Is It From Riding?

[suzi_bandit]

I've been doing quite a lot of milage with the nice weather.
Over the summer months I've started to get a really sore elbow on my right arm. I notice it mainly when I'm lifting something and have started to use both arms to support a weight.
A friend dropped in for a coffee earlier and noticed I was in discomfort lifting a saucepan on the hob. He said a lot of dispatch riders get the same thing on their throttle elbows. Is he telling me the truth? I must admit I've not banged my elbow and it really is giving me quite a lot of jip.
____________________
I want a big boys bike, preferably a Speed Triple. To date I have ?7:42p stashed away to put towards one. Need to get it in the bank & earning interest asap.

[Tarmacsurfer]

Only time my elbow has ever gotten sore was directly after putting it through a fiesta window. Justified in that instance I feel. Clutch wrist on occasion, never the right elbow.

Look at your riding position, sounds to me like you're probably sitting awkwardly and carrying too much weight on that arm /shrug
____________________
I'm immortal. Well, so far.

[Marcg868]

[Trixie]

It may be that you hit it without realising (in your sleep?) months ago, and it's never quite healed because you use it so much.

The point about looking at your riding position is good, as it may help, but I'm not sure your sore elbow has come directly from riding the bike. I must admit I've not heard of anyone I know getting a sore elbow from riding a bike.
____________________
Dead nobodies in company cars...

[Annabella]

Out of interest, you say it is sore and you are in discomfort lifting. Do you also find it difficult to grip things? Does it feel like you can't fully clench your fist?

Another thing to check is if you hold your arm out straight with your palm flat and facing downwards, is your hand shaking?


If you have these symptoms then it is possible you have a tendonitis (tennis elbow) which is an inflamation of the tendons in your forearm. This is normally a repetative strain injury (from playing tennis or playing the violin etc) but can be onset by other things like increased strain on the arm - maybe from riding your bike. It's possible you are putting extra weight on that arm and because you are holding the throttle open you are dropping your wrist and so not stretching the tendons.

I have suffered from tennis elbow since I was 12 from playing the violin and tennis. I do find that riding my bike can cause pain, to alleviate this I try to make sure my arm is more in line - so change my throttle grip. You can also try wearing a support around your elbow.
____________________
Avast! Pirates ahoy!
I did Cadwell!
www.bikepics.com/members/bella

[Annabella]

If it is a tendonitis, take some Ibruprofin now, and get an appointment with your doctor and ask him to prescribe some "Traxam" or a similar anti-inflammatory gel - works a treat
____________________
Avast! Pirates ahoy!
I did Cadwell!
www.bikepics.com/members/bella

[suzi_bandit]

It's definitely in the joint itself. As I hold my arm out straight it's the upper bit of the joint.
I can grip fine but feel it in that part of my elbow when I do.
Same with lifting, I can lift fine but really feel a strain on the joint when I do.
It's probably just one of those things and I should stop whingeing!
____________________
I want a big boys bike, preferably a Speed Triple. To date I have ?7:42p stashed away to put towards one. Need to get it in the bank & earning interest asap.

[Sadie]

Sounds like tennis elbow to me.


____________________
With experience comes age.

[PsychoHippy]

Go to the doctor and get it checked. If it is tennis elbow/tendonitis it can be treated quite easily if you catch it early enough. If you are stupid and leave it ages like I did you could end up having to have very painfull injections or even an operation to sort it (fortunatly the injections worked for me )
____________________
I spend all my money on bikes and beer, the rest I simply waste!

[suzi_bandit]

Actually, after reading up about tennis elbow it seems very likely that could be what the problem is.
Thanks all, I'll have a word with the doctor.
____________________
I want a big boys bike, preferably a Speed Triple. To date I have ?7:42p stashed away to put towards one. Need to get it in the bank & earning interest asap.

[jonboy22]

I've got the same/similar type of thing. It's a dull ache really inside the elbow and along the bottom of it. Exactly the same feeling as my tennis elbow. I use Ibuleve gel to sort it out when it gets bad but am looking for a remedy as I don't want to stop riding.

