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Senior Member
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Tendonitis Oh man,
This past weekend at the Cumberland Open, Vanderbilt University, I managed to aggravate the tendons in my left elbow while fencing epee, lots of local swelling that was relived by ice and Aleve.
What are your experiences with tendonitis, keeping it at bay and how long does it take to heal?
On the plus side I did get to put some faces with names form Fencing.net. D+F+P=Hadouken, you were doing well.
Chiz
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Din Älskling
Array 
 Originally Posted by chiz Oh man,
This past weekend at the Cumberland Open, Vanderbilt University, I managed to aggravate the tendons in my left elbow while fencing epee, lots of local swelling that was relived by ice and Aleve.
What are your experiences with tendonitis, keeping it at bay and how long does it take to heal?
On the plus side I did get to put some faces with names form Fencing.net. D+F+P=Hadouken, you were doing well.
Chiz I'm currently dealing with elbow tendonitis (lateral epicondylitis) in my fencing arm. I made mistake of letting it get bad before I got aggressive about it.
I've had mine for over 6 months, that includes a cortisone shot and a 2 month inactive period ( still ran and cycled but didn't fence or go to Aikido or any other activity that was heavy on the elbow). I should have did some flex and strength building exercises during that time, but I didn't.
The last time I had it, it took less than two weeks to clear up.
Moral of the story, take care of it now, it can take anwhere from less than two weeks to over two years to treat depending on how bad it is. I recommend seeing a physician who specializes in sport injury. I did and it was covered by my health plan. "Since when does being a patriot in America mean shutting your mouth?"
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zz,zz,zz,zz,zz,zz!
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Senior Member
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Mine was so horrendous I lost 6 months of epee. I'm talking like I thought my arm was coming unhinged at the joint. I saw a doc that specialized in that kind of thing. He trreated me with ultrasound and ice and excercises and for 4 months, I was told,"Be patient."
I couldn't hold a glass of soda in that hand it was so bad. Around the 5th month, I began to feel the pain abade. I maintained my 3x weekly regimen with my doc and by 6 months I was back. Although I get "Twinges", I treat them with ice right away and I've not had a setback since.
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Senior Member
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I am in no way a specialist- I have had some tendon problems however. I've learned that tendons are agonizingly slow to heal, and my problems flare up at random. I sometimes think they never quite go away.  I've found myself prone to old injuries reappearing, which is too bad. But they were not in my elbow (wrist, knees, rear leg/ankle), and while they were painful, did not completely take me out because in epee, you can theoretically "stand" there.
I'm trying to think what helped mine. I guess the standard policy of icing the initial injury, and heating afterwards helped. I feel the ice actually did more for me than the heat. But time was the best cure I can remember.
Good luck with yours, hope you can get back into the game. Maybe fencing with the off hand is an option? (I knew someone who fenced epee with her left, and foil with her right because of her wrists)
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Senior Member
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I had tendonitis in my fencing arm about 14-15 years ago, and fenced left-handed for a season. But then, I do some things left-handed anyway. Epee was easiest because I could get away to some extent with just extending into attacks. In foil, I could see what I needed to do, but not always make the weapon do it. Biggest problem was left-handed footwork.
In any case, it eventually gets better, but you might want to try a tennis-elbow strap. It fastens around the forearm just below the elbow and anchors the muscle there, taking some of the pressure off the tendon insertion.
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Rest, strech & strengthen.
You really do have to take a break, until the pain stops. Then you're really ready to start strengthening again. Icing & anti-inflamatories will help it heal faster & keep you from hurting it again while you ease into using it again. Supporting the areas around your elbow takes the pressure off too.
If you have the option go to a doctor & get referred to a physical therapist. They can more accurately asses your damage, and give you a plan for how to rest it, then work on strengthening what you need to keep it from being re-injured.
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Curmudgeon Emeritus
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Well...
I get this periodically. Nothing I do for it seems to help much. Ice and aspirin and a neoprene sleeve ameliorate the pain a bit, but neither they nor rest make it recede very much, and they certainly don't make it go away. Eventually I think "Screw this, I'm not going to be turned into an invalid by a little pain" and I go back to my normal activity despite it. And after a while, presto, it goes away all on its own.
However, I would not offer my own experience as advice. I'm probably just idiosyncratic that way. As in so, so many other ways. 
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Posting Hound
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Last edited by Zilverzmurfen; 11-02-2004 at 03:46 AM.
Fencing is my only PvP.
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Senior Member
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A Pox on Tendonitis My thanks to you all
It looks as if I will be practicing footwork and distance for the next few weeks. I fenced some with my off hand (right) last night. Now this can screw up my footwork  . All the links and advice are a real help.
Time and rest and rebuilding  .
Chiz
Last edited by chiz; 11-02-2004 at 10:34 AM.
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Senior Member
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k i might have tendonitis but not sure. i find when i lunge i get this burning in my forearm, however after a few lunges and streching its gone. i doubt its tedonitis because its not crippling pain or anything like that. any ideas? Hello. My name is Inigo Monytoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die
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Senior Member
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Tendonitis Pelle
Originally Posted by Pelle k i might have tendonitis but not sure. i find when i lunge i get this burning in my forearm, however after a few lunges and streching its gone. i doubt its tedonitis because its not crippling pain or anything like that. any ideas? What caused my elbow problems was a left handed, arm and wrist, circle 6 parry that carried the tip of my epee over the top to 10 o'clock just outside and above my opponent's right elbow and then a quick wrist and fingers snap back to the opponents right sholder. The parry and counter were effective but very poor form. The pain is just below the point of the elbow, the area is small, maybe an inch across.
Chiz
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Chiz don't be stupid and make the injury worse. Do the physical therapy, wear that annoying elbow brace and keep the ice and motrim around.This is a nagging condition and just doesn't seem to go away even when you do the right thing. I found using an Italian grip is far less stressing on the injury instead of my orthopedic. You will get some odd looks but they are far less bothersome than not fencing. Yes the grip has its limitations but I found the forearm support allows me to fence for for an hour or more while other grips cause pain after only a bout or two. It is amazing how painful and debilitating this condition is. Good luck and for those with the same problem we feel for you.
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Senior Member
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I'd rather switch hands than hurt Originally Posted by equine Chiz don't be stupid and make the injury worse. Do the physical therapy, wear that annoying elbow brace and keep the ice and motrim around....Good luck and for those with the same problem we feel for you. Thanks equine,
I'm scheduled to see the orthopod tomorrow, and the physical therapist later. I'll fence right handed and rest the left arm. I'll work on footwork and distance for the left side, work up some stamina.
Veterans is in Denver March 05, maybe I'll be ready.
Chiz
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