Playing with injury

[CG031]

For those who don't know, from June to September I play everyday...at minimum six times per week. I was shocked when all of a sudden after Monday's round I felt extreme pain in my wrist. Figuring it would go away, in the middle of the night I woke up with a horrible pain going all the way into my elbow.

The next day I went to the doctor's and he diagnosed a forearm strain and tennis elbow. He said take two aleve's a day and ice three times per day. Stay off it at minimum two to three days, or up to two weeks depending on how I feel.

I'm a little hesitant to go back and play to be honest with you, but I'm dying to get out there. I feel like I'm wasting my time sitting around not doing anything the past two days. I have NOTHING to do. All I've done was go on the computer, read Barack Obama's book, and watch T.V. all day. It's been horrible.

Do you guys think I should play tomorrow? What would you do in this situation? Anyone ever have this? I know this is a type of injury that if you rush back, can linger for weeks and months...I'm so ripped in the middle on what to do.

[Franco!]

For those who don't know, from June to September I play everyday...at minimum six times per week. I was shocked when all of a sudden after Monday's round I felt extreme pain in my wrist. Figuring it would go away, in the middle of the night I woke up with a horrible pain going all the way into my elbow.

Great book(s).

Anyway, listen to the doctor. He didn't go to school for 70 years for nothing. He knows his shit and he knows what's best for you.

[lolzzlolzz]

Listen to your body. If it hurts too much don't play.

Your doctors advice is ridiculous. He is telling you to treat the pain, instead of treating the cause of the pain. That's as stupid as telling someone to take AcneFree as the cure for acne. The pain may lessen, but it will return unless you fix the cause.

You need to stretch. Your elbow is made for stability, not mobility, so you can't stretch that. The general rule for stretching these body parts (like the elbow, knees, and lower back) is to stretch the muscles and joints above and below them. Stretch your wrists and forearms. Stretch your triceps. Stretch your shoulders. Use foam rollers where you can.

I've known people who have gone as far as switching to graphite shafts to help their tennis elbow. This is stupid. I had tennis elbow for a year until I learned how to take care of my body. I got rid of it in a week by stretching my wrists and triceps.

I can show you some nice stretches, but unless someone can confirm that it's alright to link to other sites, I can't provide any links.

[iacas]

Don't play. If you're that antsy, putt.

Or read some golf books.

[bruce]

Yup,rest it or it will only get worse,a week or so won't do you any harm away from golf.

[golf_junkie27]

If you don't have one, get a Netflix account. Rent some movies, go running, donate some time to a local charity. It's only a few days. Plus, think of this a golf timeout. You can reflect on your game and weakness. Plus, short term despair can be replaced with long term happiness.

[CG031]

Listen to your body. If it hurts too much don't play.

Yeah, could you please help me get rid of it? lol.

[Craig Mac]

I would definitely NOT play, practice(putting, chipping) maybe but NOT play. Some of the guys at my work have had tendonitis for years and you don't want to deal with that. You may want to look in to one of those velcro elastic forearm braces and try practicing a little with that on, see how it feels the next day and make sure you heal before you try to hit full shots. The worst thing you want to do is to extend the injury or further damage your arm.

[CG031]

Ok, I won't play. But I do want to make the point my wrist and arm has felt a lot better today than it did yesterday. That's why I was going to see where it was at tomorrow. I tried swinging today, just once, to see if it hurt, and I didn't feel a thing, it was weird...it doesn't hurt when I play, just after...it's so weird.

Anyway...thanks for all the comments. I'm enjoying reading these.

[Lange]

Doctors tend to over exagerate the time you should stay off it, but it's for your best injury. When i broke my arm (humorous bone) in hockey i couldn't stand doing nothing not being able to play hockey for the rest of the season, then golf and lacrosse i was gunna miss a fair chunk of spring. Take the doctors adviced time and cut it in half unless you feel pain of course, otherwise you should be good to go by then. Just take it easy you shouldn't be expecting or trying to have your full power swing back... putting greens is always a great place to get your golf fix as a start.

P.S: GET WELL!

[CG031]

Well, today, there is no pain at all in my wrist. I can move it fully. Everything SEEMS to be back at full strength. I'll probably go over and chip and putt for a half hour. I'm thinking of playing nine holes? I'm not sure if I should...I don't want to wait to play because I feel fine, lol...you guys still think I should hold off til Friday or Saturday?

[Klean]

Doesn't hurt to wait a few days. The course will be there waiting for you.