Tennis Elbow, How Long Did Yours Last?

[jubess]

Great Topic! I've been suffering from golfer's elbow in my right arm for the last 6 months. I've recently tried ice and take alleve before I play. Since it's cold anyway I'm going to stop playing until mid March. This will give me 3 months of rest. If not better by then, I'll try a cortisone shot.

[tdub526]

Had tennis elbow for about 2 years...nothing worked ie; naproxin, pt etc. I had surgery last Jan and I have never felt better. I was very concerned about my decision post op but after some rest and a slow return I felt 100% by June physically. The mental aspect was a different story. I was very tentative on full swings for about a month after I felt I could really go after a drive. It actually made me relax and swing 75% which had an added benefit. I have increased my fairways hit and have more confidence with the driver now and I have only lost about 10 to 15 yds of distance. It seemed I had to almost talk my Dr. into cutting my elbow. The first thing he said to me post op was that he was glad he did. My procedure was pretty simple according to him. He stated that I had alot of calcium build up on and around the tendon. He detatched , cleaned and reattached the tendon. I hope my story will help some of you who are suffering with elbow pain to decide you indeed have options. By the way I am 35 years young.

[DrSchteeve]

Had golfer's elbow (medial epicondylitis - inside of right elbow), but mine was complicated by two torn tendons, along with signficant bursitis (these are fluid filled sacs that swell up). Ultimately required surgery - was back to golf in 2 months after the surgery; had some mild intermittent pain in the elbow for the first year after the surgery, but have had zero problems since (now about 2 1/2 years since my surgery).

Main advice is avoid mats, unless perhaps these new "softer" ones. Switch to graphite. PX is one of the harsher steel options. Cortisone shots are neither something to be avoided at all costs (as some here suggest), nor are they likely a cure-all. Splints don't do much for golfer's elbow (medial epicondylitis); they are more helpful for tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis). Advil/Motrin/Nuprin (generic ibuprofen) or Aleve (generic naprosyn sodium) can help. Physical therapy can help.

[sharkhark]

thinking it will just "go away eventually" as OP stated is equivalent to me winning the lottery..it could happen..in theory..but the odds are about the same as the pain disappearing...nada.
I am 43 and had it for last five years and i tried the arm bands with pressure points, massage, stretching, ibuprofen, ice, heat, it doesnt matter...you will likely still have it.

[BIGBORGEL]

I had golf elbow so bad last year in my left arm, I stopped playing for 3 mos. I went to my chiropractor and he gave me a series of exercises to do that strengthen your elbows. 10 lb dumbells- do reverse wrist curls, and regular wrist curls. Alternate with using hand grip squeezers, done every other day will help a lot. Use NSAIDS before and during play, and ice your elbows afterwards. When I returned to play, I had to slide a piece of form pipe insulation over my grips, so the shock wouldn't be unbearable. Used them for about a month.

[Marcos]

Having worked as a physio assistant for 17 years,i have seen and had my fair share of tendonitis.There is no quick fix and it will come back as it is chronic to a certain point. Do not go for cortisone shots as this is just a bandaid solution.As soon as you feel better you will resume your dailey activities and this is usually where it gets worse.My advise,for what its worth is get treatment,ie.ultra-sound,accupuncture etc... ice it when it gets tender,use glucosamine if you can and the most important thing is giving your tendons a break for 6 to 8 weeks.I know its not easy but its the only thing that works. I am 57 years old and play on average 200 games a year and I listen to my body when its hurting.Its no fun not playing for a couple of months but it beats living with pain all the time.Best of luck with your elbow.

[golfcycle]

[quote name='roho' date='22 October 2009 - 03:37 AM' timestamp='1256211469' post='2020227']
I had a bad case of it and it lasted for more than 3 years. The worst was over in about a year but it lingered on because I couldn't quit golf.
I have worn the arm band religiously and then one day recently I forget to put it on and I realized it was gone!

Things I did the last three years.
-stopped banging golf balls at the range. I may hit a few balls off the grass for a warm up but NEVER hit off the mats on concrete!
-wore an arm band every time no mater what.
-tried graphite shafts but couldn't get used to them. I went back to steel and used the foam inserts in the shaft called "prosoft" available at myostrich.com
-tried to arrange schedule so I didn't play back to back days.
-cortizone shots are just a mask which provide short term relief and no cure, my doctor wouldn't even give me one. -time is the only cure
[/quote]

I had a bout with tennis elbow a little over a year ago. So bad that I stopped golf, lifting weights and had a cortisone shot. It started up again about 2 months ago. It felt different this time. Then my elbow and forearm started to pain and stiffen up. I had an MRI and it revealed that I have a torn tendon. The kicker is that it is small, but has formed an unstable grissle where it attaches to the bone. Bottom line - I have surgery on March 16th to detach and reattach the tendon. Really sucks. In about 5 months I will no longer hit off mats and go to graphite shafts or inserts inside steel ones.

[aji]

Hey guys. I'm 44 and I never had problems with the tennis (golf) elbow until a year and a half ago.

My golf mates, all 10 years younger, were flying their drives a few yards past mine. I compensated by swinging wilder and harder until I managed to injure my left elbow. After playing a round I wasn't able to hold a glass with my right hand because of the pain in my elbow. I tried everything...massages, ice (before and after), all types of braces, even quit for a few months. Nothing worked.

Then I took what seemed a very simple solution...I began swinging the club only with my right arm, when I mean only right arm it means applying 0% force with the left arm. The left hand only helped the right hand to hold the club. It took me a few months to control what seemed a wild hook, but finally I was able to play normally. After more or less a year after I tried this, I noticed the pain in my left elbow totally gone, I swung normally and without any pain. The funny thing is that I kept my right side swing completely and still hit with my right side only.

I guess that if your right elbow is injured just try swinging a left side only swing (with the right side barely holding the club).

It sounds way to simple, but it worked for me.

[juggernaut33]

I'm in my early thirties and mine lasted a little under a year!!!!

[quote name='weten2' date='11 October 2009 - 08:40 PM' timestamp='1255311601' post='2000524']
I'm 60 and my first episode with tennis elbow (left arm) started 2 years ago and last 1.5 years. Just when it pretty much was over it started in my right arm. I've tried many things and it seems there isn't much lasting effect and it sems like it has to run it's course. I'm seriously thinking I will always have some form of it and should probably go to graphite shafts.
I started playing golf regularly at 51 and thing this is the main cause. Maybe my wrestling in high school and college might have contributed.

How long did yours last? Does it come back or always with you?
[/quote]

[fats]

Mine doesn't last more than 10 days because, in my case anyway, I figured it is caused by my hands uncocking to early in the hitting zone which stresses my right elbow and upper forearm...my cure is to get that bent right elbow down to the beltline...that cures my early release problems and relieves the stress on the elbow. In otherwords, like me, you might be stopping the right elbow above the beltline.

That'll be $50 bucks please!!!