An yone ever have the following really weird elbow pain:
Right before my masters swim class I was stretching my arms a bit and then sat down on a bench with my arms extended straight out along the top of the back of the bench. When I went to move my right arm, all of the sudden I notice this very sharp pain in my elbow. The pain only occurred when I tried to extend the arm fully but it really, really hurt. I swam very easy that evening with some discomfort when I extended my arm on after entry but felt a little better by the end of the night. The next morning after getting back from a short ride I notice now there was no pain at all when I extended my arm but the same sharp pain came back tenfold when I bent my elbow all the way with the muscles flexed. Over the last day I have noticed that it doesn't hurt at all 99% of the time, even sometimes when I bend my elbow fully but every so often I bend it all the way while doing something like picking up a bag of laundry and it is superpain in my inner elbow.
Any ideas? I played alot of rugby for a number of years before getting into triathlon and burst the bursa sacs in both elbows a long time ago. Wondering if one of the little bits that have been floating around in my elbow for years could have gotten lodge in the joint. Also thinking maybe a pinched nerve? Thinking maybe would massage help? Actually, what I am really doing is stressing as IMFL is 17 days away.
I have started icing it + taken anti-inflammatories. Planning on trying to swim tonite to see if there is pain. Would really like to hear from anyone else who has experienced anything remotely similar.
I’m not sure if my pain is like yours (I’m having trouble envisioning yours), but I was having pain during the pull phase of my swim stroke (when bending my elbow). One day it got so bad that I had to stop my swim workout. I sat on the side for awhile, and then tried to push off the ground with my hand to stand up (straightening my elbow) and sharp pain again.
Thinking back, I remember I had had similar pains after long bike rides (like in an IM marathon), just from the running motion, I’m guessing from the swim and then sitting on the bike so long in the aero position or even with hands on the handlebars.
Went to the doc and it turns out that the ulnar nerve was popping out of its groove, which apparently can happen in 10% of the population. I’m guessing those who are not active probably either don’t notice it or don’t aggravate it to make it happen, cause 10% sounds like a lot to me but I’ve never met anyone else with this. After a round of steroids (not fun for my stomach) the pain/inflammation was improved, but it’s basically something that’s not going away. I’ve modified my swimming stroke and try not to swim two days in a row and I am finally able to start adding in intensity again. They can do surgery for this, but that’s really not preferred and I don’t want to go that route unless it starts to interfere with day-to-day activities. I’ve also cut out any lifting that puts stress on that area, like push-ups, bench press, rowing, etc. and that has helped a lot.
And, I was able to do my IM with minimal swimming in the final weeks to get any inflammation down, and still had a PR for me, and no pain during the swim or bike. By the run it hurt if I moved too suddenly, but was otherwise fine.
Not saying this is your problem but it sounds similar, and my pain was also in my inner elbow. My doctor diagnosed it by feeling around to see what caused pain and having me do different movements to see what happened. I would say go to the doc and see what he says. Sounds like you are on the right track but better to make sure. My doctor also did an xray just to make sure nothing was going on in the area (like a tumor) to put pressure on the nerve and cause the same symptoms.