Elbow bone spur caused from serving

J-Time · 07-25-2010, 06:03 PM

Has anyone out there had a bone spur break off their elbow (olecranon) from serving? If so, what was your prognosis and how was it resolved? I had pain in my elbow for about 2 months - the kind of pin-point pain on my elbow when I rested my elbow on the arm of a chair. Then one day while serving I heard and felt a pop. I couldn't lift and straighten my arm over my head at all. There was no swelling in my elbow although my hand swelled. I got an MRI which showed nothing. The ortho thought it might be a micro tear in the tricep tendon. I got a second opinion where they took an x-ray which showed a 1 cm bone spur that broke off the olecranon. It's been weeks now and it only hurts if I straighten my arm (hyperextending it), bump/rest the elbow on something, or use my arm to push up. I can still hit ground strokes, but no serving, back hand slice (where I hyperextend), overheads, or lunging shots again when hyperextending. The doctor says the spur could stay in my arm forever and the pain may go away. However, he recommends I get it surgically removed. That would be my last resort, but I would be interested to know if anyone out there had a similar ingury and how it was resloved.

qentin · 06-11-2011, 11:30 AM

J-Time I've developed exactly the same condition. How did yours resolve?

kevoT · 06-11-2011, 03:25 PM

I'd get it over with quickly by getting surgery...

J-Time · 06-11-2011, 05:01 PM

I did not get the bone chip removed. Eventually the pain went away and I was able to play with out pain. I don't remember how long it took. I think it was about 2 to 3 months until I could play without any pain that affected my game. I think it was another 3 months until there was no more pain. I am still careful not to bump my elbow on a hard surface since that still hurts. Its been almost a year now (11.5 months) and I've been playing my best tennis. However, if I hyperextend it or bump it it still hurts. Its a pain I'm used to and live with. If I were guaranteed to be pain free after surgery I would do it, but I given the poor diagnosis I don't think that's the case.

kul · 12-21-2011, 07:56 PM

J-Time, any news on your elbow since your last update?
I think I have a similar problem...

J-Time · 01-10-2013, 06:30 PM

After taking time off for another injury I started have pain in my eblow again. I had played for over 18 months with bearable pain, but this time the pain got unbearable and I went back the doctors. It wasn't until I saw an elbow specialist who said the only way was to have the bone spur removed. I had the surgey 4 weeks ago. The Dr said the bone chip was lodged in the tricep tendon and after taking the bond chip out he had to reattach the tendon and so I'll have to wait 4 months to see if it worked. I'll post back on the outcome.

v-verb · 01-10-2013, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J-Time

After taking time off for another injury I started have pain in my eblow again. I had played for over 18 months with bearable pain, but this time the pain got unbearable and I went back the doctors. It wasn't until I saw an elbow specialist who said the only way was to have the bone spur removed. I had the surgey 4 weeks ago. The Dr said the bone chip was lodged in the tricep tendon and after taking the bond chip out he had to reattach the tendon and so I'll have to wait 4 months to see if it worked. I'll post back on the outcome.

Hoping for a speedy successful recovery for you!

charliefedererer · 01-10-2013, 11:06 PM

Good luck in your recovery!

07-25-2010, 06:03 PM	#1
J-Time New User Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 4	Elbow bone spur caused from serving Has anyone out there had a bone spur break off their elbow (olecranon) from serving? If so, what was your prognosis and how was it resolved? I had pain in my elbow for about 2 months - the kind of pin-point pain on my elbow when I rested my elbow on the arm of a chair. Then one day while serving I heard and felt a pop. I couldn't lift and straighten my arm over my head at all. There was no swelling in my elbow although my hand swelled. I got an MRI which showed nothing. The ortho thought it might be a micro tear in the tricep tendon. I got a second opinion where they took an x-ray which showed a 1 cm bone spur that broke off the olecranon. It's been weeks now and it only hurts if I straighten my arm (hyperextending it), bump/rest the elbow on something, or use my arm to push up. I can still hit ground strokes, but no serving, back hand slice (where I hyperextend), overheads, or lunging shots again when hyperextending. The doctor says the spur could stay in my arm forever and the pain may go away. However, he recommends I get it surgically removed. That would be my last resort, but I would be interested to know if anyone out there had a similar ingury and how it was resloved.

06-11-2011, 03:25 PM	#3
kevoT Semi-Pro Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: sweden Posts: 748	I'd get it over with quickly by getting surgery... __________________ Dunlop 4d 200 x2 Syn gut/multi/Poly (occasionally) @54lbs

01-10-2013, 06:30 PM	#6
J-Time New User Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 4	I got surgery After taking time off for another injury I started have pain in my eblow again. I had played for over 18 months with bearable pain, but this time the pain got unbearable and I went back the doctors. It wasn't until I saw an elbow specialist who said the only way was to have the bone spur removed. I had the surgey 4 weeks ago. The Dr said the bone chip was lodged in the tricep tendon and after taking the bond chip out he had to reattach the tendon and so I'll have to wait 4 months to see if it worked. I'll post back on the outcome.

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