@#$%* Tendonitis update

[Otto]

Well after 2 months of no shooting at all, my @#$%* tendonitis hasn't gotten one bit better.  So I went to the Orthopod today and he took x-rays and we did an MRI, saw nothing torn, ripped, frayed, shredded or out of whack.  He gave me a shot right square in the elbow of some cocktail mixture and also gave me a brace to wear on my forearm to take the pressure off the tendon attachment point.  This is the same Ortho dude who essentially fixed my herniated discs and my torn meniscus so I trust him and the treatment path.

I'll tell ya...not shooting for 2 months with 2 new bows in the basement and 2 more on the way by April.....frustrating.

[Jeff Strubberg]

Just gonna have to stop buyin' until you can catch up...


Kidding!  If it helps at all, it took me about five months to get back to regular shooting, along with PT and a 10lb drop in bow weight.  Good news is that was three years ago and I haven't had that elbow put me off of shooting for more than a day or three since then.

Hang in there, it does get better.

[fatman]

Otto, I feel your pain...literally....

On my second course of steroids, tried to come back too quickly and re-injured...this started 2 weeks before Christmas, and haven't pulled a string back since....

I have a hog hunt scheduled for late March, hoping to be able to "limp" through that with a 45#er....

Jeff, do you see yourself getting that 10#'s back?
I was only shootin' 55 to begin with...

Kevin

[Golden Hawk]

Don't give up hope Steve! Things will get better. Your Doc knows best Bud!

[CREOLE]

The steroids and brace did nothing for my tendonitis.  The only thing that cured me was glucosamine and chondroitin.  I swear by it now, and take it daily...

[longbowben]

Otto hope you get better,leatherneck had elboy surgery 3 weeks ago ,i dont shoot while he is at my house dont want to tease him.Things will get better.

[Littlejake]

Otto Something you might try is Capsaicin cream.
I use it on my shoulder and it really helps.You
have to rub it in a couple times a day and keep
using it.It's over the counter at drug stores.
Maybe check with your Dr. first.One other good thing it has no odor.

[brettlandon]

Otto,
  Keep up the faith buddy.  Your love for the sport will bring you back in due time.  Four years ago I fell off a roof and tore all but one muscle from my shoulder.  I was too dumb to get it looked at until four months later (high pain tolerance is not always a good thing).  I had my rotor cuff rebuilt (4.5 hrs of orthoscopic surgery), healed for 6 weeks (immobilized) and rehabed for 7 more.  Anyway, it took me the better part of the year to get back to shooting my 63# selfbow.  As it is my draw length has shortened about half an inch also.  
  Last year I had tennis elbow for about seven months (clear through hunting season), and my shooting time suffered even more.  This year I hope for a clean bill of health for at least hunting season.    
  Hang in there buddy and live vicariously through someone else (my wife became quite the shot with my help).

-Brett

[allan f]

Hey Otto,

  I have had great success treating tendonitis in my acupuncture practice.  I would suggest that you look in the phone book and find an acupuncturist in your area.  Chinese medicine has some great linaments, and a combo with some acupuncture treatments can really help take away pain and speed up healing.

Just a suggestion,
Allan

[Jeff Strubberg]

Jeff, do you see yourself getting that 10#'s back?

Since I've never met an archer who shot more weight at age fifty than age thirty, I kind doubt it....

Enough conditioning would probably let me do it, but I would rather walk the woods more than lift more, you know?  I'm still shooting 57#, so it's just not worth the extra work and strain to me to go back to 65# +.

And I betcha you will be startled how well a well-tuned 45# 'er puts hogs down...

[fatman]

Jeff, I hear you...just got the 45 (guess the elbow gave me the excuse), got the arrows ready, just waitin' 'til I can pull it back....
Allan, we have a new acupuncturist in town, may give him a call....
Creole, got a big ol' bottle of G/C in the closet that my wife used to take, guess I'll start eatin' them too....
We'll try throwin' the whole shebang at it.  Otto, thanks for the thread.....

[Dano]

Steve, I feel your pain or least I used to. Send me them lonely bows and I'll keep em company till you get better, what are friends for.  

[GregD]

Has anybody tried prolotherapy for tendonitis? I have had surgery once and am considering the prolo this time around. Here's a website the doctor gave me.  www.getprolo.com.   Are you guys that are having success with the glucosamine and condroitin having tendonitis or joint problems? I had two doctors tell me it was no benefit to tendons, but can work great for arthritis? I tried a product called Elastijoint but had no improvement. Good Luck  Greg

[owlbait]

I had to have surgery on the tendon and it really helped. Guess he drilled holes in it to promote new blood flow and growth in that area. Worked well and I even survived a tugging match with my mastiff,although I did need a cortizone helper for that one.

[longbowben]

This is leatherneck here and I'm telling you I know how you feel otto. I had surgery on my right elbow last year and I didn't shoot for 2.5 months. It was my left one about three weeks ago and I don;'t anticipate at least another month or so. I don't know about the others but my right one is jsut as strong, if not stronger then before. No loss in bow weight for me. I had this one being worked on since July with two sets of cortizone to get me through hunting season. She basically trimmed away some tissue and moved my tendon a 1/4 inch. It feels good so far. Good luck!

[defiant]

Otto I understand your pain very well.I fell 22 feet in sept. and crushed my heel and ankle,the only doctor that would do the surgery was in New York's special surgery unit.To make things worse they said I would have a limp for life and will need the use of a cane.All I could think about was my hunting season down the drain and not shooting my bow.Well after 4 months in a cast and a month of theropy I finally got out and shot,started pushing it alittle too much and came down with tendonitis in all my tendon in the foot,the pain was horrendous.The doctor had the theropist use laser light every day for a week and the tendonitis is gone along with the swelling.And by the way even with 12 screws and 2 metal plates I am walking and will be fishing this spring,trust me.Frank

[Hood]

Hey Otto,

If it would make you feel any better, just have those two new bows shipped to me. I could shoot them for you and get them all tuned and ready to go.    

Just kidding, but I'll pray for a quick recovery.

Robert

[Otto]

Guys, thanks for the words of encouragement.  I'm going to keep a list of you guys who have offered to shoot my new bows.  I appreciate your generosity and I'll be shipping those bows out in a week or so.    

I'm going to give the Glucosimine a try and I have a buddy who is a Chiro.  May have to give him a visit.  Man, it's hard to believe that it can take something like this so long to heal.  I mean 2 stinkin months gone by and it hurts just as it did on day one.

I gotta git healed up by Cloverdale for sure....

[maxfit]

Otto, I deal with this alot everyday, with several clients. Remember the good news is you do not have any trauma!  Also forget the  Voodoo.Believe it or not some simple things WILL help. ICE yes ICE! WILL help. plus some rehab excercises. If alright with DR, some Ibuprofin.Acupuncture helps some as well. Also electronic stim. Feel free to contact me,www.maxfitonline.com  and i will be more than happy to give you some tips. I know your pain. Chuck.

[Otto]

maxfit

Thanks.  Yeah, I ice the sucker several times each day.  I'm headed to my PT guy on Monday.  He's going to be starting some elec stim and slowly work me into some rehab exercises. I may get ahold of you next week to discuss once I get some PT under my belt.