Swimming has been causing elbow problems. Post swim, 8 hrs or so later, if I put weight on elbows I get a very sharp pain. It is worse after a workout with a wetsuit, but also occurs after swimming without. Really hurts … any ideas of what’s going on, and if so what to do?
I don’t know what it is either, but, I have it too. It started slowly and is getting increasing more painful. I sure hope I don’t have to stop swimming for this thing to heal.
There are a couple tendons that run through the elbow that can get irritated. This happens to me at the end of workouts if I’ve swum for longer than usual.
That said, have you upped your yardage or intensity recently?
My advice is to be VERY VERY careful with this elbow strain/injury.
My 16 yo daughter managed to injured both elbows after one season of varsity HS swimming (breast and free specialist). The ulnar nerve runs along several triceps tendons and can be inflamed/trapped/pressed upon with many reps during a typical swim workout.
She has been in PT and occupational therapy too for the last eight months and only her right elbow has resolved. She is about to start a round of iontophoresis to reduce the swelling and pain in the left. In addition to the physical pain, she has emotional pain from losing her posse and her reason for being (she really identified herself as a swimmer starting at age 8).
Google cubital tunnel syndrome, ulnar nerve entrapment, elbow pain, etc. and see what I’m talking about.
In the meantime, only ice when the pain is most acute otherwise gentle warmth and ibuprofen are the way to go. Also, you might try using night splints to keep you from bending your arms at the elbow to reduce the stretching of the ulnar nerve.
OTOH, it could also be just a case of tendonitis if there’s no numbness down the forearm and into the hand. But the conservative treatment is still the same- rest, anti inflammatories, and let someone very knowledgeable look at your stroke(s).
I cannot begin to know what is wrong but for what it is worth, my un-scientific analysis from my own experience is: I have “Tennis Elbow” soreness and weakness in my left forearm. It starts on the outside bony point and runs down the top of my forearm. Here is what has worked for me. I understand that “plaque” has built up in the tendons that run from elbow to wrist. just massage or almost rake across those tendons to break up the plaque. I have a tool at the gym to strengthen the top of my forearm. It is a bar with a weight suspended from a rope. I hold my arms out horizontal with palms facing down and simply wind the weighted rope up the bar by flexing my wrist up and then down. It works for me.
Definitely not tennis elbow, have had that in my tennis days, or the tendinitis that I developed in my fore-arm from using paddles. This is very different. There is not really discomfort until the elbows are well bent. However, when I place weight on them with the arm bent, like rolling over in bed, it is like someone hit a nail into my elbow. The pain is pretty much right at the bony process. Thanks.
I’m a 100% with you on the symptoms. No other pain other than the tip of the elbow. I will admit to doing a pushup routine every day that seems to have aggrevated it. Not sure if it is the “root cause” or some sort of stroke error, however, that said, I’ve been swimming the same sh#tty stroke for 40 years so I doubt it is the cause. Haven’t really up the yardage, however, our Tuesday/Thursday group has been pushing the intensity. I plan on making an appt with my doc to get my annual physical and I will have him evaluate. Like all injuries I’m looking for a silver bullet to have it just disappear 
I had similar problems and was diagnosed with Golfer’s Elbow. It’s similar to Tennis Elbow but it the the other side of the elbow that’s affected. I figured out the problem with my swim stroke (it was a combo of poor breast stroke technique and dropping the elbow on freestyle). I used self massage and stretching several times per day and now rarely have a problem with them.