Elbow Tendonitis.....suggestions needed

[0u812]

Long time reader, fist time posting. I am 46 years old and the past two years I have really struggled with tendonitis. Don’t laugh, but my current irons are Callaway Big Bertha Irons 2004 with Project X Rifle Flighted shafts (5.5). I love these irons as they just go straight, however, the irons......along with my age are wrecking havoc on my elbows. I played two rounds on a trip to Mexico and my elbows are a wreck. I don’t really notice this when I play, but I really notice it a few days after. I am currently in the market for a new set of irons and I am trying to find something that is a bit more forgiving to my body. Is it time for graphite or is there another steel iron shaft that is more forgiving?

 

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[kcowgolf]

I had some issues a couple of years back and bought a set of irons shafted with Recoils. Seemed to help the elbow, went back to my C Tapers after things settled down.

[HappyGilmore22]

RTC/scapular stabilizer and elbow strengthening exercises..

[kcowgolf]

I did do some elbow exercises which seemed to help. Been ok for a couple of years now but I still have the recoil irons sitting in the garage just in case.

[chocolate_rehab]

In the short term: get a theraband and give the exercises a try. You can youtube the movements for golfers, it really helped me when I had recurring tennis elbow.

In the long term: get graphite shafts. Since I switched to Steelfibers my elbow tendinitis has basically gone away. If I ever get sore from overuse, I use the theraband and it's fine.

[jas904]

I switched to Steelfibers and do theraband exercises. What made the biggest difference was PRP injections. Two rounds of cortisone helped but that was only temporary.

[Chief71]

Get some good CBD Salve and rub some on it. Seriously helping me right now. About 5 years ago, I had it bad and wore this during play and it helps BandIT Therapeutic Forearm Band https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000FML7SW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_EfAeDbSH0KK89

[Justsomeguy]

Graphite immediately. Rest twice what you think you need.

[MojoEd]

> @Justsomeguy said:

> Graphite immediately. Rest twice what you think you need.

Agreed. Get physical therapy or at least do the exercises (look up Tyler twist). Take this seriously and be aggressive with rehab. Once it becomes a chronic condition you will have a lot more trouble dealing with it. Good luck!

 

 

[schimmel]

I started having elbow problems couple months ago, started some stretching and exercise last week and my elbow feels a bit better this week. Anyone think rubber, silicone caulking, or something similar down the shaft would help?

[Kevinnz]

Spend your new iron money on some acupuncture, your tendonitis will be long gone.

[pinhigh27]

Look at your swing, take a lesson and figure out why you have tendinitis, not questionable therapies or new clubs.

[HappyGilmore22]

I would go to a PT and have them give you exercises specific for the issue rather than googling exercises online. I'm a PT and see people do that all the time and 99% of what they are doing is incorrect or could be done much better. You could probably get away with 1 PT visit and they can give you a long term HEP unless they feel you need more visits to address the various issues they might find. The other issue is your swing and what you're doing to cause it to continue to aggravate your elbow but I'd definitely recommend PT initially. Graphite will definitely put less stress on your body there is no doubt about that if you are willing to make that change, but still might give you issues.

[AB1981]

In my case I developed tendonitis from work not golf but made golf unpleasant. I switched to graphite and was more careful about how I was doing a job at work and haven't had any trouble since. I am about to give steel a try again but not sure it's worth it, newer graphite plays pretty good.

[0u812]

> @jas904 said:

> I switched to Steelfibers and do theraband exercises. What made the biggest difference was PRP injections. Two rounds of cortisone helped but that was only temporary.

 

I contacted a friend of mine today who plays Srixon 765 with Steelfibers (believe they were i95 stiff). I went out this evening and hit them. Wow they felt great.

 

[TaddNOhio]

My friend had elbow problems he thought was from golf .. ended up being from playing on his cell phone too much with the arm bent. Yes there is actually a thing called "cell phone elbow"

[Joelsim]

Graphite shafts will definitely help.

[dpb5031]

1. Ice, rest (time off from golf), and Theraband flex bar exercises religiously.

2. Improve your swing. Too steep, flippy, bad grip, arms swinging very independently v. in-sync and supported by body all can contribute to tendinitis.

