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Posts: 358
| Has anyone had a tendon repair performed for what my Dr. call "Golfer's Elbow"
( Tendonitis inner pertion of elbow ) Or Rotator Cuff surgery done. I love to cast, however pay dearly for days afterwards  I could as I get older get comfortable with trolling. I would like some input before I choose the knife or not, from someone who has had these repairs done. I'm afraid of the possibility of not being able to fish at all. All help from people with experience with this, I would be thankful for  |
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Location: Minneapolis | Have you gone to a sports medicine doctor and tried rehab? |
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Posts: 2384
Location: On the X that marks the mucky spot | I second rehab/physical therapy. Once you go under the knife for rotator surgery you'll always have a problem lifting your arms over your head and forget doing pushups. My dad had both of them done and it bugs him all the time. You still may have issues casting even after you go through the 6 months of recovery.
On the elbow I suggest getting your tendons "stripped" on a regular basis. Any GOOD massage therapist (not the fast food ones in the strip malls for $30) can do this fairly easily. I also put a good amount of topical anti-inflammatory on mine to keep things feeling ok. Here's the site where I get the anti-inflammatory http://www.healtharchitect.com/. It's not cheap, but a bottle will go a long ways (over a year for me). Worth WAAAAYYYY more then a "hot bait". |
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Posts: 422
| What kind of rotator cuff issues are you having? I just had an MRI on mine last week and it shows a partial tear with some other tendon issues. Had PT on it a year ago and hear we are again. Dr. will be getting a hold of me to discuss the plan early this week. Not sure what's going to happen. |
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Posts: 15
| I've got tendinitis in my elbows, so I wear those tennis elbow braces that Velcro across your forearm. Doc said it was that or surgery. It allows me to fish, golf, open beer cans, and tote all the heavy stuff my wife wants me to tote with no problems. Trouble is with tendinitis, if you tweak it, it can take months of resting it before it heals....which puts the kibosh on most outdoor activities.
Good luck,
Brian |
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Posts: 118
| My left elbow bugged me when I turned 30.....asked a guy 15 years older than me if he eve rhad it.....he said yup....but it goes away.....sure enough after eighteen months it went away.....been good the last 26 years,never came back.....now my shoulders bug me.....still waiting on that to go away.....had 2 cortisone shots, one in each shoulder about 2 years apart......first one worked great....lasted about 8 months......other shoulder it didn't do a thing.....if you're not to old and can stand it I'd say give it some time....unless you actually have a tear or something.....ask the doc if cortisone might help.....last ditch for me would be surgery....hope this helps |
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Posts: 1360
Location: Lake "y" cause lake"x" got over fished | I am currently dealing with Lateral and Medial Epicondylitus Tendonopathy (thousands of micro tears acorss the muscles on my right forearm, along with tendonictis and tendonopathy), its a fancy way to say my arm is messed up. Or extreme enflamed tennis elbow... but it is not tennis elbow... I can't hold can of beer, can't cast, typing with any more than my right pointer finger makes all my fingers go numb. There are a bunch of things you can do before you choose the knife. Physical therapy is helping me right now, also "whole blood injections" Surgery to repair what your going through is rare and unecessary. if they jumped right to that conclusion id see a different doctor. With my physical therapy, they do ultrasonic heat therapy, ultrasoncis electrostimulation, a technique called "stripping", massage, wrist braces, specialized stretches... Don't resort to surgery without a confirmed MRI from a DR, You still have time to fix it before the season, but you have to start now.
Send me a PM if u want some more info.
Edited by FAT-SKI 1/28/2013 9:48 AM
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Posts: 58
Location: South Elgin | I've had the same right shoulder worked on 3 different times due to sports and wear and tear. Rotator in 1979...Rotator in 1990 and Rotator, Labrum and bicep tendon tear in 2009. Still casting like a madman as always...still playing league hockey...still playing 50 and over fast pitch hardball....still able to lift weights, do push-ups, lift my arm above my head.
Golfer elbow and a rotator tear are completly different animals and not related at all. Certainly anti inflamation meds and a band will help with the golfers elbow, but with the rotator you have many ways of living with or dealing with this issue. Many surgery as last recourse methods have been outlined above, but don't ever think that the knife is a death sentence to casting. Find a great Dr through inquiry at your local College Sports Department or Professional Sports team and you will be on your way. Best of luck! |
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Posts: 941
Location: Freedom, WI | Good advice here. been bothered by it off and on for years. Do not do the knife for the elbow, I use ice on the spot at the elbow and works for me. Do not know much about the shoulder other than I know 4 people that has had it done and only one is happy and he worked very hard at rehab to get it that way. |
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Posts: 1270
Location: Stevens Point, Wi. | Tore my rotator 2 years ago at age 64. Couln't raise my right arm more than chest high. Fortunately saw a doc who recommended a good PT. The doc told me surgery should be a last resort; long and painful rehab. He also explained that with the proper excercise and range of motion work it's possible to overcome the tear but that it will never heal. After just a few weeks of therepy I was back to about to abpout 90% and today with just occasional at home rehab it feels as good as ever. |
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Posts: 94
| Did PT for left rotator several year ago; helped until this winter when I needed PT for both rotators. Both have partial tears. When they feel better, the key is to keep exercising (which I have not been good at). I retrieve with the rod butt under my upper left arm and against my side. I have noticed that using a split-grip rod (I use St. Croix Mojos) really helps my left shoulder as I put the split under my arm and it doesn't create as much "bulge" as a full grip.
