My Swing (cipher)

[cipher]

You're still young, and will bounce back. No matter how you feel now, you'll get better!

Like everyone else stated already, stay positive. You're one of the bright lights on this forum for me to reach out to. . .

Thanks for the kind words Lihu.  I will do my best to stay positive.

[cipher]

So. no really good news here.  My season is shot.  Basically I have exactly what I figured I had and is it pretty dang close to what @poser had.  I have Subluxation of the Extensor Carpi Ulnaris(ECU) tendon.  This is caused by a tear or damage in the subsheath that holds the ECU into a groove in the arm bone near the wrist.

See here

Subluxation or dislocation of the ECU tendon requires an injury to the ECU subsheath. Although repetitive stress likely precedes injuries to the ECU subsheath, most patients who experience subluxation or dislocation of the ECU recall a traumatic event, typically occurring during supination, ulnar deviation, and wrist flexion. These positions increase the angulation of the ECU tendon relative to the ulna and result in maximal force upon the ECU subsheath. 6 The most commonly reported sporting activities resulting in ECU subluxation or dislocation are tennis and golf.

Three characteristic sites of injury have been reported in patients who experience ECU tendon dislocation and subsheath injuries. 7 The subsheath may remain intact but be stripped at its palmar/ulnar attachment, forming a false pouch into which the ECU tendon can sublux or dislocate (10a,11a). Ulnar sided ruptures of the subsheath, likely the most common pattern of injury, usually result in dislocation followed by reduction in which the tendon returns to a location deep to the subsheath (12a, 13a,13b). With radial sided subsheath rupture (14a), the tendon is more likely to relocate in a manner that leaves it lying atop the ruptured subsheath (12a), preventing functional healing of the subsheath

Patients who experience acute ECU subluxation or dislocation often describe a traumatic incident with immediate, searing pain. The sensation of tendon dislocation and an associated pop may accompany the injury. On clinical exam, findings include intense pain on passive supination, pain on palpation of the ECU tendon at the distal ulna, and localized swelling. 5

If an acute ECU subluxation/dislocation is not appropriately treated, chronic ECU instability may result. In such cases, the ECU subsheath never heals, and the tendon may remain in an abnormally palmar location relative to its ulnar groove (P). Altered mechanics lead to chronic irritation, and thus many such patients experience persistent tenosynovitis. The chronically unstable tendon, if used repetitively, may even cause osseous erosion of the distal ulna. 8

In patients with ECU subsheath tears and tendon instability, conservative therapy has also proven effective. 5 The wrist is immobilized via casting in extension and radial deviation, which seats the tendon tightly within its ulnar groove. Activities that require movement of the elbow are limited. Depending on the severity of injury, immobilization is necessary for six weeks to three months.

Some authors, however, recommend surgical repair of ECU subsheath injuries, particularly when acute. 6,11 Such an approach is particularly important in cases where the torn subsheath ends are widely separated, and is required if the tendon lies outside the torn subsheath. The most commonly utilized repair technique is a reconstruction of the subsheath using a strip of extensor retinaculum. The rare ECU ruptures are repaired via a graft from the palmaris longus. 9,10 Associated injuries to the ECU subsheath are concurrently repaired. Following surgery, the wrist is casted in extension for a minimum of four weeks.

The doctor basically says it can be surgically repaired but is about a 4" incision in which the doctor will need to deepen the groove in the bone and then repair the subsheath that covers the ECU.  That would be about 8 weeks of recovery or so, plus PT and taking it slow to get back into swinging.  Including a cast that would go all the way above my elbow for about 4-6 of those weeks.

My other option is to try and put it in a custom brace that was prescribed for me and hope it calms down and stays in place.  It sounds like this more conservative approach worked for @poser .  The subsheath won't be repaired, and the popping out of place may go away.  Or it may always be there and I will be able to live with it.  Or it may become a chronic irritation.

Not 100% sure what I will do yet, but I am leaning towards bracing it for a while and then trying to make some swings late in the season.  If at that point things are still bad I will opt for surgery and then recover over the winter.  Either way, it is a major downer.

This thread is officially shut down for a long time.

[14ledo81]

Dang...

I feel for you.

Hope it works out over the long haul.  That is more important than one missed golf season.

[Stretch]

Sorry to hear mate. Very frustrating and disappointing. Sending you all the good vibes we have over here and fingers crossed that the rehab goes faster than you think.

[Ernest Jones]

Oh man. That sucks Nate. Really feel for you. Hope it all works out.

[CarlSpackler]

That's horrible. Wishing you a speedy recovery.

[cipher]

Thanks guys, it is very much appreciated.

[Jakester23]

Don't know what to say beside **** that sucks. Stay positive and hopefully in 6-8 weeks you will be good to go.

[Lihu]

That's horrible. Wishing you a speedy recovery.

Ditto, here. . .

[billchao]

Man that sucks. Wishing you a speedy and full recovery.

[iacas]

Like I said… you can become the world's greatest putter…

Come back strong next year. I think you'll be surprised at how quickly you can return to shooting good scores.

[cipher]

Thanks everyone. Having a removable cast type thing put on later this week. Not sure how long I will give that, but it will be as long as I can manage. I need to try and make some swings either way before the end of the season to see if I will need to opt for surgery.

[Abu3baid]

Thanks everyone. Having a removable cast type thing put on later this week. Not sure how long I will give that, but it will be as long as I can manage. I need to try and make some swings either way before the end of the season to see if I will need to opt for surgery.

Wishing you a speedy recovery! It's a tough thing to happen at the beginning of the season (well, anytime) but stay positive and come back soon.

[14ledo81]

Hope all goes well. If you wind up not playing at all, maybe try something else this summer. Like that muskie fishing trip up north that you have always wanted to do..... :)

[cipher]

Hope all goes well. If you wind up not playing at all, maybe try something else this summer. Like that muskie fishing trip up north that you have always wanted to do..... :)

That would be fun. I plan on doing plenty of bass fishing and will be trying out disc golf as well.

[14ledo81]

Well if you decide to try it, and are looking for someone to fish with, let me know. I don't claim to be a muskie guide, but then I don't charge $400 a day either.

[cipher]

Well if you decide to try it, and are looking for someone to fish with, let me know. I don't claim to be a muskie guide, but then I don't charge $400 a day either.

Sounds like a great offer, I would definitely be interested.

[14ledo81]

[quote name="14ledo81" url="/t/65114/my-swing-cipher/1110#post_1145972"]Well if you decide to try it, and are looking for someone to fish with, let me know. I don't claim to be a muskie guide, but then I don't charge $400 a day either.

Sounds like a great offer, I would definitely be interested.[/quote] The offer is certainly open. If you are able, just give me a little advance notice.