I'm right handed and have experience "tennis elbow" for many years. Probably due to my age and the fact that arthritis has taken over various parts of my anatomy! In any case, 3 years ago, I experience a severe case of the ailment. Went to the Arthritis Treatment Center in Springfield for about 6 months of physical therapy and cordizone shots. Painful experience.

Anyway, what I'm posting here is a possible remedy for you that have a similar experience with your casting arm. There is a muscle that extends from your wrist to your elbow and is connected to another muscle to your shoulder. Casting all day long can cause pain either in the upper or lower arm. Mine was in the lower arm, but it's still all called tennis elbow, as both muscles are connected, as I said.

At the treatment center, they gave me a device, which I use often on my arm, to more or less "short circuit" this muscle and by-pass the injury leading to this ailment. It's called a "Band-It". This is what it looks like:

It is made of two sections of very heavy plastic composite pieces, connected by velcro. Here's what the actual Band-It looks like, off my arm:

I'm sure if you visited the center or did a search online, you'd be able to find it, or a reasonable facsimile thereof. It really does wonders with the casting arm. It truly saved me a fishing season at one point. Figured I'd offer it as a possible solution to those of you who do a lot of casting. The season is starting really early this year and maybe you can delay or eliminate the problem from the git-go! Hope this is of some help.

i get a sharp pain in my neck been to doctor too its just same as you were getting old and doing 1000 cast a day in rain and all kinds of weather takes its toll but ill never give up fishing so i just deal with it

Crestliner I have got on of those. I always take it with me when I go on weeks trip to Canada. They definately help.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/BAND-IT-BANDIT-BAND-IT-TENNIS-ELBOW-ARM-BAND-BRACE-/230721304872?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35b80fb928#ht_500wt_1413

Might try one of these.

Crestliner I have got on of those. I always take it with me when I go on weeks trip to Canada. They definately help.

Same here. It helps a lot.

I got to the point where I could hardly cast about 3 years ago, and my doc recommended one of those things. Works like a charm.

Tom

I use something similar, made of neoprene and available at pharmacys. I can also switch hit and go lefty -something that took a bit to get used to. But it beat not fishing at all.

I go lefty when drop shotting sometimes, but not for long. Just that "feel" in the right.

Yeah, I hear you. Since I'd strained something in my right elbow I HAD to go left and it was a frustrating experience. Interesting too, like having an experienced and novice fisherman in the same body. Eventually I got there, and am comfortable either way, although I prefer the right. Right now I've begun practicing fly-casting with my left, which will come in handy in certain places this summer on those tight little cricks I love so much.

I have that item and others brands similar. They curtail the pain during the activity but does not heal , only time and not doing the activity that aggravated is the cure. I used to get pain frequently in both elbows from golf , I get it from fishing too but not repetitive casting, mine comes from catching pelagic species. Repetitive casting often times makes the muscles on the sides of my back very sore..it's a ***** being old........lol.

I get the arm pain after making 1,000 casts. I use only lures and work them to death. I upgraded to the longer rods with the faster reels and now i need to switch back because of my arm pain and my back pain. The pain gets so bad so quick i can only fish 15 minutes sometimes. One pain reliver is to run the hottest water temp i can take without getting burned over that area for about 5 to 10 minutes before i go fishing. Its not good growing old trust me i know.

Do those copper bands help??

I have the same ailment. My orthopaedic surgeon gave me an exercise to do. Straighten your arm and make a fist. Rotate your fist into your arm. It will hurt. It is supposed to hurt. It is stretching the tendon. Another that I got from a fishing magazine article. Extend your arm in front of you palm down. Place your opposite hand on the hand connected to the hurting elbow and push down. Use your "bad" hand to push back up on the other hand with good resistance. Again, it will hurt while doing the exercise. It will fell better later. I wear the black band most of the day. I'm a bigger guy so I wear the band that is meant for your knee. It is wider and works better for me.

Don't forget the ibuprofen.

I usually get a 'tennis elbow' type of pain when I'm casting really light lures with a shorter rod. To get the lure way out there I have to sing my arm harder than normal and it starts paining me. I'm sure that band-it would help but I'm the type to grin and bear it especially when it comes to doing something I like.

I usually get a 'tennis elbow' type of pain when I'm casting really light lures with a shorter rod. To get the lure way out there I have to sing my arm harder than normal and it starts paining me. I'm sure that band-it would help but I'm the type to grin and bear it especially when it comes to doing something I like.

Same pain a pitcher might get if he starts throwing hard before warming up. Maybe throw a few easy innings before heading out?

same here too crestliner as others have stated! between casting an 11' surf rod,and casting for bass most of my life,i now have bad tendinitis in my right elbow and in my shoulder too..

i had it so bad at the end of the 2010 season that i had to take a few weeks off of work. PT, cortisone shot and an anti-inflammatory made it "bearable" to return to work,but i still feel it everyday..[d**n,i should have taken up stamp collecting!]

The arm band definitely helps out,taking the stress off of the elbow.

My casting elbow is also shot. I lift weights and fish so anything that can help the pain would be nice. My main problem is my back! When cranking for long periods of time my back feels like it is going to explode! Has anyone tried fishing with a back brace? I may try it the next time I go out.

Sounds like the next thing bass boat manufacturers are going to offer is full traction tilt tables on the bow!