discomfrt behind elbow after throwing

Kevin, was this a regular Dr. or a Sports Orthopedic? I would recommend going to a Sport Orthopedic and have him look at it to diagnose the problem, take xrays, maybe even an MRI should it be needed. You will get many answers on here but everyone of them will tell you to go see a Sport Orthopedic due to no one on here is really qualified to diagnose what is wrong.

With that being said, I can tell you that my son experienced the same thing while in high school and it ended up being elbow tendonitis. He was shut down on throwing and went to physical therapy twice a week for about 6 weeks. It was what the Dr. ordered!

Good luck and let us know how it works out for you.

YGD

it was a physician at UK sports medicine. He Didn't seem too concerned. Son has just come off rehab for another elbow issue, PT cleared him to throw. Doctor said he could work back into throwing. Got one elbow thing corrected and this popped up. Doctor says a nerve issue. We've been doing some stretches for the nerve in the area of elbow, stopped the planks, trying to keep him from leaning on elbows. Supposed to go back to him in a few weeks, I think we're gonna see another physician for second opinion

Request an MRI. My son was diagnosed with elbow strain four days before pre-season tournament med-February 2009. Never had arm pain before. Started hurting severely night before while pitching scrimmage practice. Went to PT about four weeks and was released to pitch just before spring break. Went to spring break tournament and threw two pitches and pulled himself out because it was hurting again. Went back to ortho. upon return home and MRI revealed stress fracture. Son lost whole junior season because we didn't request MRI at initial visit. Fortunately, healed completely in time for summer and fall games. Looking forward to a healthy senior year. Good luck to you.

After my son was cleared by the PT to begin throwing again he also felt some more pain in the elbow area. The Sports Ortho then determined that he had developed scar tissue there where the tendonitis was. It too can cause pain and discomfort. Fortunately, scar tissue can be massaged away after a few massage treatments.

But I would 2nd what was suggested...and that maybe an MRI is in store.

Good luck.

Thanks for the responses. He says it's not really pain, it's more of the feeling you get after you hit the funnybone. Guess that's why we're thinking nerve, ulnar nerve issue. we've had him quit doing anything that might put a stress on the area, planks, tricep work, forearm arm work. Been having him do stretches for the nerve area. But it would be nice to throw without worrying, going to Dr. on Thurs. Wish us luck

quote:

Originally posted by kevin25:
Thanks for the responses. He says it's not really pain, it's more of the feeling you get after you hit the funnybone. Guess that's why we're thinking nerve, ulnar nerve issue. we've had him quit doing anything that might put a stress on the area, planks, tricep work, forearm arm work. Been having him do stretches for the nerve area. But it would be nice to throw without worrying, going to Dr. on Thurs. Wish us luck

Luck!

Doctor said nothing wrong structurally with elbow, no need to worry about surgery, ulnar nerve inflamed do due weakness in throwing shoulder and elbow stressed due to it. Start whith an athletic trainer on sunday with exercises. Frustrating that in pastb year he's gone to physical therapy for this purpose, and haven't done sufficient work to strengthen shoulder. Guess we lucked out it isn't more serious. Trainer said he'll be ready by time practice starts in Mid February.

Good luck. Sounds like things are being handled correctly but keep an eye on it. There have been many instances of elbow injuries being misdiagnosed. We had a trainer going on about the shoulder when the real issue was a stress reaction in the elbow.

Did they put him on NSAIDs or on a course of corticosteroids to knock out the inflammation?

He did have a stress raection in elbow, that has been resolved it seems. Doctor took xrays , said that is not an issue. But was weakness in shoulder that was stressing elbow , agravating ulnar nerve. Frustrating because layoff and therapy seems to have handled the stress reaction, but not strengthned the shoulder. Trainer he's sending us to has worked with some of the colleges around here. Have been taking ibuprophen, but he said if not throwing there shouldn't be an inflammation

quote:

Originally posted by kevin25:

Doctor said nothing wrong structurally with elbow, no need to worry about surgery, ulnar nerve inflamed do due weakness in throwing shoulder and elbow stressed due to it. Start whith an athletic trainer on sunday with exercises. Frustrating that in pastb year he's gone to physical therapy for this purpose, and haven't done sufficient work to strengthen shoulder. Guess we lucked out it isn't more serious. Trainer said he'll be ready by time practice starts in Mid February.

Kevin25, I'm glad to hear that it wasn't as bad as you had thought for your son. I do have a question however. You mention that you are seeing an athletic trainer (AT) today. Did he recommend you see this person or a Physical Therapist? I'm not trying to split hairs but does this AT specialize in the proper training as a PT? I'm not all that familiar with AT's and their background so it all may be good to go.

quote:

Kevin25, I'm glad to hear that it wasn't as bad as you had thought for your son. I do have a question however. You mention that you are seeing an athletic trainer (AT) today. Did he recommend you see this person or a Physical Therapist? I'm not trying to split hairs but does this AT specialize in the proper training as a PT? I'm not all that familiar with AT's and their background so it all may be good to go.

