Anybody ever had golfers elbow?

[Sprocket*]

At the start of the gardening season I have come down with Golfers elbow - similar to tennis elbow but on the inside of the elbow...The only time I ever went near a golf course I was asked not to return.

Really it should be called Frisbee elbow as I got it throwing a frisbee for my Springers. Just wondered if anyone had any suggestions to speed recovery and get me back doing my share of the allotment gardening

[lettucegrow!]

If it's anything like tennis elbow, then ouch! I sympathise. I got tennis elbow when I dug up the grass to turn it into veg. patch. Instead of resting and letting it recover I just ploughed on and it was agony. At one stage I couldn't lift a kettle or wash my hair. Took ages to go and still flares up if I over do the digging. Ended up taking Diclafenic (?sp.) and used deep heat stuff,Biofreeze is very good. It's plant based- my friend bought it on the internet when she got hers. I think Amazon have it.

[Glutton4...]

I use Biofreeze for all sorts - thanks to my Chiro - I buy it on eBay cheaper than at the Chiro/Boots. I've not had the complaint, but I hope it eases for you soon.

[matthew2riches]

Heat pack thingy?

[organic]

A really good bit of advice I got a few years back was to alternate heat and ice.

Get a couple of ice packs/frozen peas in the freezer and a hot water bottle.

Get it on ice for about 15 to 20 minutes and then use the hot water bottle to hear it up for about the same. Then get it on the other ice pack for the same, back to the water bottle and so on.

It's a good excuse for some long, hot baths too.

Personally I favour a "keep it mobile" approach to avoid stiffness but it does hurt a bit more that way.

[HayleyB]

Yep had golfers elbow which is amazing really as Dad put me off golf when I was a kid dragging his bag around.

I have a diclofenec gel, and have also resorted to support when it does get bad.

[vicky]

My dad's just got over this! Although a golfer it was done wrestling a dead christmas tree from the ground...
Biofreeze is excellent for pain relief
Physio did work - and shows you how to stop it coming back
The injection of cortisone (sp?) is the thing that sorted it though. Some doctors will do this straight away, others won't.
Good luck with it, dad was in pain for a while and it took time to get better.

[elsie-scot]

My advice:

Limit the activity that irritates it - frisbee throwing. Often it is more movements at the wrist that causes the problem, so don't just think elbow.

Get an ice cube, hold it in a face cloth (so dont freeze fingers) and massage on sore bit for a few mins.

You can also do a massage with thumb or finger, horizontal across sore bit, dont press so hard it is sore, after a minute it will numb slightly, do for about 3 mins first time. Do every other day, if no reaction after 3 mins, can increase to 5 min. If irritates it, then dont do again.

Ibuprofen, as long as you have no problems taking, 3 times a day for 5 days (if no better after that, then can stop taking), if better, gradually reduce dose, increase again if needed.

If can't take or dont want medication then you should be ok to try ibuleve type gel (dont find it usually makes much difference, but if cant take med, worth a try)

Often through the day, stop and straighten elbow and stretch wrist back - no pain or pull, hold for up to 30 secs. Also stop and just do movement, but dont need to hold - esp if doing housework, gardening - anything that you are doing a turning wrsit movt.

If no difference with these, see a physio (they are brilliant !!!), acupuncture can help (some physio or GPs do this), depending on level of pain and loss of function - steroid injection can work (but I personally wouldn't rush to get one)

[dexterdoglancashire]

Mr DDL has had it, but then he is a golfer!

[bubblewrap]

I used to have drinkers constipation, I couldn't pass a pub.