I stupidly overdid it trying to handhold my main in heavy air at the A-class North Americans. I am now well acquainted with tennis elbow. It is my most unfavorite, 24 hour per day companion since May.
What do others do about avoiding damage like this? (Yeah right, I understand, don't hand hold your main), avoiding further damage (don't sail at all, or without an arm band or neoprene sleeve), and hopefully return to normal one day. (does this actually happen- if so, how long)?

Everyone knows about tennis elbow- Use the non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (Check), take it easy (Check), don't sail cats while sore (Check), don't type (Check), use heat.
Brush your teeth with the other hand (Check).

It ain't working. Pounding nails hurts. Bicycles hurt too. Now what.....????? Opinions welcome.

I never had a problem with tennis elbow during high school and some college play. Then I played everydayfor 3 months almost and still didn't have a problem. Started playing a game one day back in Feb and broke the strings on my primary raquet and switched to my very different back up. The next day it hit me and for several months I had pain picking up a can of coke. Took me 3-4 months before it stopped really bothering me (still irritates me occasionally).
I kept on sailing which clearly aggravated it but I started making sure I did somewhat of a curl using my biceps when I sheeted in. If you have your hand out and pull using your wrist extensors (the muscles that pull on the "back" of your hand) then you will continue to aggravate it. If I had taken a couple months off from sailing I think it would have healed faster (if it heals ever).
It does truly suck though and takes forever to heal. I am not 100% sure this helped but I had an orthopedic physicians assistant do a steroid injection into the elbow.
I am still afraid to play tennis maximally but I haven't let it stop me from sailing because it is worth the discomfort to me. Now my rotator cuff hurts from working on my car and putting up crown molding and my right foot still hurts from a pitchpole 1 month ago.
I really wish I were sailing cats in college when my elbow/shoulder/back/foot wasn't hurting alternately (and I didn't have a wife and kid to take my time too).

My rec would be to talk with your doctor about a referral to physical therapy and/or orthopedic elbow specialist. Tennis elbow almost never needs surgery though so that is a good thing.

BTW, I haven't raced that much but I am completely sold on lowering the cleating angle of my mainsheet when sailing solo. It makes life SOOOOO much more pleasant. Some people also say that with uni rigs you should play the traveler more in gusts anyway. I try not to let it make me into a lazy sailor though so I do play it a decent amount. Problem, IMO, with uni rigs is since you are always pointing so high as it is, if you have to come up too much (as opposed to dropping mainsheet) in a gust then you lose way too much speed and takes forever to get back into the groove.

Try to find a sports medicine doc. They'r usually found anywhere there's a college with big sports programs or around pro teams.

I first came down with this 3 yrs ago, and went thru occupational therapy for over 3 months, did a variety of anti inflamatories under a docs supervision, did cortisone shots, did glucosamine/chondrotin, MSM. None of which helped me. I eventually had a removable half cast made(formed plastic and velcro) for my right arm to discourage me from using my arm (I grip a lot of stuff in my work). It was the only thing that worked, drastically reducing the use of that arm for over 6 months.
I somehow made it thru the next sailing season without a flare up. But this spring, before the season started, it showed up again in both forearms. I began working my arms much more carefully right away, and I've been able to keep the pain at a managable level. I generally don't notice a direct degradation from sailing, but I know it must be contributing to the condition.
I'm discouraged at one level, but I've squeaked a great season, so I have to feel gratefull.

Dave

I noticed when the pad on my most used finish gun disinegrated that my right elbow started to really hurt. All it was an 1/8" piece of neoprene but that was enough to help pad the shock from the gun.

I haven't read the responses so sorry if I repeat something. My elbow was hurting a few years ago, and it turned out to be from the triceps extension exercise I was trying to do. I was trying to use the rope handles, changed the handle to the 90 degree handle and pain went away.

a course of motrin under a doc's supervision may work. I had it(tennis elbow) during and after my Tybee run, boy was it a bitch, but I took 800mg of motrin 3xday for a week and it healed. I have done the same for neck pain and it worked for that too. But even Motrin has its problems(stomach ulcers, bleeding irregularities, and potential liver damage), so do any of this with your MD's advice. Its time to change hands too....

Had a similar sounding injury on my left elbow only. Realized I sheeted with my left elbow too high which, put a lot of strain on those tendons. About 6 months of gradual weight therapy and it is doing fine.

Tom G

Took mine a long time to heal (most/all of the season); very limited use and a lot of physical therapy (well, a lot I SHOULD have done). Try to keep it built up now, but still feel twinges now and then. Squeezing a tennis ball and curling the wrist up, with arm out straight, seems to eventually do the job of bringing it back. Hurt like heck early on; definitely need to work up slowly. Give the sheet to the crew :-)

Chris - to let you know, I am having extreme difficulty restraining myself in posting right now...

Awwww c'mon! What are you holding back for!? A door left open like that and...