Conference 7.286::golf

    I went through this a couple of years ago and you might not like this
    reply.  I had the shooting pain on the outside of my left elbow.  Some-
    times it would start to go away, then come back with a vengance at the
    most inopportune times.  It was diagnosed as "tendonitis" but I believe
    it's the same thing as tennis elbow.  I got it a few years ago when I
    decided to strengthen my grip with a hand exerciser.  I overdid it a
    little and ended up with this stupid injury.  The doctor told me to
    rest it for a few weeks and gave me some pills for the swelling.  It
    started to feel better until I started golfing again.  After about a
    year of this I saw an orthopedic surgeon who talked me out of having a
    cortezone shot.  He said it would lessen the pain but impede the
    healing.  I tried one of those forearm straps for a while but it really
    didn't help.  The only real help is rest (or surgery in severe cases).
    Just about the time I thought I'd have to live the rest of my life with
    this affliction (about 2 years), the pain slowly went away and it's
    felt pretty good for about a year.  That's my "golf elbow" story.  I'm
    sure there are others out there.  The bottom line...the more it hurts,
    the more it needs to rest.
    
    						JT

I, too, had (have) this problem. My Chiropractor, who is also an avid golfer,
told me to strengthen the muscle.

Get a free weight your comfortable with. At least 5lbs, no more than 12lbs.

Hold the dumbell with your wrist up, arm supported on your leg, or the arm of a
chair. Simply lift the weight and let it fall slowly. You will feel the muscle
on the top of your forearm, just below the elbow. This muscle will get stronger
and relieve the pressure off the elbow.

Repeat as much as you can, but start out slow. Three sets of 10 repetitions each
day. Increase the repetitions after each week. In about a week your elbow should
stop hurting.

During the season I do this about three times a week. Three sets of 30 repititions.
Seems to help the pain.

Good Luck..


Jim

    RE: 0

    From my experience.. I'm a righty, I used to have 'golf elbow' on my
    left elbow two years ago. Then I changed my grip to relax my left arm,
    now the problem on the left side has gone away. If anything, I'd have
    the problem on my right elbow. I saw those righty pro's who also have the
    elbow strap on the right side, so I assume my new grip is correct..

    So, besides strengthen the elbow you might want to relax your left arm.
    
    T.

   The pain from tennis elbow is on the outside. Pain on the inside is
   golfer's elbow. I've had tennis elbow for the last couple of years.
   My problem is from spending too much time at the terminal. My doctor
   said typing with the hands not at the proper position can cause the
   problem. Spending to much time at the terminal can also make your
   handicap go up. Here is a description of the two conditions.

   TENNIS ELBOW:

     This injury involves the tendons attached to the muscles that extend
     (bend back) the wrist and fingers. A small tendon arising from a very
     small area of bone at the elbow connects to the large extending
     (extensor) muscles of the forearm. After repetive use of these extensor
     muscles, the tendon becomes overworked and inflamed. This produces
     the pain on the outside of the elbow.


   GOLFER'S ELBOW:

     The same thing happens with golfer's elbow except that it involves
     the tendons that attach to forearm muscles that flex the wrist and
     fingers (flexors). The pain here is on the inside of the elbow.
    
    Don
    

    YOU MEN (I'M A WOMEN) WILL PROBABLY LAUGH AT THIS REPLY, BUT THIS ALSO
    HAPPENED TO ME LAST YEAR.  I'M RIGHT-HANDED BUT THE PAIN WAS IN MY LEFT
    ELBOW.  THE PAIN STARTED HALFWAY THROUGH THE SUMMER.  I COULDN'T FIGURE
    OUT WHY BECAUSE I HAD BEEN GOLFING FOR SEVERAL WEEKS ALREADY.
    
    NOW DON'T LAUGH--THIS IS THE FUNNY PART.  WE DID A LOT OF OUTSIDE
    ENTERTAINING LAST SUMMER AND I WAS CONSTANTLY WASHING WINDOWS AND
    SLIDING GLASS DOORS.  I USED MY LEFT HAND AS MUCH AS MY RIGHT HAND FOR
    DOING THIS.  EVERYTIME I GOLFED AFTER CLEANING LIKE THIS, THE PAIN
    IN MY LEFT ELBOW WAS EXCRUCIATING.  SOMETIMES I COULD HARDLY GRIP A
    CLUB, AND I KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN ABOUT NOT BEING ABLE TO TURN A DOORKNOB.   
    
    THE CAUSE OF THE PAIN DAWNED ON ME DURING THE WINTER WHEN I WENT OUT
    X-COUNTRY SKIING.  WHY DIDN'T MY ELBOW HURT ANYMORE?  BECAUSE I WASN'T
    WASHING WINDOWS ANYMORE!
    
    I GOLFED ALMOST EVERYDAY FOR A WEEK IN MYRTLE BEACH IN APRIL.  MY ELBOW
    DIDN'T HURT.  I'VE GOLFED FOR THREE WEEKS AT HOME ALREADY AND MY ELBOW
    DIDN'T HURT UNTIL LAST SATURDAY WHEN I PLAYED 18 HOLES AFTER WASHING THOSE
    TWO VERY LARGE SLIDING GLASS DOORS AND ALL THE KITCHEN WINDOWS.
    
    NOW I KNOW WHY MY HUSBAND AND HIS GROUP MAKE THEIR TEE TIMES SO EARLY
    ON SATURDAYS AND SUNDAYS.   THEY DON'T WANT ANY PHYSICAL WORK TO
    INTERFERE WITH THEIR GOLF GAME.  AND I FULLY AGREE WITH THEM. 
    
    MAYBE THIS ISN'T THE CAUSE OF THE WIFE'S PAIN IN NOTE .0 BUT TRY TO
    THINK BACK TO WHAT SHE DID A LOT OF BEFORE THE PAIN STARTED.