New guy, pain question

[backahead]

Hi all,

I just became serious about bowling in the last two months. I love it! However I am getting a lot of pain in my elbow just outside the knuckle. It's become serious enough that after just buying a beautiful new ball I am considering getting another one drilled for my left hand. I'm semi-ambidextrous. I use the fingertip stroker style. Prior to two months ago I was using the 2 finger grip for recreational bowling a couple times a year.

I've looked around the net and a little here on this site for the cause of the pain. My buddy has taken videos of my technique and the only obvious thing we can see is that I tend to pull the ball behind my back on the backswing. So I'm working on that and getting the pendulum action going but that doesn't solve my immediate problem of searing pain. I have to put in my fingers and thumb in the ball with my elbow completely locked or I might drop the ball. 20% of my throws feel fine, the other 80% cause discomfort.

I'm not too keen on braces or pain relievers as that might cause more problems. Any thoughts? Thanks!

[billf]

See a doctor. By description alone it could be ulnar nerve entrapment or even a strained ligament. The pain sounds severe enough to rule out a muscle pull and if it was a torn muscle you would notice the atrophy. If it is ulnar nerve entrapment the procedure used these days is pretty simple and the recovery time is fast.

[TheSheibs]

See a doctor. By description alone it could be ulnar nerve entrapment or even a strained ligament. The pain sounds severe enough to rule out a muscle pull and if it was a torn muscle you would notice the atrophy. If it is ulnar nerve entrapment the procedure used these days is pretty simple and the recovery time is fast.

x2. If you have a searing pain, you should consult a doctor who can determine what causes the pain. Could be a nerve that is getting pinched due to how your throwing the ball or it could be something very serious.

[backahead]

Crud. I really don't have time for that. League night is Tuesday so I guess I'll go back to a house ball this wk and do my best lefty. Outside of bowling and the following day I don't notice the pain except when I turn the key to start my car. I'm going to try to rest it for a couple weeks first.

Thanks for the advice though, I'm sure you guys are right.

[billf]

Can you use your ball left-handed? I do and even will the drilling be reversed, it just goes long and then hooks mildly. Not the vicious hook I can get right-handed. Of course the ball speed is less but the revs about the same.

[bowl1820]

Crud. I really don't have time for that. League night is Tuesday so I guess I'll go back to a house ball this wk and do my best lefty. Outside of bowling and the following day I don't notice the pain except when I turn the key to start my car. I'm going to try to rest it for a couple weeks first.

Thanks for the advice though, I'm sure you guys are right.

1-If your in a sanctioned league, I you'll have to get league approval to switch hands and reestablish average.

2-As for the elbow possibly it's just tendonitis (tennis elbow), go into the pro shop (or Walmarts etc.) and get a Elbow Guard.
Keep wearing till it clears up. then keep wearing while bowling to prevent it. Worked for me, I have the black Pro Elbow Support its best.

http://www.masterindustries.com/images/products/gloves-wrist-supports/small/gloves-wrist-supports_70.jpg

[backahead]

Can you use your ball left-handed? I do and even will the drilling be reversed, it just goes long and then hooks mildly. Not the vicious hook I can get right-handed. Of course the ball speed is less but the revs about the same.

I assumed it wouldn't work but I just checked. Ring and thumb are okay, middle finger only goes about 3/4 of the first knuckle. You think that's better than a house ball?

[backahead]

1-If your in a sanctioned league, I you'll have to get league approval to switch hands and reestablish average.

2-As for the elbow possibly it's just tendonitis (tennis elbow), go into the pro shop (or Walmarts etc.) and get a Elbow Guard.
Keep wearing till it clears up. then keep wearing while bowling to prevent it. Worked for me, I have the black Pro Elbow Support its best.

http://www.masterindustries.com/images/products/gloves-wrist-supports/small/gloves-wrist-supports_70.jpg

Didn't know that. Last week I asked our top bowler and he said I couldn't switch mid-game, nothing about re-establishing an avg. Yes it is a sanctioned league.

I didn't want to use a brace but I suppose I should give it a shot seeing as my other options are not good. Are you saying I should wear the elbow guard 24/7? Or just a few hrs/day plus when bowling? Thanks. If that works expect a christmas card :)

[bowl1820]

Didn't know that. Last week I asked our top bowler and he said I couldn't switch mid-game, nothing about re-establishing an avg. Yes it is a sanctioned league.

The USBC Rule
118e. Establish New Average due to Change in Delivery
If because of injury or disability a bowler finds it necessary to change delivery from right- to left-handed
or vice-versa, the league board of directors, by majority vote, may permit the bowler to change delivery. If
approval is obtained, the bowler must establish a new average.
118e/1 May a bowler switch his/her delivery after the start of the season due to injury?
Yes. However, the bowler is required to obtain permission from the league board of directors.
If the bowler were later able to return to their original hand delivery, permission would again
have to be obtained from the board. No combination of scores bowled both right- and
left-handed can be used in computing an average. Therefore, two separate averages would
have to be maintained. A bowler who switches without permission forfeits those games.