Think it might be due to the vibes as much as anything else. I remeber having some rubber thingy in my tennis racket strings to limit the vibes and reduce the tennis elbow effect, is there anything similar we can do for our bikes, like put rubber bar ends in or something??
____________________
current bike: GSX-R 750 K6 stolen, found the next day in a van in Durham, returned to me 3 months later costing me my NCB and my excess...
last bike: GSXx-R 600 K4 - written off, now converting to track bike

[Annabella]

[suzi_bandit]

It's not severe enough for injections.
It's definitely as a result of riding. I use the bike daily and have had a a good few "pleasure rides" this past month, have done about 3,500 miles
I do hold the throttle open with my wrist down. I'll try to adjust my riding so that I don't aggravate it any more.
____________________
I want a big boys bike, preferably a Speed Triple. To date I have ?7:42p stashed away to put towards one. Need to get it in the bank & earning interest asap.

[Annabella]

There are some exercises you can do to help as well.

It's not anything to do with the vibrations Jonny, Tennis Elbow and other tendonitis are repetative strain injuries. The little wee ball on tennis racket strings supposedly dampens the vibrations of the strings allowing greater control over spin etc...

It really is a case of changing the riding position and excercising. I have changed my bow grip, am very aware of my riding position and ensure my wrist is in line with my arm, and don't play tennis.

There is an exercise I was given which can help.

Hold your arm straight alongside your body with your fist clenched,
Slowly raise your arm outwards (like you're making a snow angel) until it is aligned with your shoulder.
Release your fist and slowly lower you arm back to your side.

Repeat a few times.
____________________
Avast! Pirates ahoy!
I did Cadwell!
www.bikepics.com/members/bella

[_Will_]

[Annabella]

[_Will_]

Once you learn how to use it, it becomes hard, putting forces of 40lbs of pressure(i think) on your arms if your using it for wieght trainging, obviosly you wont, at slow speeds it helps rsi.
____________________
Past -Honda qr50 | 2004 Peugeot Tkr s 50| | 1996 Yamaha XJ600s Diversion|

[Clanger]

Its really quite a normal thing...I read it on so many other biker forums...best get it checked out to be safe. You may have to invest in some different handlebars to change the way you ride to stop this pain.
____________________
Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter won't mind - Dr. Seuss

[suzi_bandit]

When I was having a set of tyres fitted I mentioned to the guy at the shop that I was getting pain in my elbow. He said it was a common problem and clipped this little plastic device to the throttle grip. It basically allows you to use your palm to move the throttle and stops you from having to grip it.
I've been using anti-inflammatory gel and I'm hoping that coupled with this new clip on the throttle grip I'll solve my problem

____________________
I want a big boys bike, preferably a Speed Triple. To date I have ?7:42p stashed away to put towards one. Need to get it in the bank & earning interest asap.

[Dazbo666]

I've had similar discomfort when I 1st started riding, but the pain was mainly in my right upper forearm. I had throbbing tensed muscles in my arm, and occasionally my hand would cramp into a claw position.
I was given ibuprofen/ibuleve (sp?) and a muscle relaxant at one point, but soon realised it was down to my riding posture, and an amount of "tensing" or as I prefer to call it "death grip" on the handlebars.


I think the device that suzi_bandit mentioned being attached to the throttle grip is known as a Throttle Buddy?? (aka Cruise Buddy)
Had a quick look, but not been able to find a UK site for them yet. Maybe that would help?


EDIT: see Throttle Aid HTH
____________________
1st bike (Sept'06 - May'10) : 1991 GPZ500S / Current bike (since Nov 2009) : 2003 Suzuki Bandit 600N
Word of the day : DILLIGAF

[suzi_bandit]

Dazbo666 That's the thingy they put on my bike.
I'm wowed that something as simple as this is making so much difference.
If anyone gets a similar problem I'd highly recommend trying one to see if it helps.
____________________
I want a big boys bike, preferably a Speed Triple. To date I have ?7:42p stashed away to put towards one. Need to get it in the bank & earning interest asap.