Repetitive Motion Injury (RMI) from flipping ?

[bustout]

heard of tennis elbow?

i may have flippin elbow?

has this happened to anyone?

around easter, i fished 4 days in a row and flipped my tail off. since then my elbow to forearm area has been sore....

about 2 weeks ago i tried to golf. duffed a drive and the pain was unbearable

still sore today....can lift or carry no problem but the flippen motion or golf swing motion hurts like crazy

any ideas? going to see the doctor today

[Jeff C.]

It's likely tendonitis. If you have what I have it comes from bending your wrist when casting. That motion pulls on a tendon that connects at the elbow. I once fished left handed for over a year in order to get rid of it, but it still flares up if I spend a day flipping. My Dr. prescribed anti-inflamitory meds, but they didn't seem to help much in the healing, just the pain. Let us know if your Dr. has some better suggestions.

[jcruz]

For average soreness 800 mg of Motrin + rest

For extreme soreness MD prescribed shot of Cortisone + alot of rest

[NaCl]

Tendonitis takes a loooong time to heal. We're talking 6 month to a year for a full recovery. And, that will ONLY happen if it is allowed to rest. That means switching your rod to the other hand. This happened twice to me in the past.

The first time, it was in my right hand thumb from spending a whole week throwing spinnerbaits with a pistol grip rod. That thumb took 6 months to completely heal. It started feeling better at about 3 months but when I treid to use it for a whole day, I re-injured it. I also took Tylenol to mask the pain and made it worse because I didn't have the pain to limit the abuse.

The second time with tendonitis was in my right shoulder. Same theme as with the thumb only this happened during a tournament so I sucked it up and fished through the pain....DUMB!!! That one took a full year to heal and the doctor told me most of the damage was done when I continued fishing through the pain.

Today, I am comfortable fishing from either side and I own an equal number of right and left handed reels. I make a point to switch up during every day of fishing and I don't get any more tendon inflammation.

The Golder Rule for tendonitis is REST! Ain't no other substitute. And, if you nut-up and be a tough guy, you can turn a temporary injury into a permanent mess!

.....NaCl

[MIKE TREMONT]

I had a similar experience as well. My flippin stick is an older Bass Pro Shops model. It's a broom stick and just about as heavy. I used to laugh at my friends when they complained about how heavy those rods are. I also used to lift weights fairly seriously, so my mindset was if I can't handle a fishing rod, then maybe I shouldn't be fishing.
I over did it on the weights. Then went flippin the tullies two days in a row and was about in tears. I now understand why some of you guys shell out the big bucks for super light rods.
It took about six monthes of laying off the weights and casting side arm until the pain subsided.

[Smile_n_Jax]

As I understand it, there are basically two types of tendonitis in the arm. The one that is felt in the inner portion of the elbow to the forearm is commonly referred to as "golfers elbow". The other is felt at the tip of the upper, outer bone of the elbow and is called "tennis elbow". Both can be very painful and long lasting if not treated properly. When I posted my experience with it a while back Lancer, who if I recall correctly, is an orthepedic consultant, posted a very good explanation of the problem along with some tips. First off, if you experience any pain, ice it down that evening along with taking anti-inflammatories like ibuprofin. Then, get a simple elbow strap made by Ace which is worn on the forearm just below the elbow. It does wonders. Finally, adjust your casting angle. I was throwing a lot of sidearm. I now have changed to throwing more straight overhead and have experienced no problems. But, I still wear the elbow strap, just in case.

[Lancer]

Hello smilin' jax how's that elbow doing ?? Actually everyone should ice after a day of fishing why do pitchers ice after throwing even only 20 throws and even when they're not sore ???? to slow the inflamatory response or to prevent it from happening in the first place.
Streching prior and icing afterwards are the 2 best ways to prevent injury. Many people would not have these injuries if they just streched and iced. If the injury is serious best to see a orthopedic MD.
Ace wraps elbow straps and all those things are good releif but just band-aides but true healing comes with the streching, icing rest and anti inflamatories

BTW Jax here's the prior post you were talking about

http://westernbass.com/forum/viewtopic. ... ight=elbow

Bustout PM me if you need futher assist and directions. - Lancer

[Smile_n_Jax]

Thanx Lancer. I hope others who have these problems will read up and follow your instructions.

[Cooch]

Mechanical Flippen Itus! If yer having issues with yer elbow or shoulder from flippen, you have NOT been taught how to mechanically flip or pitch correctly, PERIOD! Pitching and flipping is the easiest and most fluid motion when done properly. If yer elbow is doing all the work, instead of yer wrist and rod, you need a lesson in how ta do it correctly. It's like nite and day.

