Golfer's Elbow Device

[DewDuster]

I used to have a velcro strap thingy that goes around the forearm to help with golfer's elbow and can't remember where I bought it.

Does anyone know where I can buy one? Thanks.

[jsttaylor]

Any drugstore/pharmacy or the one I bought at Wal*Mart is my favorite.

[stevek]

My wife just picked one up at the Pharmacy located on Kukulu. It's called a "Bandit" and it worked miracles for her - no pain at all.

[Marcos]

Make sure you get instructions on exactly where to position it.It does not go on the tendon but just below it to absorb the impact of the swing.Dont put it too tight,just snugg.Also apply ice after playing a round or whatever irritates it.

[mcgoo]

Got mine about 5 years ago through the indoor tennis club in Hull. Problem became so bad in Tennis that I quit Tennis and took up golf. I suck at golf so maybe I will go back to Tennis and tolerate the pain.

PS; Cortisone shots are very effective in reducing the inflammation.

[Marcos]

As McGoo stated cortisone is good for reducing inflamation but,you have to take it easy and let it heal up after.The biggest problem with people getting shots is they tend to feel better quickly and resume playing and this is were the problem arises.If you dont give it time to properly heal,you will be worst.I recommend Physio,Accupuncture,rest and ice.

[DenisO]

I just started playing golf more seriously recently and going to the range quite often. I'm not sure if I have golfer's elbow or not but if I extend my arm the outside of my elbow hurts, hopefully it won't get any worse or I'll probably end up having to go get it checked out and wear one of those brace thingys.

[Marcos]

Denis,one of the worst things is hitting one ball after the other on those mats.Even if your hitting in the dirt with a tee its still hard on the joints.The reason I know a bit about these injurys is because i suffer from them also and I work in Physio.So the best thing is to take it easy and get a strap and wear it for the rest of the season.Ice is very good too.

[mcgoo]

Marcos is correct, you must rest it well after cortisone, but cortisone will speed up the healing process by reducing inflammation. I don't think it ever completely heals, I have had it for 40 years.

[big mac]

I am using one call " Le Strap" manufactured by Cooper--the same as the Hockey people---bought mine at the Medicine Shop for 24.00---have used it for almost 2 years and works like a charm---basically a surgical material with a removable interior gel pad that absorbs the shock.

[Kiwi]

I recommend Physio,Accupuncture,rest and ice.

When mine started I went to accupuncture. The fellow said that he would provide 3-4 treatments and if no improvement there was nothing he could do. Said it was one of, if not the most, difficult injuries to treat. Think he said that it was because unless it is totally rested there was no way it would heal properly. Treatment did not work for me, but he has been 100% on all our family's other ailments. Physio, massage, ice, rest all work but trick is not to aggravate it again. Suggest you may want to start treatment, if you can stand to wait, in November then try to do all the right things over the winter and maybe by April, with the brace to hold the tendon in place, you may be pain free. Good luck.

[Bouche]

Any drugstore/pharmacy or the one I bought at Wal*Mart is my favorite.

Thats right, Any drugstore sells them. Just tell them yoyu have tennis elbow and they will show you which one to buy. I need it for the first week of every golf season. Its weird but the thing does wonders!

[DewDuster]

Thanks to everyone who replied, some great advice and much appreciated.

I ended up getting something called bandIT http://www.banditusa.com/products.htm from the RA Centre shop for $35. It's a bit more expensive than the ones I saw in the drugstores, but figured I shouldn't cheap out on something for my health.

It has two plastic rounded plates. Surprisingly there's not really a great picture on the website but there's picture of a lady tennis player wearing one on the home page.

A guy at my club has one and likes it and it felt good when I tried it on in the store. Seems a bit more ergonomic than the one I had before which was more like a glorified tourniquet. To give it credit the old one did work though.

Looks and initial impression aside, haven't actually tried playing with it yet, will report back tomorrow on it.

[Adska]

Just over a month ago, I injured the outside tendon of my right elbow (I'm a lefty) and it's been sore ever since. I did an arm workout in the morning, and immediately went to go play golf. On the 3rd tee, something didn't feel right. The next morning I couldn't straighten my arm without considerable pain. It was the intersectional qualifying weekend and I played through it.

