Elbow Pain

[thetackletrap]

I'm dealing with alot of pain in my elbow, so I'm reaching out to any of you guys that may have some suggestions. I was a tree climber and a tree mover for years before I got into fishing for a living. So over the years I have abused my body and one of the worst things that happened to me was tennis elbow. I had to fight through the pain for the last two years.

Last year, dispite wearing a forearm strap and icing every night, I could barely cast a spinning rod. So before my trip to MV I got a cortizone shot which really helped alot. In fact I was fly casting in one week without any pain. The pain has been gone for almost a year, but now has returned full fledged again. With the fishing season rapidly approaching I don't want to have to fight through this again. It hurts reaching into a fridge and pulling out a 2 liter of soda.

So my question is, how do I get rid of this? Should I have another steroid shot once a year, or is there something better out there? Any thoughts is greatly appreciated from any doctors here or someone who had this in the past and now found a cure! Thanks guys.

[SharkJP]

I dont know about elbow pain, but I have had cortizone shots for my shoulder and they work for a while then I get another one. I will prob have to get surgery sometime, but didnt want to because it would sideline me from hockey for about 5 or 6 months. I liked the cortizone shots. . . if your Doc is OK with it, and so are you. . .keep up with them until you can find an alternate cure. . . not just something to ease the pain.

[Sea Draggin]

I had the same thing about 3 years ago. I think partially from handheld drills at work and driving my boat and reeling big fish.

I got several shots and they would help for about a month then the pain would come back.

I started a routine of taking a vitamin b complex everyday at someones suggestion. Also I would wrap it in a heating pad for about 15 minutes at night before bed and have been pain free for 2 years.

Good luck with it.

[thetackletrap]

Thanks for the help guys. I'll be buying some vitamin B tomorrow. I'll do anything fot this to go away. I've been told that it is a swelling of the tenden or something like that. What ever it it that causes it sure feels like a fork twisting in there. I think I'll go get another shot this week.

[AhiSlayer]

Aloha

Sorry for your pain. Pain hurts!

I had a less severe elbo enjury due to surf casting. The point of my elbow swelled up and got very tender. It wasn't tendon pain that shot up or down my arm. It was very localized to the tissue covering the pointy bone.

Doc said I tore a membrain inside and the fluid build up caused swelling and pain. The elbow membrain repaired it's self in a few days after I stopped surf casting.

Tennis elbo is a little different. Typing can sneek up and cause damage. Check your typing form It may be somthing simple that you just need to buy a pad that forces you into the corrrect form.Da kine for in front the key board.

Check your chair is properly adjusted to your computer station. When you finish typing change you arm position to a more relaxed position.

Proper form and low stress to the tendon are the best fix. They have special keyboards too.

If the pain is inside the joint, it may be gout. Gout is easy to treat once you find the dietary triggers. If I eat beans I can't walk for three days. Beer, and anything made with internal organs, even gizzard gravy can bring on the pain. the pain is caused from an acid in the food getting stuck in your joint, then crystalizing. A pill will break up the crystals.

Good luck with it.
yf
Old Man Slayer

[Glenn W]

In another life I did the Pro-Am Bass tourney trail and fished 3-5 days a week. Tennis elbow set in on my casting arm-- I feel for ya buddy-- about as bad as a bad tooth ache. Anyway, the cortizone got me through the season. I didn't pick up a rod for 6 mths after that season and haven't had a problem since--- lucky I guess. Also, lots and lots of good ole Bayer Asprin and a heating pad every night.

[Fish Tale Charters]

Tackletrap, Guess it depends on just how bad it is. I had the same thing in my right elbow. I tried icing and everything else I could come up with including vitamin B. My doctor even suggested a couple over the counter things. Then I broke down and saw an ORTHO. in Somers Point, did some rehab for a few months, felt a little better but not great. Then the big dive. I got it operated on two years ago. It feels great now!! not a problem since. If you can't kick this soon go to an ORTHO. I played with mine for too long. When the surgen got in there he said it had torn bad enough that the wrong move could have caused a complete rupture!! OUCH!!

Capt Craig
FISH TALE CHARTERS
www.fishtalechartersoc.com
fishtalecharters@comcast.net
Phone 609-391-8230

[74Formula233]

Just watch out with the Cortizone.....I hear that you should only get 3 shots in a lifetime in one spot (safely) before it starts to actually deteriorate tissue. I dunno how much truth there is to that but it came from a person I consider to be knowledgeable in that area. Check with a specialist.

Works great as a temporary fix, especially if it lasts years (which it does for many people), but just be careful long term

[thetackletrap]

Hey guys thanks again I'm taking it all in. Mr. Ortho and I don't get along so that will be the absolute last resort. If I do a curl like a weight lifter its only annoying pain. When I'm holding onto a reel with my hand turned a bit and pulling up putting pressure on the handle. All the stars show up!!

SOme of you guys just amaze me with your knowledge about everything. Not just fishing but even doctor stuff. Thanks guys you all ROCK!!

[RUGGERDUDE]

Hey Trap, as mentioned before the pain that you are feeling is due in part to the inflammation in the joint. The cortizone reduces the inflammation, which for some conditions is enough to relieve the pain without a relapse. If you are in constant pain/discomfort you may need to address the problem with the help of an Ortho. A couple of shots won't hurt you, but it's not taking care of what is causing the Tendonitis if the pain keeps coming back. Good luck, Will