3. Check with your Dr. about a prescription. Meloxicam has helped me with elbows and other sore/arthritic joints.

4. Graphite shafts do help. I switched to Recoil 110s and used them for 3 years. I'm now in Modus 105 x since recovering with no problems. In my experience Project X and C-Tapers are particularly harsh and really tend to aggravate tendinitis.

5. Cortisone injections can jump-start your recovery, but if you want the effects to last you need to follow through with the above. (I've not had PRP or stem cell, but those treatments do look promising.)

6. I tried acupuncture, but got absolutely no relief from it whatsoever even though I was very hopeful and optimistic that it would help.

 

Good luck!

[monkeyboy]

I started getting the same thing, chiropractor said it was tennis elbow from golf. No relief yet, but changing to slightly softer, bigger grips. Also saw a Theraband Flex bar to do a physical therapy exercise called a Tyler Twist...will try that.

[J13]

> @dpb5031 said:

> 1. Ice, rest (time off from golf), and Theraband flex bar exercises religiously.

> 2. Improve your swing. Too steep, flippy, bad grip, arms swinging very independently v. in-sync and supported by body all can contribute to tendinitis.

> 3. Check with your Dr. about a prescription. Meloxicam has helped me with elbows and other sore/arthritic joints.

> 4. Graphite shafts do help. I switched to Recoil 110s and used them for 3 years. I'm now in Modus 105 x since recovering with no problems. In my experience Project X and C-Tapers are particularly harsh and really tend to aggravate tendinitis.

> 5. Cortisone injections can jump-start your recovery, but if you want the effects to last you need to follow through with the above. (I've not had PRP or stem cell, but those treatments do look promising.)

> 6. I tried acupuncture, but got absolutely no relief from it whatsoever even though I was very hopeful and optimistic that it would help.

>

> Good luck!

 

Agree with all but the theraband flex bar. I suffered for over a year with bad tennis elbow and the thing that helped the most of a cortisone injection and rest. Theraband actually made my situation worse because it wasn't healed enough to begin using it. I also tried dry needling which was useless in my case. PRP isn't covered by insurance (of course) but i heard it works well.

 

Also another piece of advice is change the habits that created the issue. If it's golf, you need to change the swing a bit and use the body to square the club face. I'm much more prone to asking for help rather than try to lift something myself now. And when i lift things I make sure to have my palm facing me when I lift so it uses the bicep not the forearm

[jas904]

> @0u812 said:

> > @jas904 said:

> > I switched to Steelfibers and do theraband exercises. What made the biggest difference was PRP injections. Two rounds of cortisone helped but that was only temporary.

>

> I contacted a friend of mine today who plays Srixon 765 with Steelfibers (believe they were i95 stiff). I went out this evening and hit them. Wow they felt great.

>

 

I agree. Srixon irons are the hidden gem of the golf industry.

 

> @J13 said:

> > @dpb5031 said:

> > 1. Ice, rest (time off from golf), and Theraband flex bar exercises religiously.

> > 2. Improve your swing. Too steep, flippy, bad grip, arms swinging very independently v. in-sync and supported by body all can contribute to tendinitis.

> > 3. Check with your Dr. about a prescription. Meloxicam has helped me with elbows and other sore/arthritic joints.

> > 4. Graphite shafts do help. I switched to Recoil 110s and used them for 3 years. I'm now in Modus 105 x since recovering with no problems. In my experience Project X and C-Tapers are particularly harsh and really tend to aggravate tendinitis.

> > 5. Cortisone injections can jump-start your recovery, but if you want the effects to last you need to follow through with the above. (I've not had PRP or stem cell, but those treatments do look promising.)

> > 6. I tried acupuncture, but got absolutely no relief from it whatsoever even though I was very hopeful and optimistic that it would help.

> >

> > Good luck!

>

> Agree with all but the theraband flex bar. I suffered for over a year with bad tennis elbow and the thing that helped the most of a cortisone injection and rest. Theraband actually made my situation worse because it wasn't healed enough to begin using it. I also tried dry needling which was useless in my case. PRP isn't covered by insurance (of course) but i heard it works well.

>

> Also another piece of advice is change the habits that created the issue. If it's golf, you need to change the swing a bit and use the body to square the club face. I'm much more prone to asking for help rather than try to lift something myself now. And when i lift things I make sure to have my palm facing me when I lift so it uses the bicep not the forearm

 

You are absolutely correct about PRP not being covered by insurance, well mine at least. I paid out of pocket and my results were terrific.

