Hate this elbow pain!

[yellowrose93]

I've only been riding for a couple weeks, but I have a constant elbow pain. When I first got my bike it was set up for a man with longer arms/torso. I knew the first few times I rode that I was having to reach to far, and it was hard to keep my arms bent. Now, I have a shorter stem and narrower handlebars. When I rode Sunday it felt much better and I had no new pain in my left elbow. Unfortunately, my right elbow still hurts and is hard to straighten. I hit the funny bone area a couple years ago -- very hard! I think that is why I have so much pain now. Just wish it would get better! I think it could be a tendinitis or tennis elbow kind of issue. See the doctor??? Because of the previous injury, I just don't know what to expect. Oh, and it doesn't really hurt while I ride unless I try to straighten my arm. :(

[beccaB]

I've had tennis elbow, and for me it does not come on so suddenly. I had some smaller warning pains which I ignored. Can you go see an orthopedist? I don't think primary care docs can help as much as an orthopedist. Icing it may help, it does for me. The physical therapist says to fill dixie cups with water and freeze them, and the peel away the top and rub in a circular motion until the affected area is numb.

[yellowrose93]

This pain didn't really come on suddenly. About 2-3 years ago (can't even remember now) I hit my funny bone area really hard. It took 2 weeks before I could straighten it and it hurt for months. Most of the time it is ok, but it will start to hurt if I crochet for a long time or sleep on it funny. Since I have started cycling, it has been hurting constantly. With my other elbow, the pain is there after a ride sometimes if I forget to bend my arms or am leaning on them too hard. The right arm just stays sore. I'm not sure if the pain will gradually go away as I cycle more, but it is annoying. I may end up seeing an orthopedist, although I think he will suggest pt, which I'm not sure will do much at this point. I know it isn't broken, and surgery isn't needed. Just hurts. :(

[bmccasland]

Me too. Right elbow, and I'm tired of it, tired I say.

(But it doesn't bother me as much as my knee, which I am in PT for)

[indigoiis]

You may want to do some core strengthening and a little light weight training which will help you balance your body better over the frame, and the arm and elbow will be more flexible, and bear less weight.

[beccaB]

One of the things my PT had me do was to rest my elbow on my knee with my palm down and hold a hammer so that I could move the hammer-head back and forth in a half circle. That was to build strength and flexibility in the muscles and tendons around the elbow.

[jenniferh]

Me three. I had no elbow pain when I got my bike, then at my 2nd fitting the lbs moved my saddle forward. After a short ride I knew it was no good and I moved it back. Of course, I don't know exactly where it was and I can't find the perfect spot again. Now I have constant pain in my left elbow when I straighten it. I am clueless about what to try. Forward, back? I just don't know where to start.

[zoom-zoom]

You may want to do some core strengthening and a little light weight training which will help you balance your body better over the frame, and the arm and elbow will be more flexible, and bear less weight.

And maybe do some triceps work. I had elbow pain when I first started riding, but eventually it went away. I think because I kept riding and rode more, but also because I started incorporating upper-body weight workouts into my weeks.

[MCAP]

I just came here to post a similar question. I've only been riding for a few weeks and I have elbow pain in my left elbow. I got a new saddle and moved the saddle forward just a bit- that helped. I got gloves- that helped. I know that I'm just putting a lot of weight on my hands and my elbow ends up absorbing a lot of it. I also know that I drop my left ribcage when I ride (bikes or horses- it's been a problem riding horses for years) so that puts more pressure on the left.

I'm thinking that it will get better as I gain more core strength. When I'm in the drops and really pedaling against some resistance I can pull the weight off my hands and elbows and hold myself up. That feels fantastic, but I can't maintain it for long.

It will get better, right?

[jenniferh]

I just moved my saddle forward about 1cm and for a short ride it felt better. I felt like I could use my core to keep me up more than just my arms. I know I need some strength training too.

Does anyone know why just 1 elbow would hurt? I am making sure I ride with bent elbows. Can you still be too tight with bent elbows?