Golfer's Elbow - desperate for some good advice!

[JLP_GOLF]

I know someone who did PRP and unfortunately said it didn’t help at all. I’m sure you will find people it has helped tho. Such an annoying game of trial and error to find something that helps

[torbill]

Well, that’s a big piece of the problem - expectations. With so much medical progress we are conditioned to expect that we take a pill, get an injection, have a surgery, and poof no more problem. Some things, like soft tissue pain, just aren’t like that at this point. Conventional medicine doesn’t always yield a quick answer. We go for the quick answers of modern medicine, and they don’t work, and we get frustrated and impatient. Now we are left, as you say, with trial and error. Which often lead us to alternate therapies. Which typically aren’t quick. And with our what’s-working-now expectations we don’t give them enough time and effort. We bounce from one thing to another. A bad case of tendonitis is nasty, persistent, debilitating. If we don’t back off we make it worse. But we love to golf. It’s a vicious cycle.

 

[Lincoln_Arcadia]

The first thing is to stop hitting 100 balls every other day off golf mats. With your swing speed, it’s going to hurt. Mishit shots will also further your injuries.

Hit 50 at most and make them count.

Chip and putt the other days.

[J13]

At that point i'm assuming you've done an MRI ? If it's a high grade tear I would opt for surgery with a good surgeon. Im 7 weeks post op and in physical therapy. Elbow is feeling better and better every week.

[Hstead]

Google Neufit and find one near you and thank me later. It is unreal the results that can be had.

[JLP_GOLF]

Thanks man there’s one not too far... gonna give it a go!

[Kgglonghorn]

Ok. I have read all through the posts and can tell you I am giving NEW information on treating it. I had a bad tendon tear in my left elbow (I am left handed). Doc wanted to do surgery or PRP injections. Either way, he said 8-10 months and a fair amount of pain. I desperately searched for a different solution. I found a company called King Brands. They are a medical device company and they make products to treat these injuries. (I do not work for them, have no vested interest in the company). I bought their BSFT device for my elbow and 6 weeks later, my doctor was in disbelief at the improvement in my elbow. I had done nothing other than used that product (I think I used it for 2 months diligently) and I have been pain free since. Fast forward to this summer when I fell into a boat dock and jacked up my shoulder. Went to the same dr (who is the SA Spurs ortho, BTW) and an MRI confirmed a tear in my rotator cuff and in my labrum. I ordered the shoulder treatment from King Brands, and again, dramatic reduction in pain and increase in mobility after a couple of weeks of use. All I know is the premise of their product is to stimulate blood flow into parts of the body that do not otherwise get any. I am no doctor, and I dont work for their company, I just know that their products resolved multiple tendon tears for me with no other treatment. Good luck.

[puresurfr]

Just looked at King brands, looks like good stuff, at first glance, it seems a bit pricey but compared to medical bills, this device is a bargain. Although my golfers elbow is managed quite effectively by stretching and the theraband and graphite shafts, I can see adding the ice wrap and the stimulating device to my current routine.

[Kgglonghorn]

those were my initial thoughts too, but bought it and never looked back. The PRP injections were not going to be covered by insurance and seemed iffy at best and we dont even have to explore what surgery would have looked like!!

[tacklingdummy]

I have had tendonitits for last 15 years. It got really bad twice. Got a cortisone shot 10 years ago and it definitely helped for a while. Recently past few years, only played a few rounds and just got a cortisone shot again. Pain has lessened but still feel a little pain after playing. The more loose my muscles are the less pain I feel, so I'm pretty sure it is attributed to muscle tightness pulling on the elbow tendons. I do arm stretches a lot, but doesn't help a lot. I think I am going to try one of those new percussion massager to try to help.

[Les Strokes]

What helped me immensely is seeing Shawn Clement's videos about grip. I went from a neutral grip to a very strong grip.

[Hawkeye77]

Guessing that is what will be ordered when I see the doc on New Year's Eve. Original doc was suggesting PRP then MRI if no change. Not saying that isn't an option or is wrong, but getting a second opinion from someone nearer to home. Only reason I think he'll order one (and he may not after examining and talking with me) is I'm going on two years with the issue and by then 13 months and 3 shots and today it hurts to look at my watch and check the time in a normal fashion, lol. If there is something obvious I'd just rather know now.

[dlygrisse]

I had a bad case about 5 years ago.

the flex bar exercises helped. Deep massage helps. Graphite helps. Cortisone did not help, unless you count 2 weeks as help. The only thing that relived the pain was totally shutting down all golf for about 3 months.