[J13]

> @jas904 said:

> > @0u812 said:

> > > @jas904 said:

> > > I switched to Steelfibers and do theraband exercises. What made the biggest difference was PRP injections. Two rounds of cortisone helped but that was only temporary.

> >

> > I contacted a friend of mine today who plays Srixon 765 with Steelfibers (believe they were i95 stiff). I went out this evening and hit them. Wow they felt great.

> >

>

> I agree. Srixon irons are the hidden gem of the golf industry.

>

> > @J13 said:

> > > @dpb5031 said:

> > > 1. Ice, rest (time off from golf), and Theraband flex bar exercises religiously.

> > > 2. Improve your swing. Too steep, flippy, bad grip, arms swinging very independently v. in-sync and supported by body all can contribute to tendinitis.

> > > 3. Check with your Dr. about a prescription. Meloxicam has helped me with elbows and other sore/arthritic joints.

> > > 4. Graphite shafts do help. I switched to Recoil 110s and used them for 3 years. I'm now in Modus 105 x since recovering with no problems. In my experience Project X and C-Tapers are particularly harsh and really tend to aggravate tendinitis.

> > > 5. Cortisone injections can jump-start your recovery, but if you want the effects to last you need to follow through with the above. (I've not had PRP or stem cell, but those treatments do look promising.)

> > > 6. I tried acupuncture, but got absolutely no relief from it whatsoever even though I was very hopeful and optimistic that it would help.

> > >

> > > Good luck!

> >

> > Agree with all but the theraband flex bar. I suffered for over a year with bad tennis elbow and the thing that helped the most of a cortisone injection and rest. Theraband actually made my situation worse because it wasn't healed enough to begin using it. I also tried dry needling which was useless in my case. PRP isn't covered by insurance (of course) but i heard it works well.

> >

> > Also another piece of advice is change the habits that created the issue. If it's golf, you need to change the swing a bit and use the body to square the club face. I'm much more prone to asking for help rather than try to lift something myself now. And when i lift things I make sure to have my palm facing me when I lift so it uses the bicep not the forearm

>

> You are absolutely correct about PRP not being covered by insurance, well mine at least. I paid out of pocket and my results were terrific.

 

PRP is the most beneficial for Tennis elbow vs having it done for a shoulder or knee. They don't know why but it is. So of course insurance doesn't cover it. How many PRP treatments did you have done?

[roll - gybe]

Skip the cortizone. My doc told me it would break down the tendon. According to him my elbow is a 7 on the "bad scale"

I got a lot better with a tyler twist bar. It seemed like I was able to break up the scar tissue quickly. That's $15 bucks that could save your elbow. Give it a shot.

Then I got a brace for sleeping for a few weeks. Goofy, but my muscles needed to reset.

I also changed some of of my exercises to avoid making it worse.

I had PRP on the calendar, canceled it and I'm pretty comfortable.

 

No club ho-ing to fix the problem.

[roll - gybe]

> @TaddNOhio said:

> My friend had elbow problems he thought was from golf .. ended up being from playing on his cell phone too much with the arm bent. Yes there is actually a thing called "cell phone elbow"

 

This is actually very true. MLB pitcher David Price had something like this affect him.

 

When my elbow was bad, holding up a cell phone was definitely bad for the tendon.

[shaolingolfer]

I had the left elbow problem last year or so, have to wear a sleeve on it to play golf or practice. Doing some minor exercise to strengthen the forearm and squeezing a tennis ball really help. But the reason of my elbow hurting is beacuse of my hand flipping through contact, now I have done a better job to keep my left wrist flat at impact and through the hitting zone. I no longer have the elbow issue and also strike the ball a lot better.

[JCAG]

Years back I exercised it away. Squeeze ball or similar. Keep elbow bent at 90*. Rest forearm on desk, automobile armrest, etc and keep squeezing the ball. The 90* bend is the critical part. Took me a month or two, but it went away.

[Barfolomew]

Step 1. Buy a Theraband.... the red one will be perfect

Step 2. Watch YT videos on how to use for Golfers elbow and Tennis elbow as the are different.

Step 3. Rinse and Repeat.

[jas904]

> @J13 said:

> > @jas904 said:

> > > @0u812 said:

> > > > @jas904 said:

> > > > I switched to Steelfibers and do theraband exercises. What made the biggest difference was PRP injections. Two rounds of cortisone helped but that was only temporary.

