HELP TENDINITIS

[max bauer]

I HAVE TENNIS ELBOW PRETTY BAD .DOCTOR GAVE ME A SHOT OF CORTIZONE 3 MONTHS AGO IT MADE THE PAIN GO AWAY .BUT AFTER WAITING 3 MONTHS TO FISH , IT GOT BAD AFTER THE FIRST DAY . HAS ANYONE HAD SOMETHING SIMILAR AND IF SO HOW DID U GET RID OF IT , IM SO BUMMED IM READY TO SELL MY BOAT AND GEAR.

[gt5bass]

lilke you need to find a different doctor that will find out what is really causing the problem.

[mark poulson]

I had it bad. Cortisone shots, the whole deal. I finally figured out that tendonitis is caused by stain on the tendon, which is caused by muscles which are not elastic enough. I stretched my forearm muscles by taking a golf club, bracing it against my foot, and twisting (stretching) my forearm in both directions.
Guess what? Tendonitis went away, and hasn't ever come back. Remember, some doctors won't do or say anything that hasn't been "approved" as "the treatment", because they're afraid of being sued. Find one who has nads, and brains, and will think outside the box.

[CharlieS.]

of advice Ive seen back to back. Its a common problem really,and usually gets treated the same way...roids and pain pills. Been thru it with my knees and ankles. Finally did my own research and havent had a problem in years. Stay in decent shape,eat decent usually and work on stretching things be the best advice I know. And stop throwing those big heavy nasty swim baits!! Kidding! Charlie

[LuckyToo]

Part 1-The Elbow and Part 2-The Back were extensive articles in The In-Fisherman Magazine, Dec/Jan 1997 and Feb 1997. They were writen by Dr. B. Carlson, illustrated with diagrams, and discusses the causes and remedies of these injuries. Various exercises are described and shown that helped me with my elbow pain.

[nathan]

Go too your drug store,and pick up a brace made for the problem...You wear it around your forearm,just below your elbow..They work very well,but it takes months for this type of injury too heal....Just when you think it's gone,you tweak it again,and your starting all over.Definatley practice the stretching excersise out lined above...I fought it all last year..Nathan

[Joe Bruce]

Go too your drug store,and pick up a brace made for the problem...You wear it around your forearm,just below your elbow..They work very well,but it takes months for this type of injury too heal....Just when you think it's gone,you tweak it again,and your starting all over.Definatley practice the stretching excersise out lined above...I fought it all last year..Nathan

when it dosnt hurt any more, do some weight training. light weight lots of reps 10 lbs or less

[mark poulson]

Light beer, of course!

[Jeff C.]

I had it several years ago. I didn't get to the point of doing cortisol shots, just some huge ibuprofen pills that didn't seem to work to well. To be honest, the only thing that really worked was time, and most importantly -- I fished left handed. It still took over a year before I was able to go back to fishing right handed.

[Guest]

First.. I have had tendanitis so bad in both wrists that I thought I broke them somehow. I guess 20+ years of football will do that to you. I think the earlier posts were on the right track..... To get rid of it all I did was take Naproxen (anti inflammatory because my wrist swole up like baseballs) and did massive stretching of the muscles near the tendons. I did excersizes for this everyday for the remainder of my football career and never had an issue again.

Second... ever think of trying to switch hands? This sounds like a pain in the butt, however it beats giving up the sport all together. If you are a reel with the right hand guy, try a reel that has the handle on the left for while. Sure its going to feel odd, but a few weeks and you'll be right back to normal.

Just a thought... Good luck!

[kazk]

Just got rid of it in my 59 year old elbow. Sports doc said to take Sodium Naproxen (Aleve) and to Ice it after a days fishing for 20 minutes. In the morning before fishing use a heating pad to warm the joint. Also use a brace below the elbow. I also got fairly good with my lefthanded Curado in t he process.

[cedwong]

The info posted so far is pretty much right on. In general, "tennis elbow", aka lateral epicondylitis, is an overuse injury that takes lots of time to develop, thus takes lots of time to heal. Initial forms of treatment are generally ice, activity modification (e.g. fish with the other hand), and Motrin type medications. Initial treatments also include the forearm strap mentioned above (I like the ones with a built in bubble of air that is placed about 2-3 inches down from the outer elbow), and the gentle stretching and strengthening exercises previously posted. some physical therapists add "modalities" that are helpful in more persistent cases. If all that fails, then injections of "cortisone" or possibly surgery remain viable options.

Unfortunately, there is no quick fix for this. however, you will most likely improve if you employ one or more of these methods, if you treat it long enough!!!

If you want to discuss, email me at cedwong@yahoo.com

cedwong.

(credentials: I'm an ortho surgeon and fish with Folsom Bass Team.)