Glad I read this thread; I'm gonna try Shawn's elbow suggestions. My other "solution" has been to cut way back on the double 10s; now I let my wife and son throw them until the fish prove to us that I must throw them too
Edited by esox99 1/28/2013 12:26 PM
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Location: 31 | Cody - 1/27/2013 7:29 PM Has anyone had a tendon repair performed for what my Dr. call "Golfer's Elbow" ( Tendonitis inner pertion of elbow ) Or Rotator Cuff surgery done. I love to cast, however pay dearly for days afterwards I could as I get older get comfortable with trolling. I would like some input before I choose the knife or not, from someone who has had these repairs done. I'm afraid of the possibility of not being able to fish at all. All help from people with experience with this, I would be thankful for : ) Mine got so bad that I was considering surgery. I had a half a dozen cortisone shots over about a five-year period on my right elbow that only worked temporarily. Then I stumbled across a procedure called shockwave elbow therapy. http://www.shockwavetherapy.ca/what_we_offer.htm
I had to travel from Illinois to a sports medicine facility in Eau Claire Wisconsin to get it done... absolutely fabulous results. (reprint from 4-18-2010 MF) |
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Location: 31 | Jerry Newman - 1/28/2013 7:05 PM Cody - 1/27/2013 7:29 PM Has anyone had a tendon repair performed for what my Dr. call "Golfer's Elbow" ( Tendonitis inner pertion of elbow ) Or Rotator Cuff surgery done. I love to cast, however pay dearly for days afterwards I could as I get older get comfortable with trolling. I would like some input before I choose the knife or not, from someone who has had these repairs done. I'm afraid of the possibility of not being able to fish at all. All help from people with experience with this, I would be thankful for : ) Mine got so bad that I was considering surgery. I had a half a dozen cortisone shots over about a five-year period on my right elbow that only worked temporarily. Then I stumbled across a procedure called shockwave elbow therapy. http://www.shockwavetherapy.ca/what_we_offer.htm
I had to travel from Illinois to a sports medicine facility in Eau Claire Wisconsin to get it done... absolutely fabulous results. (reprint from 4-18-2010 MF) Quote from Tom Betka on the same thread on 4-19-2010: Some good advice here, as well as some not-so-good advice...
As a physician who has seen one or two patients with lateral epicondylitis over the years, you need to confirm the diagnosis. Go to the doctor. It takes 15 minutes, and then you'll know. But the doctor may or may not be able to help you; probably no more than a Chiropractor will be able to help you. The treatment for Tennis Elbow is rest, and (eventually) stretching and strengthening exercises, in a controlled fashion. The mistake people make is to get too aggressive when it starts to feel better, and they re-injure the connective tissue fibers that attach the wrist/hand dorsiflexor muscles to the upper arm (there at the lateral epicondyle). In some cases, steroid injections are needed to quiet the inflammation. But if you've gotten to that point, this is probably more serious--because the process causing the on-going inflammation is unabated.
The best things you can do for this are:
1) Get confirmation of the diagnosis, so that the proper treatment can be offered.
2) Try to figure out which activities are causing the problem to persist, and stop those activities. If it hurts to do that, don't do that... (This is VERY important!)
3) Assuming it is Tennis Elbow, find yourself a skilled Physical Therapist, and (once the diagnosis has been confirmed) go see them. They will give you an exercise program, and may even be able to offer additional treatment such as phonophoresis, where ultrasound is used to drive a steroidal cream through the skin and into the affected inflamed tissues. Do the exercises. Religiously.
The risk here is that you will cause the inflammation to persist for so long that eventually surgery may be needed. That's rarely a good thing, but sometimes it's all that left to be offered. So the more aggressive you can be with treating the problem now; the better. Certainly the RICE method can work, but most patients get impatient and resume their normal activities too soon. Many times this causes a very persistent (and painful) process.
