]

Same thing developed in my bow arm over three years ago. I tried physical therapy, cortisone shots, and stretching (which only seems to make it worse). I went very long periods without even touching a bow and it still flares up now and then, sometimes it's not even from shooting. It all started when I bought a longbow that was too heavy and kept practicing well after I was tired and frustrated. Don't make the same mistake I did. I know when to quit shooting now, but unfortunately I learned the hard way.
I still shoot now, it's fairly manageable with my 43# Elite Classic from Bama Bows, I just have to take it easy.
Best of luck to you, listen to the advice from all the great folks on here and take care.

Shoot straight!
Zack