Well let's see where to begin...

Certified Athletic Trainers are healthcare professionals trained in the prevention, evaluation, emergency treatment, and rehabilitation of athletic injuries. Athletic Trainers are often considered the "gatekeepers" to the Sports Medicine Team for athletes. They are commonly found on the sidelines at the professional, college, and high school levels as well as occasionally youth sports. Also, athletic trainers can be found in physical therapy and sports medicine clinics along with some orthopedic physicians' offices.

I may be biased as I am currently an athletic training student, but for a throwing injury an athletic trainer may be the best choice. It is what the profession does.

Three major differences in my perspective between Athletic Trainers and Physical Therapists are that Athletic Trainers are more orthopedic-based while Physical Therapists are more well-rounded in rehab. Athletic Trainers deal with all aspects of orthopedic injuries while Physical Therapists are more reactive since they deal almost entirely with rehabilitation. The last difference is that Athletic Trainers are looking to return an athlete to play while Physical Therapists normally are looking to return to "daily activities."

A Certified Athletic Trainer holds a bachelor's degree and a national certification. Most states also require registration or licensing. I believe something like 70% of athletic trainers hold a Masters Degree or higher.

More information can be found at www.nata.org

YoungGunDad, I don't intend to come off "harsh" or anything like that. I hope I provided a useful and accurate explanation of Athletic Training.

Not all Bulldog. You're explanation on the differences is to the point and most informative. I asked the question really just to make sure that Kevin knew WHO the Dr suggested his son go to, and if he knew the differences. I certainly didn't, but I thought asking the question might make him seek answers.

I appreciate your taking the time to come here and let us know.

Very good post!

The doctor, from Lexington clinic sports medicine brought the guy in right away after notinh no structural damage in elbow or shoulder at this time. This guy has worked with several high schools in the area and has worked on the professional level with some minor league organizations. Saw him today for the first time and son said he could really feel the work in the throwing shoulder, Hoping it goes well, really appreciate the responses.

Ibuprophen tends to delay bone healing and for some doesn't completely knock out the inflammation. According to one of the world's top orthopedic surgeons inflammation persists way longer than most people realize.

My son tended to have recurring inflammation issues after a stress reaction in his elbow that were diagnosed as nerve problems but were probably synovial plica until he was prescribed a Medrol dose pack which knocked it out quickly and completely.

Everybody is different though.

quote:

Originally posted by CADad:
Ibuprophen tends to delay bone healing and for some doesn't completely knock out the inflammation. According to one of the world's top orthopedic surgeons inflammation persists way longer than most people realize.

My son tended to have recurring inflammation issues after a stress reaction in his elbow that were diagnosed as nerve problems but were probably synovial plica until he was prescribed a Medrol dose pack which knocked it out quickly and completely.

Everybody is different though.

I too have been counseled that everyone is different, however, your comment on ibuprofen is intriguing. Two personal separate ailments require two different treatments. In my case, I've found Ibuprofen excellent at masking pain, while Naproxen is the ticket for relieving inflammation.

After Juniors labrum surgery, he was prescribed 500mg Naproxen twice daily his first season. A week off it and his shoulder tightened up and he took his only pitching loss post rehab. A week back on the Naproxen and he was fine in his next start, good and loose.

What is a "Medrol dose pack"?

Ibuprophen and Naproxen are very similar when it comes to providing relief from inflammation and as to their analgesic properties. Both have minor inhibitory effects on bone healing.

My son's specialist recommended the Aleve the first time around and then the Ibuprophen the second time around after diagnosing different nerve problems. It was more an issue of dosage vs. availability to take the NSAID than a preference for one over the other. Both worked but then eventually after we weaned him off the NSAIDs a problem with forearm pain returned. He was seeing a doctor who is also a nerve specialist for an unrelated bone injury and he said that there wasn't and hadn't been a nerve injury. The two doctors are colleagues at Kerlan-Jobe. The MRI showed synovial plica to be a potential problem although there wasn't a "smoking gun" at the location of the pain. This doctor prescribed the Medrol dose pack which is an oral corticosteroid similar in it's effects to cortisone. It knocked out the inflammation within a couple days whereas it had taken months with the Naproxen. We waited a week after finishing the dose pack before starting him on an interval throwing program to make sure there wouldn't be any masking issues. They call it a dose pack because you take it on a strict schedule building up and then tapering down the number of doses taken each day. I'm not a doctor but I don't think the Medrol would be appropriate for anything significantly post-surgery or injury.

As long as your son doesn't have a tendency toward stress fractures then there should be no issue with the Naproxen on that account. However, you do need to keep an eye on the liver with any NSAID if taken in theraputic doses over a long time period.

We are much more careful these days to avoid letting any inflammation take hold. He ices and will take some NSAIDs after a heavy throwing workout, but he doesn't take NSAIDs on a regular basis.