Bullseye Elbow (aka lateral epicondylitis) PAIN!

Brangnew shooting iron arriving tomorrow.... Cortisone shot in the elbow today..... Hory John Moses Browning does this hurt.

I've had problems with both of my elbows in the past.  Both times, I ended up needing to go through physical therapy.  Try resting it first, but if it doesn't improve, PT may be the way to go.  It takes months, but you also learn a few exercises and how to minimize or avoid future injuries.

For now, you might consider shooting with the other hand if that elbow is healthy.  I never had to do that, but I would if I had to.

Elbow pain is almost always 'Too Much, Too Soon". Doesn't help now, but keep that in mind in the future!

Strength training the muscles in the wrist and forearm will primarily help prevent it from happening in the future, but will help a little right now. Google 'nerve glide" exercises, as those can help with the pain. Make sure you stretch out the arm AFTER you shoot, I've found that helps.

Most importantly, try shooting nothing but a slab grip 1911 for a while. At least for me, trying to grip a big, fat orthopedic grip was the root of the problem. Switching to narrow grips calmed down the elbow and let it start to heal. I still shoot ortho's now for 22 and air, but if I feel discomfort, I either switch back to slabs for a while, or decrease my grip pressure. 

Dave

Cortisone is short term relief but will not heal the damage.  I had the same thing in both arms.  It became worker comp. After almost a year of PT I ended up going to a Dr and got shots of PRP.  I had to pay for the PRP but it was worth it and would do it again if needed. They use ultrasound to scan the area and I could see all of the micro tearing and damage.  

Do not bother with x-rays since it will not show up.  MRI will show it but expensive.  Ultrasound works and is cheap to get the scan.

For me I think it was caused by not stretching the muscle and tendons in the area.  Being a long time pistol shooter my grip strength is on the upper end of the scale so it was not the issue.  Some get it from lack of grip strength 

The PRP actually encourages more healing in the area where we do not have lots of blood flow by design.  This is what the Dr told me.  6 months post shot the ultrasound showed almost all of the micro tearing was healed up.  

Today I stretch multiple times per day and while working, shooting, or dryfiring.

Dcforman wrote:Elbow pain is almost always 'Too Much, Too Soon". Doesn't help now, but keep that in mind in the future!

Strength training the muscles in the wrist and forearm will primarily help prevent it from happening in the future, but will help a little right now. Google 'nerve glide" exercises, as those can help with the pain. Make sure you stretch out the arm AFTER you shoot, I've found that helps.

Most importantly, try shooting nothing but a slab grip 1911 for a while. At least for me, trying to grip a big, fat orthopedic grip was the root of the problem. Switching to narrow grips calmed down the elbow and let it start to heal. I still shoot ortho's now for 22 and air, but if I feel discomfort, I either switch back to slabs for a while, or decrease my grip pressure. 

Dave

Interestingly for me it's the other way around. I'm focusing on slabs and irons to try and finish out my SP badge and my elbow is really starting to tell me about it. More spin ball exercises needed methinks.

LGS got my X-ESSE in today. I was SO EXCITED when I ordered it.... the pistol is as advertised. It is evident that tolerances and fit/finish received much more attention than other pistols. It just feels slick..

The bad part is, I can't even bring it up to look down the sights today. It feels like someone hit my elbow with a hammer.

Hopefully the cortisone will do it's job and I can shoot it this weekend.

straybrit wrote:

Dcforman wrote:Elbow pain is almost always 'Too Much, Too Soon". Doesn't help now, but keep that in mind in the future!

Strength training the muscles in the wrist and forearm will primarily help prevent it from happening in the future, but will help a little right now. Google 'nerve glide" exercises, as those can help with the pain. Make sure you stretch out the arm AFTER you shoot, I've found that helps.

Most importantly, try shooting nothing but a slab grip 1911 for a while. At least for me, trying to grip a big, fat orthopedic grip was the root of the problem. Switching to narrow grips calmed down the elbow and let it start to heal. I still shoot ortho's now for 22 and air, but if I feel discomfort, I either switch back to slabs for a while, or decrease my grip pressure. 

Dave

Interestingly for me it's the other way around. I'm focusing on slabs and irons to try and finish out my SP badge and my elbow is really starting to tell me about it. More spin ball exercises needed methinks.

Interesting indeed. This probably speaks to the fact that these discussions pull up a ton of different viewpoints, and what works for one person might not work for another! 

Dave

Certain stretching exercises can help prevent it in the first place. The straps that you can find in any drug store, help relieve the pain.

Mine did not get well until I started wearing the arm band 24 hours a day except when in the shower.  There are many things we all do during the course of a day that are not shooting related that aggravate the condition.
Phil

BE Mike wrote:Certain stretching exercises can help prevent it in the first place. The straps that you can find in any drug store, help relieve the pain.

Stretching and massage help.  I have worked my forearm and shoulder with a TheraGun with good results.  That is as a warmup.  Not a treatment.  My son is  DC with a big background in PT

I found compression sleaves work better than straps

Toz35m wrote:I found compression sleaves work better than straps

They wouldn't be legal for actual matches though would they?

Another vote for the PRP shot. When I had it done a few years ago, insurance did not cover it, but absolutely worth it. Prepare to rest your elbow for a couple of months after the shot, accompanied by a lot of stretching and PT.

However, for me it only restored my ability to shoot a .22. My epicondylitis is is a chronic stage (on both elbows) and I had to give up on shooting a .45, so 22-only, Air and Free Pistol are now my game. It's better than not shooting at all.

Toz35m wrote:For me I think it was caused by not stretching the muscle and tendons in the area.  Being a long time pistol shooter my grip strength is on the upper end of the scale so it was not the issue.  Some get it from lack of grip strength 

I think it IS grip strength that has me in this spot. I am very right handed... My left arm is just there for balance... Blue collar work has provided me with a Popeye looking right forearm. I think the tendons in my elbow have been thrashed a few too many times.
Oddly enough, my pistol grip is too light. I do not grip a .45acp pistol hard enough for consistent groupings. I came up shooting 3 & 4 position small bore rifle where the only grip necessary is to counteract the force needed to press the trigger.