Archers elbow / epicondilytus

[NYArrow]

Any of you guys ever had archers elbow? What treatment seemed to work best for a quick recovery?

[Southern Sam]

Yes!!! I been fighing it since Oct.   I have been using a elbow brace/ wrap and it seems to work when shooting.  I feel your pain!!  Some say cortisone shots, but haven't got to that much pain yet!lol

[Andy Cooper]

Some pro athletes are treated for epicondylitis by using a cold compression elbow wrap, ultrasound therapy, and a blood flow stimulation therapy wrap. Combined use of these causes healing to occur very quickly thereby reducing the amount of reinjury that occurs to the tendons in the elbow by continued use. As to where to procure said medical therapy and supplies...contact your physician!

[huntinoly]

First you need to find out what caused the problem. If it is on the side that you hold you bow it can be from vibration of the bow. I recomend skinney strings and good bow silencers. Also how many arrows you shoot before you take a break and pull arrows is very important. I took care of a guy a few years ago that injuryed him self training for Worlds and the only thing he did diferent was shoot six arrows and pull compaired to two arrows and pull.His epicondylitis was so bad he had to give up shooting for several months. The best treatment for epicondylitis is ice on the forarm for 15 minutes after shooting, massage of the forearm and tennis elbow brace while shooting. If you are not willing to take time off from shooting while things heal I would recomend you shoot one arrow then pull giving your arm more time to rest. Good luck Greg

[Spectre]

Originally posted by Andy Cooper:
Some pro athletes are treated for epicondylitis by using a cold compression elbow wrap, ultrasound therapy, and a blood flow stimulation therapy wrap. Combined use of these causes healing to occur very quickly thereby reducing the amount of reinjury that occurs to the tendons in the elbow by continued use. As to where to procure said medical therapy and supplies...contact your physician!

^This^
 As a football strength and conditioning coach, I always recommend ICE, ICE, and more ice. Take you a basin big enough to immerse your elbow in, fill it with water and ice(mostly ice), add about 2 cups of turpentine. This will NOT BE FUN OR COMFORTABLE, put your elbow in, it will be very cold, then it will ache like nothing you ever felt, then it will simply go numb. When it goes numb, your done. Try this a couple times a day for a while and see what happens, also try supplementing your diet with vitamin B complex. Call your physician, totwotoo.

[chanumpa]

I fight the same deal and have on and off for years.Mine isnt caused by shooting,but from work related stuff that can hamper my shooting/practice time.I use the elbow wraps,and must admitt that they really help me.I am also trying the fish pills that a custom guitarmaker that is always sraping on wood suggested to me.He says you have to take them 2 times a day and will see improvement after you have been taking them for about 1 month.So its worth a try.Also,I do seem to get relief from aspercream type stuff before bed.I do know that the elbow wraps at least keep me from damaging things worse,and allow me to get out there and do the things I want.I dont agree with the cortisone shots.They just mask the pain and make money for the medical industry.If you can kepp from doing what has caused it to enflame for long enough they will settle down.If its just shooting that is lighting you up,you need to reduce poundage,lay off for a while and get some elbow wraps.Good luck,Jim.

I would also suggest the gluco-chondroitin with msm, hyaluronic acid(joint juice) and if you don't like the fish oil there is krill and shark cartilage.  The fish oil and the krill have numerous benefits, especially for the heart.

[NYArrow]

My initial injury was caused when building a retaining wall at my house, offloading the block two at a time (one in ea. hand) and flipping them out of the truck. This was 8 mths ago. Since then the pain is steadily increased and especially when  I started shooting trad archery. I assumed it was a muscle that just needed rest. The Dr. Just told me this week what was wrong. He gave me a anti inflammatory, cortisone shot and 1 month off of shooting (or anything strenuous on my right arm). I'm not a fan of drugs and almost refuse to take them. In this case its my hunting and archery on the line. This type of injury if not treated can apparently haunt for life. I'm also going to try out acupuncture. This was the reason for my initial post, just to see if any of you guys have tried it and if so what the results were. Thanks for the help! I'll certainly try the ice and tennis brace. Hope you guys take it seriously as well to avoid any long term damage. It not just archery it affects, but your golden years being either useful and pain free or decrepit and miserable.

[Crooked Stic]

I second the ICE treatment.

[Jmatt1957]

same troule. finally went to Dr.- Cortison shot and Ibprofen. I added ice and glucomamine-condroitin with msn. Went away very quickly. I have continued with the gluco-condroitin and have not had any problem since. I did not stop shooting or change how I shot.

[ksbowman]

I fought it last year. My Chiropractor gave me the ultrasound treatments and told me to use a elbow brace (elastic type sold at the drug store), also had me take ibuprofen. Both worked great and now I'm not having any problems. Mine was on my drawing arm.

[GRINCH]

Ice,Ice,Ice and wrap it while shooting.

[Zmonster]

For me it was rest. I stopped shooting for two weeks, then I switched to left hand shooting for another two weeks. I learned how to shoot opposite hand and turned out that I was pretty good.

[Tall Paul]

The treatment will depend on your individual situation.

I injured both of my elbows in the spring of 2009 and I'm still fighting it.  I haven't shot my bow since July 4th 2010 because of it.

But I had a very severe case of tennis elbow and golfers elbow in both arms due to clearing brush with loppers, kyzer blade, and chainsawing.  In other words, overuse.

I went to an orthopaedic sports medicine M.D. and I've had 2 injections in my left elbow, and 3 in my right elbow.  Plus 10 sessions of physical therapy.  All this helped a lot.  I'll begin shooting soon.

Unfortunately, I have to stretch my elbows 3 times a day.

My advice?  Don't try to wait it out.  Seek medical attention from a specialist.

[Flying Dutchman]

I had it since a week or six. I do stretching exercices, (google on tennis-elbow, especially the technique with the hammer helps) and use a brace when shooting. Don't make the mistake to take Ibuprofen or something like that when you are shooting. In this case you won't feel the pain and the injury becomes worse.
I shoot for practise one day and have one day rest. I shoot no more then 50 arrows(I used to shoot a few hundred every day). I didn't use any ice.

By now, my injury is almost gone.

Hope this helps

[Tall Paul]

Cortizone is not a pain-killer. It's an anti-inflammatory, like Ibuprofen.

NYArrow: sounds like you've got a good plan going.  Rest and anti-inflammatories. My Physical therapist said that ice this long after the initial injury really won't do anything.

Just don't go back to shooting your bow too soon!

[Flying Dutchman]

I am sorry, but Ibuprofen IS a painkiller besides an anti-inflammatory.

[Tall Paul]

Dutch: you're right about Ibuprofen having pain killing properties.

My point was that Cortizone is not a pain-killer.

[Flying Dutchman]

Thank you Tall Paul! It is not being about right, but I would hate to ghear that someone used Iboprofen and went on shooting because he felt no pain anymore..

BTW: one of my friends we call Little Paul. He is over 7 feet tall...

[Missouri Bowman]

I've had it in the past and what works for me is grip/hand exercises. When I watched tv or just not doing much I would do them and my elbow was back to normal. This worked for me on three occasions in about 3-4 weeks.