golfers elbow?

[ejewels]

Hello,

I'm 32 and 2 months ago I started playing tennis much more frequently and put a set of RPM Blast in my APD GT. I was trying more topspin FH's during this time and all of a sudden my elbow started hurting, but on the inside (golfers) elbow It think. In denial, I got compulsive and started playing even more to the point where it would go numb during play, but when i wasn't playing (off time), it was really bad. I now can't lift weights (something i'm really into) or even stick shift my car without pain. I took a week off finally this last week thinking i would be healed, but I still have elbow pain (tho not as bad). Do I need more time off? Anyone experience this kind of thing?

 

[yemenmocha]

Do a search here for GE or golfers elbow.

Yes, you have it. It took me 2 years to heal, and that included PT, steroid shots, and a million other things except for surgery.

Your racquet and string choice is very poor as far as injury prevention goes. You just don't heal as well once you're up there in your 30's and beyond (including me).

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

Squeezing the handle too tightly? GE is often caused by this.

What tension are your RPM Blast strings? While these are supposed to be softer than previous polyesters, it is probably still a good idea not to string too tightly. A couple of users remarked that they did experience some soreness (elbow & shoulder) with these strings (perhaps tension-related)

http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/feedback-BRPMB17.html
.

 

[120mphBodyServe]

It's your racquet & strings.
You need a more comfortable, heavier frame and a nice comfy multi string.
What were you using before the wretched Rafa stick?

 

[ejewels]

Thats the thing, I've been using this stick for about a year, never with any problems. I think I just was playing a lot more all of a sudden with new strings (at 58 lbs) and it started. I put some x1 biphase in there so hopefully this will help. I seem to wake up with my arm in pain, but throughout the day it gets better. I would like to play this weekend, but I'm worried I'll go right back to where I started... this sux if you love tennis and weight lifting like me.

 

[120mphBodyServe]

So the APD is your first racquet?

 

[ejewels]

Ya, and I've tried many others and play with it best. It would suck if I would have to go to a total flexy frame...

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

Thats the thing, I've been using this stick for about a year, never with any problems. I think I just was playing a lot more all of a sudden with new strings (at 58 lbs) and it started. I put some x1 biphase in there so hopefully this will help. I seem to wake up with my arm in pain, but throughout the day it gets better. I would like to play this weekend, but I'm worried I'll go right back to where I started... this sux if you love tennis and weight lifting like me.

Had you used the RPM Blast strings at 58 lbs before this? Note that gripping too much with both tennis and weight lifting can result in GE or TE. I've had TE in both arms from doing a lot of chest and triceps work.

Try icing the elbow several times a day (20 mins each time).

 

[ejewels]

Had you used the RPM Blast strings at 58 lbs before this? Note that gripping too much with both tennis and weight lifting can result in GE or TE. I've had TE in both arms from doing a lot of chest and triceps work.

Try icing the elbow several times a day (20 mins each time).

No, haven't used the RPM before it started, was using biphase. So even if you aren't doing activity, you should still ice it throughout the day?

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

No, haven't used the RPM before it started, was using biphase. So even if you aren't doing activity, you should still ice it throughout the day?

You might need a lower tension with the RPM (and less squeezing).

Ice it right after exercise and throughout the day but not right before tennis, weight lifting or other exercise that makes use of the arm.

 

[charliefedererer]

There have been a ton of tennis and golfer's elbow posts in this forum.

Everyone resists rest as the most important thing to do now while there is pain.

But rest is still by far the most important thing you can do.

Ice should help reduce the inflammation.

When the elbow starts to feel better, strongly consider starting doing rehab exercises with the Theraband Flexbar red: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtR8fYEUnXI.

When the time eventually comes to return back to tennis, take the advice of the many who have had elbow problems: Do not use a poly. Do not use a stiff racquet. It may seem tough now, but the recurrence rate for problems is huge.

 

[rromeo]

There have been a ton of tennis and golfer's elbow posts in this forum.

Everyone resists rest as the most important thing to do now while there is pain.

But rest is still by far the most important thing you can do.

Ice should help reduce the inflammation.

When the elbow starts to feel better, strongly consider starting doing rehab exercises with the Theraband Flexbar red: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtR8fYEUnXI.

When the time eventually comes to return back to tennis, take the advice of the many who have had elbow problems: Do not use a poly. Do not use a stiff racquet. It may seem tough now, but the recurrence rate for problems is huge.

Add one more to the adviser list.

I am in my middle 40's and found out recently the hard way that stiff racquets and full poly don't mix well, especially with heavy weight lifting. Even though I have been playing tennis off and on since I was nine yo, for the first time I combined a very stiff racquet (TIS2, RA=74) with a full poly string job while doing some string and customization tests with some of my sticks.

Felt elbow pain (inside, like GE) after only one hitting session for the first time ever in over 35 yrs of using just about every other racq/string combination possible.

Rested for a week (partially due to bad weather, prob blessing in disguise), restrung w/a multi in the crosses, and tried again. Still had a little pain in same spot, put back full multi in TIS2, stuck the poly in my POG mid (RA=66, not soft, but better than 74) and both racquets play w/o pain.

I thought that my elbow joints were indestructible bcs 75lb hammer curls were painless but it didn't carry over to my tennis game. Fortunately I caught it early and rested and made changes immediately. Otherwise it might have become serious.

Weightlifting is supposed to hurt (in a good way); hitting a tennis ball isn't! Good luck and I suggest rest til all pain is gone and restring.

 

[mike53]

Anyone experience this kind of thing?

All the time. I think this can safely be described as an overuse injury. This is what works for my GE type symptoms:

- Wear a compression band all the time
- Ice the affected area after any physical activity
- Ratchet back the intensity of all activity
- Include resistance band and medicine ball exercises in weight training routines

I was surprised to find that my GE symptoms were worsened by running

 

[mikeler]

Ya, and I've tried many others and play with it best. It would suck if I would have to go to a total flexy frame...

The comfort difference between a flexy racket with soft strings and a stiffer racket with stiff strings is amazing. Until you feel the difference on your elbow, you'll never know. You may want to demo some flexy sticks just to check it out for yourself. They probably won't have soft strings, but you'll still get the idea.

 

[jwbarrientos]

I suffered GE for a while, going low with tension + heavy frame helped.

Brace + reviewing technique was the key for me.

 

[120mphBodyServe]

Try a softer co poly @ lower tension or maybe hybrid if you don't want to go with a full bed of Biphase?

 

[jwbarrientos]

Hello,

I'm 32 and 2 months ago I started playing tennis much more frequently and put a set of RPM Blast in my APD GT. I was trying more topspin FH's during this time and all of a sudden my elbow started hurting, but on the inside (golfers) elbow It think. In denial, I got compulsive and started playing even more to the point where it would go numb during play, but when i wasn't playing (off time), it was really bad. I now can't lift weights (something i'm really into) or even stick shift my car without pain. I took a week off finally this last week thinking i would be healed, but I still have elbow pain (tho not as bad). Do I need more time off? Anyone experience this kind of thing?

Reading again your post, you can't live without driving but GE + weights doesn't sound as a good combination.

If you have a coach or someone with experience in your gym to ask for decent rest period, a doc would be perfect.