I know we're supposed to provide vehicle info but this is a general mechanic thing. Has anyone else out there besides me had their forearms or elbows hurt after repetitively turning a cheater bar wrench or a gear rachet or hammering pulling on anything to remove any parts? If any of you had your arms get really sore after taking stuff apart and have the soreness last for 2 weeks to where you cannot squeeze things very well with your hand and pull the same time for example putting a floor crank automatic in gear? If so what did you guys do about it? Did you use like a tennis elbow strap? If you have to go get injections or shots?
If you have to go get injections or shots?
I think you should talk to your physician.
It wasn’t just my arms, but my legs. I had to get up from under the car, back and forth back and forth. It felt like I did some HIIT Squat exercises.
I just stretched and waited it out. And it eventually came back to normal.
Granted, I don’t wrench as much as many of the fellows here, but when I do, I feel it on my body. Maybe they already developed a tolerance or strength from wrenching. I know that is why Scotty doesn’t get a hydrolic or mechanical lift, because going up and down and crawling under things keeps him fit.
MMJ is right though, if it is two weeks, a doctor may be the way to go.
How old are you? I'm definitely feeling more pain when wrenching as I get older. (I'm Scotty's age and arthritis is taking its toll.) These days it also takes longer to get a particular job done. The pain doesn't last for two weeks though and like the others here I'd say you need to see a doctor about that.
Reading your description, I can’t tell if you are referring to the inboard (medial) side of your elbow or outboard (lateral side). Either way, sounds like epicondylitis (tendinitis of where the muscles attach to the elbow).
By your description, it kind of sounds like medial epicondylitis (golfers elbow), which is common in mechanics (especially hobby mechanics) and comes from doing a lot of gripping and lifting (think biceps curls, but at the wrist). Lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow) is more common overall (the muscles involved are thinner and more delicate) and comes from twisting (screwdrivers, wrenches) or forcefully cocking up the wrist.
If it’s lateral, then yeah a tennis elbow brace with the little pad thing can help. If you can take it, Advil (ibuprofen) can help too. You also can try Voltaren gel. But the thing with either kind of epicondylitis is that when it flares up, it often takes a few weeks to settle back down. So you have to watch when you are working to eliminate whatever motions are aggravating the problem.
For a definitive answer, you will need to see a doctor in person, but it’s a quick, easy visit. I’m a general internist, and an epicondylitis visit is usually only 10 or 15 minutes, mostly in education. If first line treatment doesn’t work, I usually refer for physical therapy before sending someone for an injection.
Good luck.
Thanks for the help. I will tell my hand and wrist doctor.
That's what I take for my arthritis, it does help. (I use the product shown in the video at 10:52.)