> > >

> > > I contacted a friend of mine today who plays Srixon 765 with Steelfibers (believe they were i95 stiff). I went out this evening and hit them. Wow they felt great.

> > >

> >

> > I agree. Srixon irons are the hidden gem of the golf industry.

> >

> > > @J13 said:

> > > > @dpb5031 said:

> > > > 1. Ice, rest (time off from golf), and Theraband flex bar exercises religiously.

> > > > 2. Improve your swing. Too steep, flippy, bad grip, arms swinging very independently v. in-sync and supported by body all can contribute to tendinitis.

> > > > 3. Check with your Dr. about a prescription. Meloxicam has helped me with elbows and other sore/arthritic joints.

> > > > 4. Graphite shafts do help. I switched to Recoil 110s and used them for 3 years. I'm now in Modus 105 x since recovering with no problems. In my experience Project X and C-Tapers are particularly harsh and really tend to aggravate tendinitis.

> > > > 5. Cortisone injections can jump-start your recovery, but if you want the effects to last you need to follow through with the above. (I've not had PRP or stem cell, but those treatments do look promising.)

> > > > 6. I tried acupuncture, but got absolutely no relief from it whatsoever even though I was very hopeful and optimistic that it would help.

> > > >

> > > > Good luck!

> > >

> > > Agree with all but the theraband flex bar. I suffered for over a year with bad tennis elbow and the thing that helped the most of a cortisone injection and rest. Theraband actually made my situation worse because it wasn't healed enough to begin using it. I also tried dry needling which was useless in my case. PRP isn't covered by insurance (of course) but i heard it works well.

> > >

> > > Also another piece of advice is change the habits that created the issue. If it's golf, you need to change the swing a bit and use the body to square the club face. I'm much more prone to asking for help rather than try to lift something myself now. And when i lift things I make sure to have my palm facing me when I lift so it uses the bicep not the forearm

> >

> > You are absolutely correct about PRP not being covered by insurance, well mine at least. I paid out of pocket and my results were terrific.

>

> PRP is the most beneficial for Tennis elbow vs having it done for a shoulder or knee. They don't know why but it is. So of course insurance doesn't cover it. How many PRP treatments did you have done?

 

My guy has said the same thing, apparently elbows respond well to PRP vs other joints. I had two rounds of Angel PRP at $500 per round. 60cc's injected with no numbing or pain meds was quite unpleasant!!

[Mario Good Times]

I had the same problem for about 2 years tried everything until I looked up this yoga stretch for your elbows. Did it twice a day for 3 months and it’s been 3 years now and not a single pain.

Look up a YouTube video on it. But basically both palms facing the ground elbows as close together to each other as possible and lay down facing the ground with your elbows in your belly. .

[Skaffa77]

I had tennis elbow about 5 years back from over use with golf. One of those tennis elbow bands, some rest and simple forearm exercises did the trick.

 

I had tennis elbow again this past winter...not from golf, but from bowling. Trying to spin a 15 lb lane ball caused havoc on my forearm muscles after repetitive weeks. Even after bowling was done, the pain carried over to golf season and my gym workouts. This time, the tennis elbow band, rest, ice, and forearm exercises didn't do the trick.

 

I ordered the Theraband flexbar which helped a lot, but the pain just wouldn't go away. I finally went to a friend who is a PT. Long story short, my forearm muscles were so tense and overused that the obvious result was that the tendons became inflamed creating the sensation we know as tennis elbow. Because I continued to play golf, softball and volleyball on top of my gym work outs...my forearm muscles never got the rest they needed (nor would they because I'm a stubborn mule). So...the PT provided some light weight exercises which required quite a bit of observation and correction vs. what I thought I was doing right to help the forearm muscles (the reason why some will tell you not to just look up exercises on the internet). She also approved of the Theraband Flexbar based on the rotation of the resistance would help with my issues. Based on some other strength tests, she also provided some shoulder work-outs as she suspected I might be compensating for a slightly weaker right shoulder muscle. Lastly, she administered dry needling (which is a WEIRD sensation) and ultrasound to help the muscles release the tension a little quicker.

 

My tennis elbow is gone though my forearm muscles still have a little bit of tension...I never seem to let it completely rest (like I said...I'm a stubborn mule).