Tendonitis how long

[Machine528]

Been struggling with golfers elbow for about 2 weeks now.  During my instruction on Saturday we were working on drivers and long-mid irons it got so bad I could not hit anymore.  I had a hard time sleeping that night but during the day Sunday the pain faided.   Is 1 week off enough time or does it require longer ? 

[iacas]

I recommend you consult your physician.

[ALS8]

Be careful and listen to your body. I'd definitly say to ease off for more than a week. If you are going to play, I'd suggest taping your elbow for extra support and to help prevent further damage. But from the sounds of it...take a break...and start icing it down if you haven't already. You might also want to try and focus on anything that will increase the blood flow to the area (without heavy stretching to risk further injury). Things like massage therapy, bfst, ultrasound, etc. I always recommend the bfst...i've used it for my foot and back and it did wonders for me. Here's a great page with ideas on treatment golfer's elbow.  Wishing you all the best. 

Golfer's Elbow

 

Edited July 25, 2016 by ALS8

[woodzie264]

Different for everyone. When I see patients with this we have a lengthy conversation on their initial visit. Agreeing with Eric, consult your doc to ensure what you're assuming to be a medial epicondylitis is in fact the case. Having that said, if it is, echoing the aforementioned measures of rest, stretching, anti-inflammatories, modalities of to inclue Ultrasound/iontophoresis can all be of big help. If you were my brother, I'd give you a steroid injection...not to mask symptoms or enable you to return to your activities sooner, but to actually eliminate the inflammation. The problem with chronic tendinitis is that it can result in tendinopathy, which often requires surgical debridement. If you can knock down the inflammation quickly, then focus on stretching and rest for a few weeks, that would give you the most likely chance to avoid a chronic issue. Believe me when I say that see prob 15-20 pts per month all with the same story that they "though it would just get better," but by the time they come in they already have tendinopathy developed. I'd recommend you get seen by your doc to settle it down in its acute phase, but you can still work on your putting or 5SK's #1-3 using small lightweight dowel rod over the next couple of weeks while its getting treated. Good luck!

[JetFan1983]

The basic strategy for tendonitis/golfer's elbow/whatever it is you have is this:

1) schedule a doctor's appointment/get referred to a specialist to take a look at it.

2) stop golfing and begin the rest period, which alone could heal it, but these things typically take 4-6-10 weeks. 

3) Get an X-Ray/MRI so they know exactly what's wrong with it, so you know how to exactly proceed

4) Ice it regularly per day (3-4 times) at 20 minute intervals. 

5) Use prescribed anti-inflammatories to bring down any inflammation (or just over-the-counter stuff like Aleve). 

6) this one you may not have to deal with, but if it's bad enough, like tendinosis (which is a degenerative tissue disorder, like I have) you have to schedule physical therapy, which can be a 12 week process. I myself am currently in the physical therapy process, but this injury has lingered for years. In your case, if it's just tendonitis, that can heal on its own in 6-10 weeks with just ice, rest, and anti-inflammatories. But that's why you get an MRI: you get a concrete diagnosis and then you'll get some kind of a timetable and strategy. 

 

Regardless, you need to shut golf down right now, see your doctor, and find out exactly what's wrong with it with an MRI. It could be nothing, in which case, you may be back sooner rather than later, but typically, what you're describing needs to be treated responsibly and with an extended rest period. 

It stinks, but golf will always be there when you heal up... at least, that's what I keep telling myself. Good luck, bud. 

[Patch]

I hurt my shoulder a while back. After a doctor's visit, and a  very minor surgical proceedure, I was told 4-6 weeks for return to golf. That was about 3 weeks ago. My shoulder feels great, and normal everyday use is not a problem. However, a full swing of a golf club is not considered "normal everyday use" by my doctor. I am most likely not going  press my luck for at least another 2 weeks. 

As posted above, you should go see your doctor. What you might think is tendonitis, might be something worse. Plus after a week's rest, and your elbow feeling great, it might not actually be ready for the rigors of a golf swing. 

[allenc]

For most of my early golf life I regularly felt some wrist and elbow inflammation.  I always rested a couple weeks till it went away but it would eventually return.  I switched to graphite shafted irons and later added oversized spongy Winn grips.  Also I curtailed hitting off hard range matts and perhaps improved my swing some.  With these changes the pain has never returned in over a year now.

[ALS8]

On 2016-07-25 at 1:57 PM, allenc said:

For most of my early golf life I regularly felt some wrist and elbow inflammation.  I always rested a couple weeks till it went away but it would eventually return.  I switched to graphite shafted irons and later added oversized spongy Winn grips.  Also I curtailed hitting off hard range matts and perhaps improved my swing some.  With these changes the pain has never returned in over a year now.

Good for you! That's great to hear you recovered so well.

[cutchemist42]

Im about 1 week from recoving from De Quervains.

 

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/de-quervains-tenosynovitis/basics/definition/con-20027238

 

Hope you heal up. My doctor had me in a cast for 3.5 weeks, and Im now doing physio to get my tendons back. Im also going to get my first lesson to hopefully look for faults in my swing causing the health problems.

Just listen to your body and dont rush coming back!