Upper Arm - Elbow Pain

[Steve Koski]

I'm 37 and have been swimming for 4 years. Longer more intense workouts the last few months with a masters class.

I'm getting pain on the outside of my arm, starting at my elbow and up, about 1/2 way to my shoulder. Its getting progressively worse with time. It seems like some sort of tendonitis. I've read about tennis elbow and golfers elbow, which are generally experienced below the elbow. My pain is definitely above the elbow.

A fairly experienced coach has watched my stroke and doesn't think I'm doing anything weird, but who knows for sure?

I'm also an engineer and spend 2/3 of my daytime at a computer, which I'm sure doesn't help. I've decided to take a couple weeks off from swimming and see if it mellows out.

Other suggestions?

Thanks,

Koski

[laineybug]

If it doesn't you should probably have a doctor look at it.

several years back, the Occupational Therapist where I work stepped into my office to ask a question. She took one look at the way I was sitting and immediately told me that I was sitting too low for the desk. I'm short so the chair needed to be low enough for me to put my feet flat on the floor, but I was raising my elbows out to the side and lifting my shoulders to type. My elbows and shoulders ached all the time because of the way I was sitting. A foot stool solved the problem.

Since you are male it is unlikely that this is your problem, but my point is, don't just look at swimming as the potential source of your problem, it might be something else that you are doing from day to day.

[Steve Koski]

Thanks Lainey.

I'm sure my hours at the computer are contributing to the problem also, but I can't do much about that.

I mentioned this to the doc, and he confirmed what you said: If a good long break doesn't fix it, come back in and do some more investigating.

Take care,

Koski

[A.K.]

It seems for most people that have shoulder or elbow problems that rest it are just delaying the inevitable... surgery.

It seems you rest it and it feels better until you start to ramp up training again. I've tried taking 1 month to 3 months off- eventually 20 years.. alas the pain has returned.

[Steve Koski]

I hope not!

[geochuck]

Is the pain in the tricep.