Getting old, my elbow is killing me!
 

I am going to have to take at least today off from practice due to my elbow killing me[X(], I had an arrow lock installed on my bow and the guy adjusted my nocking point because it was off a tick. Well of course I had to resight my bow in and shot way to much Wednesday and then again last night, I had to stop last night due to the pain in my elbow. If you have had this happen before how long did it take before you could start practicing again?

At least the bow is resighted in, so no matter what I can stick one Monday if I get the chance.[8D]

RE: Getting old, my elbow is killing me!
 

Am I the only one this has happened to?

RE: Getting old, my elbow is killing me!
 

Never realy had the elbow bother me before, just the shoulder. Since the bow is shot in, I really wouldn' t push the elbow too much.

RE: Getting old, my elbow is killing me!
 

Taz I have had similar problems and my doctor said it is basically tennis elbow. He suggested stretching the arm by extended it in front of you, palm faced out, and fingers pointed down, then grab the fingers and lightly pull back, turn the fingers up and repaet holding for around 10 seconds. I have had very few problems since doing this I start before I shoot and if I feel a flare up i sit on the couch watching T.V. and stretch. Hope this helps ya....

[Deleted]
 

[Deleted by Admins]

RE: Getting old, my elbow is killing me!
 

Hey Taz,

I get that feeling too... Being a lefty, my left shoulder and elbow can ache a little after shooting and shooting and more shooting target arrows in my back yard. I didn' t shoot my bow for a day or two, and I was fine the next time around. Good luck!

Butch

RE: Getting old, my elbow is killing me!
 

I had a roaring bout of tennis elbow several years ago. It took a good six weeks before I could shoot a bow again, and even then I had to use one of those support bands for a year afterward. I still get a twinge of it now and then.

But that' s just a minor irritation compared to all the other stuff that hurts nowadays. ;)

RE: Getting old, my elbow is killing me!
 

BobCo I am going to rest it until the pain is gone. When you get to be my age you learn to rest things that hurt!

Rebel wolf I thanks for the advice I will start doing that, how many times should you do it before shooting to consider it properly stretched?

Navy it is my bow hand, and just to save you some time I don' t lock my elbow, just in case that is what you were thinking. I have tendonitis in my ankle so running except in an emergency is out of the question, so I feel for you.

Butch my shoulder has never bothered me, if you met me you would know why, I have shoulders like a linebacker! LOL I hope you are right and I will be better in a day or two. What is not going to help any is I have to help my daughter move tomorrow.

RE: Getting old, my elbow is killing me!
 

Taz I usually stretch both arms 2x stretching one then the other before shooting and when I think about it during the day I stretch them then too. Hope it helps....

RE: Getting old, my elbow is killing me!
 

Thanks again Rebel, I have all ready tried it a few times, I will let you know Monday if it helps.

RE: Getting old, my elbow is killing me!
 

First off, it sound like you have tennis elbow, inflamed tendons or whatever you want to call it. I had it once and ignored it. It became painful to make a fist or lift the slightest thing. It finally got to a point where I couldn' t hold a glass in that hand. Ended up having to go through some treatments which included, ultra-sound, heat and ice compresses for an hour 3 times a week. You can help yourself by taking some major doses of motrin(600 milligrams 3 times a day for a week or so. I was then given exercises to do with hand weights to build up the muscles in the area. The consisted of laying your arm on a table with your wrist and and hand off holding the handweight..palm down. Flex the rist down and back up etc etc etc. Finish the exercises with ice pack. It' s not an old thing. I had it 15 or 20 years ago. Wouldn' t you know it, the very next year I developed it in the other arm. Every once in a while I can feel it coming on and 3 or 4 days of Motrin clears it right up.

P.S. If it hurts to take your finger and push the spot around the bone(more so on the junction of the bones) on the outside of your elbow.... that' s what you got. If this is in your bow arm it could also indicate a misfit in the old bow, either draw weight or length... OR... it could mean you' re getting old.:D;)

[Deleted]
 

[Deleted by Admins]

RE: Getting old, my elbow is killing me!
 

