Bad elbow

[Bakes168]

So more than two years after the initial bout of tendonitis in my bow arm it has begun to act up again. I have probably only shot about 50 arrows out of my moms 35# longbow in the last year due to my job keeping me away, so I know it's not from shooting too much. It gets really stiff and most days it hurts just doing little things like holding a water bottle. It felt fine for a good while but it has begun to bother me again. When it first began I had 2 cortizone shots and multiple ultrasound/physical therapy sessions. I think it's chronic and what I really need is surgery.
Any similar experiences or bits of advice?

Thanks and Semper Fi,
Zack

[ncsaknech1ydh]

The only thing I would suggest is to get a brace for when you shoot, you already are doing the smart thing in dropping bow weight. My elbow acted up a bit for the first time last summer, I got an elastic brace and dropped my bow weight and shots taken per day to about 5 per day at the time, now I am up to 30 or so. I would give it a break and order a brace and then start shooting a few arrows a day and work up to about 10 or so over time, I think the key, if it turns out you don't need surgery and the brace helps is to shoot every day once you work up to it instead of now and again. Hope that helps.

[Mitch-In-NJ]

I had a problem two years ago with tendonitis.  The cure was rest.  The interesting thing was the cause.  It wasn't shooting.  It was how I was sleeping, specifically how my arm was positioned during sleep.

Won't bore you with details, just thought I would mention it.  Consider what other factors might be causing the pain.  Could be, like me, the problem is something else and shooting just amplifies the problem.

[yaderehey]

I have been battling the same thing for a long time.  I have not had a cortizone shot, but I did 6 weeks of the PT ultrasound, infrared, etc. which did not seem to do me any good.  I have finally turned the corner and seen some significant improvement.  It has come through always wearing the elbow strap/brace just below the elbow during the day.  Consistently doing the stretches and wrist extension exercises with weights that you can find by searching "golfers elbow" on the net.  And finally like Mitch -in -NJ said it was partially my sleep habits.  I'm a side sleeper and tended to bend my arms and have my hands under my head with big bends in elbows and wrists which puts strain on the tendons.  I now sleep with stiff wrist braces which do not allow me to bend my wrists at all.  Even if I do something during the day to strain my elbows, a nights sleep with the wrist braces on will tame it down pretty good by morning.  It seems to be a long process recovering from this.  Best of luck with it.

[Chumster]

I bought two elbow braces and wore one every time I praticed or was out hunting. Was great for support but took a lot of motrin. What I noticed and payed attention to were the times it would start hurting. I did things like holding the truck steering wheel in the other hand and when out stump shooting carry the bow in the opposite hand. I did acquire a different bow and noticed a big difference in the hand shock. Hasn't acted up or have worn the brace in over a year now. Good luck I feel your pain.

[Bakes168]

Thanks for the input guys, I tried a brace a while back and it didn't seem to help much. I've been stretching almost everyday and that seems to help a little.

[joekeith]

Have ya been to the docs?  What do they say?  Don't get surgery.....unless ya need it.  If ya need it, get it.  The sooner ya get it, the sooner ya start your healin'.  You can't rush it, unless ya want it to end up takin' twice as long.  

I used to be a concrete finisher and wore out my knees, elbow and shoulder.  Have had the shots, the scopes, the surgeries, and the rehabs.  They don't all work the first go around.  The doc thinks he knows just what it is, then once he gets in there he can find something else.  All you can do is get a doc ya trust and listen to him.  Good luck...it sucks, I know, but what are your options ?

[reddogge]

Mine was a bone spur on the elbow. Solved by having a tractor accident and torn tendon and ensuing surgery to fix that. He fixed the spur at the same time. Problem solved.

[Autumnarcher]

I type this 10 hrs post surgery to correct the same problem. 10 months on and off tendonitis pain in my bow arm. I did the Motrin and hope routine prescribed by my family Dr. That didnt work. I had 1 injection last fall, with temporary relief of pain. I had a MRI done as well, which showed partial tear of the common extensor tendon. Thinking thw worst, I did some more digging.

I finally searced out a sports medicine elbow specialist. I decided on the Sports Medicine Dept through DMC - the same pracice used by the Detroit Tigers, Red wings and Pistons.

The Doc who I saw eplained tendonitis is actually pain caused by small tears in the tendon. The procdeure he did removes degenerated tendon tissue, and repairs the tendon, as well as a fewthings to improve blood flow to the tendon.

Surgery went well, Im not in any pain. I will be in a sling for 10 days, and a wrist immobolizer.
Looking at 6-8 weeks recovery, then PT.

If its chronic, you are likely looking at something along the same lines.

PM if me if you want and I'd be happy to discuss it further with you on the phone. I have a seaon long elk hunt planned for this fall, and while this will set me back in my conditioning and shooting, Doc said I should be good to go by then for sure. As long as I dont rush the recovery process.

[BRONZ]

Tennis elbows is an issue that may flare up from time to time.  I would repeat injection and OT for a few weeks to calm it back down.  Rest, ice, and NSAIDS.  Stretching before and after any activity that causes pain, including shooting.  ASTYM has also helped a lot of people with this.  I treat this on a daily basis and have mixed opinions about surgery.  I would exhaust other options first, and don't let just anyone cut on you.  PM me is you have any other questions.  Good luck!