TB
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Posts: 358
| Wow so much great advice here ! I go to the VA hospital and have been getting a Cortisone injection in dominant elbow for last 7 yrs. every six months. Abused myself with football and service to my country...poor MOS. To the point I need to assist in lifting my dominant arm with the other arm, rotator cuff damaged. Tendonitis is on going, I will try to do just about anything to avoid the knife (had too much of that already) I really appreciate all the advice here I'm overwhelmed, however not surprised. The Doc said give up fishing... not an option with me, its really all I do. Can still open a beer can though A Field Medic I served with had me on a Asprin and Ibuprophren combo. that helped, however I don't want to do damage to the Liver. Thank you all so much for the advice I will research it all !
Cody |
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Posts: 298
Location: Not where I want to be! | Cody, I have had 3 elbow surgerys in the early to mid 1990's. One on my right medial, and one each on the two laterals. Did the cortison injections and therapy as required by the insurance co. Those options did not work, surgery did. The results were sucessful. I still fish 10 + hour days at age 62. In 2003 I had a torn right rotator cuff and labrum with a bone spur. Did the injections and therapy as required and then the surgery. Rehab was not fun but the result was 95% range on motion and no lingering pain. Shot, therapy, and pills did not work long term for me. Good luck!
Edited by wavridr 1/29/2013 8:52 AM
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Posts: 358
| Those symptoms sound very similar to mine. The pills and injections work, however I need them more frequently, whereas the time period between injections is getting less. The Dr. wants to cut tendon grind a new seat and reattach, I was skeptical and really appreciate all the good advice and experiences. With all the pounding we occur when casting, trolling and reeling it isn't user friendly to the upper extremities. One 10 - 12 hr. day of casting and its a week or two if not more of agony and when it keeps me from sleeping I know it time for an injection. Thanks again to all !
Cody
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Posts: 23
Location: St Paul | I have had ongoing issues with tennis elbow /tendonitis for several years, and have managed through the fishing season with ibuprofen, Biofreeze, cortizone injections, stretching and ice. I also have used several versions of the arm bands (straps) meant to protect the tendons which seems to help keep the injured area from getting worse.
I recently stumbled onto to something that seems to really work.
Over the past month, I have been excersizing daily using a Thera Band Flex Bar, with suprisingly good results. These things can be ordered unline for less than $20 and so far I have to say this has worked better than anything I have tried thus far. Just search online for Flexbar and an excersize called the Tyler Twist. Definitley worth checking out given the low cost.
Shawn, I am wondering what the name of the topical anti-inflammatory you are using is? I couldn't locate it on the link provided. Bio Freeze seems to work pretty well, but I'm always interested in another option. |
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Posts: 1360
Location: Lake "y" cause lake"x" got over fished | MJPfeiffer - 1/30/2013 9:07 AM
I have had ongoing issues with tennis elbow /tendonitis for several years, and have managed through the fishing season with ibuprofen, Biofreeze, cortizone injections, stretching and ice. I also have used several versions of the arm bands (straps) meant to protect the tendons which seems to help keep the injured area from getting worse.
I recently stumbled onto to something that seems to really work.
Over the past month, I have been excersizing daily using a Thera Band Flex Bar, with suprisingly good results. These things can be ordered unline for less than $20 and so far I have to say this has worked better than anything I have tried thus far. Just search online for Flexbar and an excersize called the Tyler Twist. Definitley worth checking out given the low cost.
Shawn, I am wondering what the name of the topical anti-inflammatory you are using is? I couldn't locate it on the link provided. Bio Freeze seems to work pretty well, but I'm always interested in another option.
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I bought the Flex bar and had no results, in fact it made my arm far worse. Maybe I can revisit it after my injections and PT.
BioFreeze is good stuff, I do like that a lot. But the one that I have found that works well for me is Tiger Balm. Its like icy/hot and roids. Make sure to get extra strength though. It does stink a little bit, but its the best I have used yet. |
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| Working with a good PT will allow you gain stabilization, which in turn leads to less issues with use. If you keep doing the same things without addressing the issue,you typically stay the same or get worse. BR |
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| Cody,
I struggled with golfers elbow for years! The only thing that helped me was prolotherapy. Give it a shot before surgery. Surgery is not guranteed. I would go talk to a sports medicine doctor and get some prolotherapy shots. Cortizone shots only mask the pain.
And if you smoke try and stop. Smoking makes it harder for your body to heal itself.
Trust me on this one. Prolotherapy!!! |
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Posts: 2024
| I used to play tennis a little and I suffer from occasional occasional mild bouts of tennis elbow. A tennis coach told me to get a rubber band and double it over my fingers on the affected arm and simply spread your fingers for about 5 minutes several times a day. Over time you increase the size of the rubber band. It worked in a couple weeks for me and when I feel it starting to flare up again it helps shorten the length of the flareup. I don't know if it will help those who suffer from serious cases, but if you have a mild case like I do it may. |
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