Tennis Elbow???

[jda53]

Last summer, about mid July I had a windy day and felt some pain in my right elbow casting against a stiff wind. The fish were moving at dusk and I kept casting- through he pain. Tennis elbow, let me sum it up awful pain. No $hit. Pain that would wake me up at night and cause my right hand/fingers to numb occasionally. Cortizone shot in Sept allowed me to catch one 46", but after the original injury I was very limited to what lures I could toss pain free. More of a lob tech and heavy lures. So I have been doing some wrist strengthening exercises, yes I know more than 1 guy has a smart azz comment on the wrist exercises idea, but more thinking about reteaching or relearning my tech. Prior I was a double hander/righty caster-switch hands and reel right. After 5 years of using this tech am I asking for trouble to relearn the cast lefty and reel righty?? Any suggestions ??? One of my buds suggested a lefty reel, but I still feel my power with casting would be coming from my right hand. Suggestions??? One [PoorWordUsage]ed off elbow

[Random guy]

I see guys wearing those bands on their forearms alot when working muskies, they say it helps. Also maybe try using bigger one grip power handles, that will give you a bigger sweep on the handle and maybe free up the tight movement a little. As far a switching hands if you can pull it off you are a better man then most of us.

I used to get cramped up until an oldtimer watched me fish and was laughing because my little fingers didn't fit the reel or the grips on the rod. I went to smaller bodied reels for palming and had Thorne Bros turn down the grips on my rods and that cured the aches for me.

[Jim Hudson]

Man, after a severe injury to my dominate hand(right)and it's ligaments, I am in the same boat as you. A hard day of casting really puts havoc onto my forearm, wrist, and elbow, with the same symptoms your describing. Tennis elbow or whatever, it sucks.

But what I have found to help me out the best is to wear a hand brace while I sleep. Along with this, I elevate my arm with a pillow. These two things really help, and most of the time I am in good shape for the next day. But when it is really bad, and I am still going fishing, I just wear a brace, and that helps a lot.

[Lals]

I had tennis elbow to a lesser degree a few years ago but I haven't had it the last few years and I believe it due to my exersizes for my wrist and arms. Also, I don't fatique like I use to. FYI, I am 51 years old. Excersizes make a big difference. Keep them up.

Regarding Casting lefty, I now do that pretty well. I started doing that so when I pull back to cast, I am always between the lure and other people in boat - safety reasons. It also allows you to get a cast off quicker as you don't need to change hands to your right hand. It takes a while but you can the hang of it.

[Deitz Dittrich]

Ok.. I know this is going to sound really weak.. but this is what you need to do.. GO GET SOME HELP!!!! Physical Theropy. And do it...I got mine from archery. I had a small flaw in my form and I know what you are feeling. it hurts like sometimes you would rather not have an arm at all. But find a good Physical Theropist, and do everything they say, not more-not less!... and they can and will fix you!

[Slyster]

You certainly can treat yourself. Here's where my brother sent me (and he's a doctor) (I have it too.. and actually asked for help a while back)

http://www.nismat.org/ptcor/tennis_elbow/

[Ralph Wiggum]

Teaching yourself to cast left-handed is not as hard as you'd think. I made an effort last year and caught on pretty quickly. It's nice to be able to do sometimes. Plus, switching hands every once-in-a-while is nice.

[delmuts]

ralph is right! i got started using/casting with both arms bass fishing. not that hard, just takes a little time and practice. ( although, i'm still a little shaky with the side arm cast left handed ) BUT get some help for your elbow. and once the pain goes away.DON'T STOP DOING THE EXCERCISES!!!

[RK]

Hiya,

Not an uncommon problem with muskie anglers. I know a full time guide who gets a bursis sac on his elbow the size of a tennis ball every summer... It looks awful. I've only had TE REALLY bad one summer, because of a new rod I was trying to use that was way way too tip heavy. Hurt like all get out, and even after the season was over it took till Feb. for it to finally stop hurting off and on.

I cast left handed all the time, and reel right handed. My left hand never leaves the foregrip of the rod. I just pick the bait out of the water, and go right into my backcast in the same motion. Takes a little practice at first, but way more efficient than switching hands.

The other thing I do to keep arm problems from happening is mix up my equipment. If you look at my rods and reels I have different handles on all of them. Some fat cork, some thinner cork, etc. That has less to do with fishing techniques than it does mixing it up for my hands and wrists so I'm not doing the exact same thing all day. I have a lighter 'take a break' rod (a flipping stick with a 6500c) that I'll throw during at times during the day just to give my body a break from the heavy stuff. I fish some pretty long days, and being able to give my body a break and keep fishing makes a HUGE difference in the fatigue factor. I'm a real believer in the idea that in the end, wet lures catch more fish, and fatigue costs you fish. Can't catch them if you're rooting around your duffel bag for the Advil. It doesn't sound like much, but it's amazing what just picking up a rod with a different handle can do for you.

If you do get TE, the straps do seem to help quite a bit. And as someone else said, go see a PT/OT, and get some therapy. Makes a HUGE difference.

Good luck....

Cheers,

Rob Kimm

[Jim Hudson]

Great call on the physical therapy advice. I did three months of therapy after my injury, which helped tremendously. Also, the advice and exercises they gave me after completing therapy has helped out a lot as well!!