I bought one of the braces, and now I can't swing the club without it. Last week I was icing it about 4 times a day only for about 20 mins at a time. It seemed to of really helped with the swelling. However, even almost 5 weeks later, it's still tender. I'm afraid to touch weights, although I seem to have no problem going to the range... good logic on my part.... The things we do for this crazy game, huh??

[Marcos]

I think Adska you will find that it never completely goes away.It always will be tender.However you have seemed to have injured it badly.If you can stop any repetitive movement,and give it a break for a while and you will be o.k.I just came back from a shoulder Bursitis,tendonitis and for 5 to 6 weeks did not hit a full shot.Chipping and putting was all I could do.Now i am back on track but,not going to the range soon as this is the worst thing you can do.I can still feel it and it will be there for a long while.Seek medical attention fast if you find that you are having problems moving your arm.Its worth paying for a sports injury specialist (if you dont have coverage)Good luck and be patient.










quote=Adska;266030]Just over a month ago, I injured the outside tendon of my right elbow (I'm a lefty) and it's been sore ever since. I did an arm workout in the morning, and immediately went to go play golf. On the 3rd tee, something didn't feel right. The next morning I couldn't straighten my arm without considerable pain. It was the intersectional qualifying weekend and I played through it.

I bought one of the braces, and now I can't swing the club without it. Last week I was icing it about 4 times a day only for about 20 mins at a time. It seemed to of really helped with the swelling. However, even almost 5 weeks later, it's still tender. I'm afraid to touch weights, although I seem to have no problem going to the range... good logic on my part.... The things we do for this crazy game, huh??[/quote]

[big mac]

The problem everyone is having is called Tendonitis---it is a series of small tears in the tendons attatching the muscles to the bones---it takes a very long time to repair itself as there is very little blood circulation to the tendon. This is why rest and icing and stretching is perscribed. The device I use works great---I probably don't need it now but when it takes almost 2 years to recover---I'm not going to chance it so I'll continue to use it --the only drawback is---I'm a lefty--left arm is tanned and right arm is white

[stevek]

Thanks to everyone who replied, some great advice and much appreciated.

I ended up getting something called bandIT http://www.banditusa.com/products.htm from the RA Centre shop for $35. It's a bit more expensive than the ones I saw in the drugstores, but figured I shouldn't cheap out on something for my health.

It has two plastic rounded plates. Surprisingly there's not really a great picture on the website but there's picture of a lady tennis player wearing one on the home page.

A guy at my club has one and likes it and it felt good when I tried it on in the store. Seems a bit more ergonomic than the one I had before which was more like a glorified tourniquet. To give it credit the old one did work though.

Looks and initial impression aside, haven't actually tried playing with it yet, will report back tomorrow on it.

Follow the instructions carefully and adjust the spot during your game. My wife loves hers and if my Lab hadn't loved mine I'd still be wearing it. The two motions that inflammed my tendon were dumbell/barbell curls and golfing range time. Now I do neither and it shows!

[linganlad]

I've tried a bunch of these devices, and the Band-It is the easiest to use and the most effective. In fact, I find if I use it regularly of the course, I don't need to wear it when I'm playing, unless my arm is so sore that day I need it for support. If I do have to wear it when I play, it's easy to get used to and eventually you won't even remember it's on your arm.

The real trick with these devices is to have it tight enough that you get the support you need, but not so tight that it affects your grip and your feel around the greens chipping and putting. One of the reasons I like this device it that it easily adjusts to achieve that fine balance.

[leftylucas]

Any other place to buy the Bandit but the RA?????

[Strangebrew]

If your benefits cover it, hit a sports injury clinic and get some physio, I went through the same injury last year and they worked wonders. I also iced it twice a day, about 20 minutes for 5-6 weeks and that helped too. I didn't play baseball or golf for about 6-7 weeks until the pain was gone. Not a fun injury, makes me nervous when I get the slightest twinge in my elbow now.

[linganlad]

Lefty, I got mine at Ontario Medical Supply, Algoma Road in the east end.