Hi All
Given the range of experience here — figure I’d see if anyone has any experience with the following situation. Last night, 20-year-old son was pitching in Great Lakes game and during warm-ups at start of 3rd inning said he felt some pain in his forearm and felt a slight pop. Fifteen pitches later, he pulled himself out of the game as the pain reached a 7-8/10.
So far this summer he has thrown 35 innings…. during spring season he threw approximately 30 innings. He has taken really good care of his arm — lifts regularly, bands, etc. This was his sixth or seventh start of the summer and has had 5 days off between games. Has told me his arm has felt great all summer. No issues at all. In fact other than some bicep tendinitis that sprung up during junior year of high school when he was on the summer ball/showcase circuit — he has been fine.
Trainer on the summer team obviously checked him out. He had pain radiating into his elbow but not originating there. This morning after a regimen of ice and elevation — no instability, no tingling in fingers, can put his arm over his head, is able to straighten his arm fully and can pick up a pair of running shoes. No bruising and only minor swelling. His arm is super tight especially when he slowly goes through the pitching motion but the pain doesn’t increase. Overall the pain is more of a 4-5 this morning and it no longer is radiating into his elbow. He said it is a dull ache now.
Obviously going to get him checked out — hard part is he is currently living 1750 miles away in southern Ohio so trying to decode what has happened from my living room over the phone.
Two questions:
1. Anyone have a recommendation of a good orthopedic doctor in the Dayton/Cincinnati area who knows elbows and pitchers REALLY well?
2. Any thoughts on the diagnosis? UCL? Forearm strain? Muscle tear? I have Googled but most results only point to UCL and given above data I am left wondering/worrying/stressing… as is my son.
Thanks in advance…