 

[J13]

Your story mimics mine. Over 12-13 months i had 3 cortisone shots by a sports/ortho. Always a temporary solution that eventually fade away all the while I was doing more and more damage to the elbow. Was at the point where I couldn't use the arm without lots of pain so I switched doc's and he sent me for an MRI which showed high grade tear. He does lots of elbow surgeries and based on my evaluation he said surgery was a no brainer and that he has extremely high success with what i'm dealing with. I looked at PRP (which he also offers) but insurance doesn't cover it and there seems to be a 50/50 shot at it working with those I know who've done it. My fear was spending even more on PRP, taking the winter off and starting a new golf season right back in pain. I opted the surgical route. I'm now going on 8 weeks post op and my arm feels 90% back to normal and already been cleared for the gym and been doing PT for a month. I"m extremely happy with my decision and now come March i'll be firing on all cylinders again.

[Hawkeye77]

I appreciate that very much. I guess I'll know more in a couple of weeks plus a day or two. I'm honestly hoping there is an obvious tear and we can just get after it. To the point where picking up my coffee mug is painful, reaching for my phone at the office (well, if I want to pick it up). Does the pain stop me from using it? Don't have the luxury - doing major "purge" at home the past month as time allows hauling out years and years of accumulated crap we have ignored way too long, still have to shovel snow, still have to use my keyboards. Doesn't make me cry or anything, lol, but it hurts and is just a darn nuisance. Stupidly forgetting and snapping a comforter yesterday was a nice eye opener - yowza!

[Hawkeye77]

Sorry OP, they are very similar in terms of trickiness and options, etc. so chimed in (glad I did) and not trying to detract from your issue with a pity party.

Like many folks before this started I thought golfers got golfer's elbow and tennis players got tennis elbow and I would have related the tennis elbow to my right/dominant arm - not necessarily the case.

[JLP_GOLF]

No worries man, i hope you get on track to a solution. Really frustrating having to give up a game i love for a few months but i just want to know im on a path to a long term solution and can get back to the game pain free!

[J13]

I know exactly what that feels like. It's miserable. Like i said if it's a high grade tear I wouldn't mess around and just get it repaired. Obviously find a good doc that does these surgeries. Best of luck

[MackDaddy480]

I second this, I did the same thing and I have not had a problem since.

[Justsomeguy]

Rest and time and graphite shafts. Take a month off.

[Brass_Bullseye]

I switched from steel shafts to Aerotech Steelfibers in my irons and my elbow pain has almost entirely gone away. The crazy thing is I didn't change for that reason. I don't hit my irons any better but I'm pretty much pain free.

[Hawkeye77]

I encourage anyone to use graphite shafts for any reason that will help them play better, play with less pain, etc. I was already using them when my tennis elbow started - helps some, not others like lots of options.

[JLP_GOLF]

i might try this, im just hesitant cuz of the anticipated ball flight changes.... im sure it happens to some more than others.

[KMeloney]

What ball flight changes are you worried about?

I'd be more worried about the lack of any ball flight while you're sidelined with a bum elbow. ;)

[JLP_GOLF]

from what I've read the graphite shafts are significantly less stiff and are probably quite different than the c tapers x 130 (used for 5 years, probably caused this) and the x100s i'm using now. I guess i would be concerned the ball would balloon or something. maybe im wrong on that but would love to hear other's experiences that have made the switch :)

[Hawkeye77]

This is only my data, but I went from KBS Tour 90s to Recoil 95s and didn't have any ballfight issues. You can get graphites that are every bit as stiff as steel if you want them and IMO get what fits you pretty easily if you want to go through the fitting route. I tried the heavier Recoils and they weren't right for me - felt and performed stiffer than my KBS Tours. Just a matter of finding the right shaft for your swing, but graphite is a great option.

[puresurfr]

The recoil Protos 125 in F5 flex are stiffer than x100s and i would say on par with Ctaper 130s, everybody loads differently but from my experience with all 3 shafts, that's my findings. The MMT 125TX is also a beast of a shaft albeit a bit smoother

[KMeloney]

Graphite has come a long way. There's no one "the graphite shafts" profile. They can represent just about any weight/flex/feel profile you're after, even within one brand -- and there are lots of brands out there now.

If you're "young" (which is relative), then I get that you might think there's a stigma attached to playing graphite. But I bet you've been using graphite in your driver for years now with no issue with it being "less stiff," and there are some tour pros using graphite in their irons, so...

[JLP_GOLF]

Gotcha, i think i am young enough to understand the stigma you speak of but i don't mind using graphite if the performance is similar. I'm intrigued by anything that aggravates my body less. Thank you for sharing!

[J13]

Check my review out of the Mitsubishi MMT's. I used to play Ctaper 130X then moved the Nippon 120 TX and now MMT 125TX. Best decision I ever made and i'm getting better performance than with steel. Blew me away