I didn't want to use a brace but I suppose I should give it a shot seeing as my other options are not good. Are you saying I should wear the elbow guard 24/7? Or just a few hrs/day plus when bowling? Thanks. If that works expect a christmas card :)

It's not a brace in that it has any metal in it like a bowling wrist brace and there's no stigma attached to using one like there is with a wrist brace.

Its just a nylon strap and will help relieve the pain due to stress on the tendon. Also it can help prevent the injury from ever happening in the first place.

No you don't have to wear it 24/7 only when you are bowling. When I first started using it I wore it some at home when I was doing something and I felt some soreness till it cleared up.

I wear mine every time I bowl now as a preventative and My elbow hasn't bothered me since.

[backahead]

@1820: Good stuff man, thanks. I will absolutely try the guard. Just curious though, what was the pain that caused you to add the elbow guard?

[bowl1820]

@1820: Good stuff man, thanks. I will absolutely try the guard. Just curious though, what was the pain that caused you to add the elbow guard?

just soreness around the area where the tendons are and the back of the elbow. I could tell it was stress from my bowling,I was arming the ball too much.

[dgz924s]

I second the tendonitis and use of the brace. As for the brace, it has a pad on the inner portion that helps put pressure on the tendon, the ticket is to get it as tight as possible without cutting off circulation. If a bit too tight it can make the fingers and thumb swell making the grips feel too small, just play around with it to get the right tension.

An exercise that has helped me a great deal is to extend the arm straight down with the fingers fully extended then bend the wrist as much as you can towards the under forearm and hold for 45 seconds. Relax and repeat as much as you can/want. This helps stretch the tendon. My Orthopedic Surgeon suggested this exercise and glad I took his advise.

Also get a few styrofoam coffee cups and fill to 3/4 full and place in the freezer. Cut back some of the foam to allow the ice to stick out a 1/2" or so then rub the elbow area (knuckle as you call it) with the ice for 6-7 minutes 3 to 4 times a day/nite or right after any activity using the elbow. Avoid using the eblow for anything after icing down until it warms back up or atleast to body temp. WORST thing you can do is to ice down and immediately place stress on the elbow tendon, so allow it to warm up.

[bowl1820]

I second the tendonitis and use of the brace. As for the brace, it has a pad on the inner portion that helps put pressure on the tendon, the ticket is to get it as tight as possible without cutting off circulation. If a bit too tight it can make the fingers and thumb swell making the grips feel too small, just play around with it to get the right tension.

Not all straps have a pad or gel block in them. I use the nylon master strap it has no pad.



Also get a few styrofoam coffee cups and fill to 3/4 full and place in the freezer. Cut back some of the foam to allow the ice to stick out a 1/2" or so then rub the elbow area (knuckle as you call it) with the ice for 6-7 minutes 3 to 4 times a day/nite or right after any activity using the elbow. Avoid using the eblow for anything after icing down until it warms back up or atleast to body temp. WORST thing you can do is to ice down and immediately place stress on the elbow tendon, so allow it to warm up.

Sound's a little messy as the ice melts. There's all kinds of cheap reusable ice pack you can buy. Or you can just throw a few ice cubes in a zip lock bag.

[billf]

I use a bag of frozen vegetables on my knee. It conforms fairly well and no mess lol

[dgz924s]

I was not aware of braces without the pad.
Yes ice melts but all is needed is a towel under the elbow. The reason for the cup is to be able to rub the ice directly up and down the elbow along the tendon, the foam helps your hand from freezing. I asked about using ice packs and or bag of ice and the Dr. suggested the cup as it produces the coldest most direct application to the tendon. He mentioned the ice pack would take 20 minutes to be beneficial and not as exact as using a cup for 6 to 7 minutes. It is painful I will say versus an ice pack but the idea is to ice down to a point you no longer feel the burning. It actually goes numb after a few minutes.

[bowl1820]

I was not aware of braces without the pad.
This is the one I have from master, now it does have some thin padding under the velcro that gives it a little thickness.
http://www.masterindustries.com/images/products/gloves-wrist-supports/small/gloves-wrist-supports_70.jpg

But it doesn't have the thick pad that focuses the pressure on the involved muscle like a Aircast does.
http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/383420_377943065572214_377462938953560_1181833_177 1679413_n.jpg

[backahead]

@all: Thanks dgz for your input too. Long story short, I did the exercises over the past two days. I got the elbow guard tonight. My first game was not good, my second was my avg, third was good. I skipped our usually post-league play. I did have pain, and I still have to put my fingers in with my elbow locked but the guard did help a lot. The pain was not nearly as bad as last week. I got a bucket of ice and put my elbow in it for a good 10min on and off. I didn't risk turning the key to start my car with the right hand, but it feels pretty good right now.

So far it's looking good. I really appreciate the knowledge guys.

[Strike10]

Maybe your span is off, causing you to literally grip the ball? You said you just got serious about bowling, have you worked to make any significant changes in your hand or grip regarding your delivery?