Yup Taz, getting older day by day by day....can' t do alot of things I use to do, well I can still do them I just might need time for recovery...lol ;)

RE: Getting old, my elbow is killing me!
 

Sore elbow? From shooting too much? Yeah right Taz;) You know that can cause blindness don' t you:D

RE: Getting old, my elbow is killing me!
 

I had the same thing last year Taz. They called mine " golfing elbow" too many chunks of sod I guess. Bothered the heck out of me last fall. I put the bow and clubs in the closet for a few months last winter and it went away. Knock on wood!!

RE: Getting old, my elbow is killing me!
 

Taz, I went through the same thing several years ago and got the same advice as Rebel. I did as instructed and it worked for me.
I have since learned through weight training that the way one develops this type of problem and the cause of it reoccurring is unbalanced exercise. Shooting the Bow only works certain muscles and they build strength. The opposing muscle does not develop equally and causes the tension and pulls on the tendon, hence the pain. Maybe once it heals a light workout focused on the area to create a balance will help with the stretching. I worked for this or goat.
Good luck.

RE: Getting old, my elbow is killing me!
 

Taz,

Sounds like tendonitis to me too. Lot' s of good advice so far. The bad news is...It usually takes a long time to become pain free from this condition. We are not talking about a few days here. More like weeks or (ouch) months. As long as you are shooting it is probably going to continue to bother you. You are in a tough spot for sure. Pretty hard not to be shooting at this time of year. I have been through it too. I shot just a handful of arrows per session when I was going through it and to be honest it didn' t get better until after the season when I made myself take a break until I was pain free. Overuse injuries are quite common amongst us old farts. The best way I know of to avoid the situation goes something like this. Assuming you are pain free. Start by shooting 10 or 12 arrows on the first day. Same the next day or maybe even take the day off. Gradually add the number of arrows you shoot over a period of weeks making sure not to jump it up too quickly. If you take your time and have patience, you will probably avoid another case of " bow elbow" . Good Luck.... 800mg of Ibuprofin twice a day also helps to reduce the inflammation, but you should see a doctor before you go with the meds. Jim

RE: Getting old, my elbow is killing me!
 

Taz, I get elbow pain if I eat too many carbo' s. Something about the acid build up caused by the carbo' s, insulin and all that stuff. I cut back on carbo' s about a year ago and all my joints feel better but one. Didn' t effect the metal one any.

RE: Getting old, my elbow is killing me!
 

Whew!![:o] I wondered where you were heading with that' n.[&:]:D

RE: Getting old, my elbow is killing me!
 

Hey Taz, I' ve had tendonitus in both of my elbows. The only cure is rest. But, you can also get a strap to use so you can hunt without doing more damage to it. It fits on your forearm a couple of inches from your elbow. Don' t make it too tight, but make it snug and it will hold everything in place. It will still be painful if you don' t take a couple of days off. But should be manageable after that so you can hunt. Then after hunting season, wear it until you don' t have any more pain. They are washable and adjustable. You can probably get it at any medical supply store without having to go to a doctor.

RE: Getting old, my elbow is killing me!
 

as far as the being old part of it. Im 15 and i had been shooting almost every day for a couple months and finally had to take a break. Realease arm elbow was KILLING me. Dont know what tendonitis feels like but i think i have a light case of it. I can shoot my bow alright now but to like lift something heavy with my arm straight out hurts like mad. i usually streach a little before i shoot my bow now. Its seemed to help, so has the ibuprofen

RE: Getting old, my elbow is killing me!
 

Well Taz I appreciate this thread. It helps to know what us oldies can do. You have tendonitis, tennis elbow, golf elbow. What to do? Cut back on carbos, take glucosamine, ibuprophen, rest, excercise, stretch, get physical therapy, ignore it, heat it, chill it? Do these help?

Seriously my nurse type wife believes in the ice for inflammed joints, tendons, etc. 20 minutes on 20 minutes off 20 minutes on. As far as meds the ibuprophen, aleve, etc. are helpful for the anti-inflammatory tendencies.

Good luck Monday!