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23 replies

Ugh, elbow injury...

RT Rob T5,000+ posts

Son (2017) has had recurring elbow pain for the past couple of months.  Started around the beginning of January.  He would be able to throw an inning or so, and then the next day not able to throw at all.  Take a couple of weeks off and he was able to throw again without pain - throw an inning, pain would come back the next day.

 

Family friend that is a physical therapist who specializes in pediatric athletes ran him through the stability tests and found no issues other than some minor tendon inflammation. Told him to not throw for a few weeks to let the inflammation clear out, do some PT and see if there was any progress.  The inflammation cleared, and my son felt significantly better in the elbow - but still was having pain when throwing.

 

So off we went to see an ortho, and after taking x-rays he suspects a slight fracture where the ulnar tendon connects to the bone (I want to say at the medial epicondyle, but I don't have the diagnosis in front of me.) He theorizes that the fracture may have been partially healing in the down time, then re injured once my son started throwing again.  From what I was shown on the x-ray, it's not a complete fracture - more of a wide crack through about half of the bone. We're having an MRI scheduled to rule out any ligament/tendon damage, but he doesn't suspect any based on his exam.

 

The ortho said the issue possibly can be blamed on the fact that my son gained about 30 lbs of muscle between August and January and was throwing significantly harder. In his words, he had the muscles of an adult - and the elbow of a adolescent. It just couldn't handle the stress being put upon it.

 

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the MRI doesn't show any issues, but regardless it looks like he is done for the spring. 

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LeftyDad22LeftyDad22500+ posts
Rob my 2015 went thru something very similar. Same type of reasoning was used, Muscles where more advanced than his Olecranon. (Tip of the elbow). First we tried the traditional method of splint, rest of 8 weeks, therapy, strength training and throwing program. Everything went well however after his third start back in the summer the same thing happened but even worse, the stress fracture he originally had was now a full fledge fracture. This time we elected for a surgical repair that included pins, screws and support wires. surgery was July 19th and he was throwing again by late Oct and has been stronger then ever since. Hopefully your sons outcome is different but I wanted to make you aware of what he went thru and especially the outcome. Send me a Dialog if you need to. Best of luck!
Last edited by LeftyDad22
NYdad2017NYdad201710,000+ posts

Similar issue and timeline, unfortunately, with my 2017.  X-ray showed nothing, but MRI from last week shows "severe marrow edema within the anterior and lateral radial head, neck, and proximal shaft... compatible with a stress related injury".  Back to the Doc on Monday, but the PT guy said it will be AT LEAST 4 weeks of no throwing.  

 

 

Buckeye 2015Buckeye 201510,000+ posts

Same issue here when my son was in 8th grade.  He threw low 70's but was 5'6 and about 110 lbs at the time.  Ortho said same thing....muscle too strong for the bone holding it.  This happened in late July....so we just shut down all pitching.  He did play fall baseball starting in late September...no pitching.  No issues since....though his body has finally started to catch up with his strength so that's probably part of it.

 

Good luck.  My son was just glad it happened to him in late July....instead of March.

N Nxtpitch100+ posts

None of these situations are the same, so keep an open mind do your research and get informed opinions.  My son is a 2014 right handed pitcher (reclassed to repeat his junior year), his story is as follows He suffered an avulsion fracture where a piece of bone to which his ulnar collateral ligament was attached broke away from his arm.  After consulting numerous ortho docs, many X-rays, MRIs and the like we had no consensus on what his actual injury was.  We ultimately went to Dr Andrews who made the avulsion fracture diagnosis.  He initially felt that taking 6 to 8 months off and going through the Tommy John rehab protocol would allow my sons elbow to heal.  He pitched for one month, the bone fragment again pulled away from is elbow and he could no longer pitch. Dr Andrews performed TJ on my son in June 2012 he rehabbed and was on the mound in March 2013. Moral of the story is - this is apparently not an easy diagnosis and docs that don't see it often misdiagnose the injury.     My son did not have arm pain and the fracture occured when he was 12.  He heard his elbow pop and had a brief bit of discomfort that day.  We tookhim to see doc and xrays just as a precaution and were told his arm popped out of place and he should be fine in a few days. it was the same x-ray Dr Andrews looked at and said "well there it is plain as day" He experienced no problems until 3 years later when he woke up one morning and couldn't straighten his arm.  Lots of doctor visits, google searches,frustration and one heck of a lot of work on his part he is set to begin his senior year season Monday.

I really hope a few days off solves your sons problems. I don't wish my sons experience on anyone. Having been through this 2+ year process of getting my son back on the mound, I have a couple of observations.  1) Dr Andrews is the absolute best doctor ever. Not because he fixed my sons arm but because he cared what happened to him, he treated him like he was his grandson.  2) these injuries are over use injuries plain and simple. A kids size and strength plays a roll in how much use is over use. 3) only one college coach asked any questions or showed any concern that he had TJ; we always told everyone up front.

RT Rob T5,000+ posts

Thanks for all of the thoughts and suggestions.