I've been pitching and flippen since the early 80's, and have never once had an issue with my elbow. This comes from a guy who fishes 7 days a week with a flippen stick in his hands no less than 2 hours in a day.

I came down last fall with BDO shoulder from rippen so much here on the River in September, October and November. I'm not sure how to do that technique any differently than what we wuz doing. If it wasn't a violent rippen cadence, the fish would not touch the bait, and I was a glutten fer punishment since we was having so much fun doing it. But I can atest to Lancers recomendations, the icing down and acetaminophen sure helped me git to where I was able ta do it again the next day. It took 3 months for it ta go completely away and heal. I'm keeping that left shoulder excersized though, as I use it to pull up my trolling motor 50 times every day ta boot! I'll be ready come this fall! LOL

[mark poulson]

I had tendonitis in my left arm fifteen years ago. I went to therapy, got cortizone injections, nothing helped. At the time, I was playing a lot of golf, and I couldn't swing a club.
Finally, after trying everything else, I tried something myself out of frustration.
I held a drive in my left hand, held it against the inside of my left foot, and twisted my arm. Then I reversed, rolling my hand and club over and putting it against the outside of my foot and twisting in the other direction.
I did this several times, slowly, and, low and behold, the tendonitis stopped.
My tendonitis, and I think most golf/fishing tendonitis, comes from the muscles getting shorter with repeated motion, and losing their flexibility. When that happens, instead of the muscle being able to elongate, and spread the strain of activity over the entire muscle, the muscle is shortened, and all the strain is taken up by the anchor points, the tendons. Kind of like switching from a med. action rod for cranking to a flipping stick with braid. All of the shock of the hookset and fight are transfered to the knot.
In this case, it's where the muscles attach to the bone, the tendons. They're not flexible by design, so they get irritated.
I've found that stretching with rotation gives immediate relief, and continued stretching with prevent reoccurance.
Stretch your arm out straight, with the palm facing away from you, pull back on the fingers with you other hand, and hold it for a ten count. Fold your hand down, pull back on the knuckles with your other hand, and hold it for a ten count. Repeat. Then do it and twist your arm slowly. You'll feel the muscles stretching.
And I take two Ibuprofin before I fish and two after, not aspirin.

[mark poulson]

Wooch,
Thanks for the kind words. I hit the nail on the head because, in real life, I'm a carpenter.

[Mitch]

Most likly your condition is from something other, like your work or sports, and is then agravated by flippin, This was what was happing to me. Years of pounding nails and swinging bats finaly caught up with me. I had carpal tunnel and bone fragments in my elbow. It was EXTREEMLY painful just to set the hook !!! Had surgery in Dec. and back fishin and flippin by Feb. ( 6 weeks ) WELL WORTH THE EFFORT !!!! I suggest you see a Doctor and get it checked out before you do any more damage. Yes, you may not be flippin the RIGHT way also. It's not done with your ELBOW, use your wrist. However, this can also cause pain if you have carpal tunnel.

[bustout]

thanks everyone...i actually thought i would get a lot of flak over this topic...nice to know it is something others have delt with and that w/ a change in my mechanics and streching excercises will help me

saw the doctor yesterday

800mg motrin 3 times/day
no flippin for a month - rest the elbow/arm

[mark poulson]

no flippin for a month - rest the elbow/arm

Does that include the Bird? Drive carefully.

[bassrippin365]

One thing you might want to try is a strap that goes on just below the elbow.My arm got so bad from flipping that it was all i could do to hold the rod at the end of my flip.So i went down to long's and bought a strap for my arm.After wearing it for about eight months,I noticed my pain was gone.I still have it in the boat just in case.Good luck and I hope everything works out for ya.

[drrakruz]

I've had tendinitis in both elbows. Fishing is just another piece of the puzzle that irritates it. I have been working on my own cars and boats for 33 years. That's a lot of wrenchin'. I also used to work for UPS sorting packages for 5 years. On top of that, add the art of teaching Ceramics for 13 years and at some point, something has to give! Some of us aren't lucky enough to fish every day, like COOCH, we actually have to work for a living!!

Fortunately, I've got a great chiropractor. I would stay away from the meds as much as possible. Doctors can only see and hear about your pain. It's their job to keep the pharmaceutical companies in business. If you've got the coverage, get to the CHIROPRACTOR!! Chiropractors treat the pain with technology. Inferential stimulation and ultra-sound are key to healing your elbow. Deep tissue massage helps too. The sooner you get on that track, the faster you will heal. If you can get a full elbow brace and wear it when you fish, it will be easier on your elbow. Sometimes I wear it when I do yardwork, to prevent the flare-ups. If you are in the Roseville area, I would suggest Dr. Kelly. If not, try to find a chiro who has experience in sports medicine. You won't be disappointed.

Good luck and watch out for the med peddlers!!