 

My son's care is being handled by the doctor's at the U18 Sports Medicine Group here in S. Florida (http://www.u18sportsmedicine.com/).  This is the team that also handled the spinal fusion surgery for my middle son.

 

The MRI is scheduled for tomorrow afternoon, so we should know more by next week.

 

Son has pretty much resigned himself to not pitching this season, and probably not in the summer either.  He's in good spirits though. His biggest issue right now is trying to stay productive at practice every day.  

  

Kyle BoddyKyle Boddy5,000+ posts
Originally Posted by Rob T:

Son (2017) has had recurring elbow pain for the past couple of months.  Started around the beginning of January.  He would be able to throw an inning or so, and then the next day not able to throw at all.  Take a couple of weeks off and he was able to throw again without pain - throw an inning, pain would come back the next day.

 

Family friend that is a physical therapist who specializes in pediatric athletes ran him through the stability tests and found no issues other than some minor tendon inflammation. Told him to not throw for a few weeks to let the inflammation clear out, do some PT and see if there was any progress.  The inflammation cleared, and my son felt significantly better in the elbow - but still was having pain when throwing.

 

So off we went to see an ortho, and after taking x-rays he suspects a slight fracture where the ulnar tendon connects to the bone (I want to say at the medial epicondyle, but I don't have the diagnosis in front of me.) He theorizes that the fracture may have been partially healing in the down time, then re injured once my son started throwing again.  From what I was shown on the x-ray, it's not a complete fracture - more of a wide crack through about half of the bone. We're having an MRI scheduled to rule out any ligament/tendon damage, but he doesn't suspect any based on his exam.

 

The ortho said the issue possibly can be blamed on the fact that my son gained about 30 lbs of muscle between August and January and was throwing significantly harder. In his words, he had the muscles of an adult - and the elbow of a adolescent. It just couldn't handle the stress being put upon it.

 

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the MRI doesn't show any issues, but regardless it looks like he is done for the spring. 

Rob:

We talked on another forum. I did not know you were in Florida. When your son is ready to rehab, I highly recommend looking up Randy Sullivan at The ARMory. Great guy, great place.

RT Rob T5,000+ posts

Quick follow up.....

 

Son's MRI was negative for any major damage.  He has some tendonitis and inflammation, but that's pretty much it.

 

Ortho recommended physical therapy and a break from throwing for at least a few weeks. Once the PT feels he is ready, a return to throwing program can be started. If all goes well with that he can probably get back on the mound some time during the summer. Sometime before he gets back on the mound we will take a trip up to the Armory so they can give input on his mechanics. 

 

We've already informed his summer team that he will not be playing this summer - I don't want him to be tempted to rush things so he can get back to play sooner.

Buckeye 2015Buckeye 201510,000+ posts

One thing we found was make sure you're visiting a good sports medicine specialist who has experience and is highly recommended by other parents/athletes.  Most family doctors just don't see enough of these types of injuries to make an accurate diagnosis of the injury and certainly don't understand rehab/treatment.  We found a former D1 football player, who is has a very reputable practice and is also the team doctor for an area D2 college.  He has been great each time we've been to him (including yesterday for a broken thumb).  My son got hurt last spring in a HS game...went to the local hospital and was told his ankle was broken...likely out 6 weeks.  Went to the specialist the next day....."nope, just a sprain...walk on it as soon as you can...then try to run....once you can run...go play".  He missed 3 games

C cf4msu10+ posts

My son LHP of 2016 just had an MRA and has partially torn UCL.  Not good news.  This season is a downer and pretty much done.  He was supposed to get varsity action as P.  Felt pain his first bullpen after an8 hour practice 2 days before.  I don't think that was the sole cause, or that his bullpen was in 32 degree weather.  However, I'm sure it didn't help.

 

The positive is the his pain has significantly reduced and he has been on throwing shutdown since that point.  His ortho has said that if he can get to zero pain, then he can start throwing lightly to see if he can get backto throwing at a competive level.  Also positive his summer coach is supporting him 100%.  Encouragement in this situation is huge.  We hope he can be ready for his jr year but if surgery occurs it will probably be the first of the summer.  That would mean everything will ride on his sr year.

RT Rob T5,000+ posts

Figured I would throw out an update...

 

Son sat out spring and summer.  He worked hard with a physical therapist for a couple of months, then was cleared to throw around the end of May. He went through the return to throwing program without an issues.

 

In July we visited Randy Sullivan at the Armory pitching academy.  My son went through one of their weekend programs where his mechanics were analyzed and tweaked.  He was sent home with a program of drills designed to reinforce the new mechanics he had been taught.

 

In addition to the drills, my son hit the gym hard over the summer.  He did a ton of core work, and leg strengthening in addition to working his arms and shoulders.

 

He is now back to throwing 100% pain free.  During fall tryouts last week a catcher who has caught for him since 13U said his velocity is up considerably.

 

Now he just has to work on getting his secondary pitches back in the zone.  Hopefully that can take place over the fall.

 

We have a new head coach coming in for the spring season, and a couple of projected varsity pitchers have transferred out of the school. If he can get it all together there is a good chance of making the varsity this spring.

 

 

 

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