My right elbow is hurt!

[ChicagoJohn]

I went metal detecting a lot last year and early this year until my right elbow start in pain like sore! I am right hand writing. I think, it came from years ago I play baseball league and hard ball hit my elbow. Missed few games. Now I am 52 and I think that I getting old and elbow get sore. I don't go metal detecting often as before. I don't want to buy lighter metal detecting and I use Minelab E-Trac and I love it! Is there any other way that I able do metal detecting without elbow get hurt? Thanks!

 

[JimmyCT]

I am no doctor but maybe one of those sports braces for the elbow might help. Also you can always switch to your left hand. - Jim

 

[GeorgeinSC]

You might benefit from one of the Metal Detecting Harnesses. Something like the MineLab Pro Swing 45 or similar. Keeps the weight of the machine off your arm and should help prevent your arm from getting sore.

 

[BillF]

Take a look at the Detecting Buddy. Simple, cheap and effective. I purchased mine through a seller here on Findmall.

 

[Kellyco/Brad]

The detecting buddy is comfortable, even as basic as it is compared to the Minelab one, definitely nice to have with the bungie.

 

[tabman]

Just thinking out loud, it could be that your Minelab E-Trac contributed to your 'hurt' elbow. Just a wild guess.

All these after market bungie thingies are being sold for good reason.

tabman

 

[MarkCZ]

As good as the E-trac is, its a boat anchor to swing.
The swing thingy is a pretty simple thing to make. My brother Ron bought one and then got to looking at it and he just made one and fixed it so he can move it from one detector to another.

Here is what he came up with.

The only other item not pictured is he affixed a nylon tie to the detector shaft near the control housing and the hand grip to form a loop to hook the bungee to. He cut and adjusted the bungee and the shoulder strap to take off a good bit of the weight of the detector as he swings it, its simple to unhook it from the detector.

Mark

 

[Mega]

I suffer from right wrist problems due to coming off my bike back in the 70s and 80s and it is getting worse,but in the last 18 months have been using the Detecting Buddy as well,use it on all of my detectors and it makes a detector as light as a feather even when swinging a big pulse with a large coil on.

 

[Digdoggy]

I have bursidice (not sure on spelling) in my right shoulder from an injury. Wrist was also rebuilt in the 70's so I've wondered about a cheapish harness thing.
Are they a pain in the %#$ to unhook at every hole?

 

[MarkCZ]

Well the ones my brother has you just unhook the bungee hook from the nylon tie (loop) It doesn't have any clips, or buckles, just a hook and loop.

Mark

 

[Sven]

A heavy detector or unbalanced detector will do you in.

Couple questions
Do you have to force the coil towards the ground, do you have to lift up the coil to swing it level to the ground?
It's unbalanced, does wonders for your wrist and elbow.

When you lower your arm to your side to detect are you lifting up with your shoulder or elbow to keep the coil off the ground?
Your lower rod is extended to far out.

I go to great pains to balance my detectors if they are a bit heavy. Otherwise my elbow redevelops tendentious very quickly.

For those machines that are impossible to balance and or a bit heavy. I have on hand The Detecting Buddy, it will save your elbow and or shoulder.

 

[mudpuppy]

Bummer! In this sport, that hurt elbow thing is probably something we all deal with from time to time, even swinging a light machine like I do, I can feel it sometimes. You can switch arms for a while, and/or develop a swing that involves your whole body instead of your arm...anyway, outside of getting that harness, or tying a bunch of helium balloons to your coil, this is all I have.
Mud

 

[BillF]

You don't disconnect the Detecting Buddy.It sets down next to you or slightly hangs there. No big deal. I can't use my xterra with the 10.5" coil for long with out it.
Barry at Xtreme Detecting is easy to work with also.

 

[sprchng]

Swing aids are really pretty easy to create for yourself and to adapt to but don't sell the elbow braces short either. Even the bands made for "tennis elbow" could help. The changing of momentum when you change directions with your swing could also be aggravating the joint. You might also go to a smaller coil for a while until it feels better.

 

[ironsight]

Last year i had a similar problem but with my wrists. Digging foot deep holes in concrete like soil with a garden trowel took a toll on my wrists. Wrist supports and my DIY shovel solved the problem.

As someone mentioned above, try elbow supports first. Also have an eTRAC and found that adusting the shaft length to get the coil as close as practical to the feet helps elbow endurance a lot. A must with the larger coils.

 

[bootyhoundpa]

Im also 52 and have had elbow tendonitis for most of the last 9 months.. ibuprofen helps temporarily. cold is beneficial, heat is not.. now that my pool is open I notice alot of relief after staying in the water for an hour or 2.. so if you can water hunt you will be getting therapy at the same time you are hunting...I find that the many hours of maintaining that grip to be the likely culprit.... steroid or cortisone shots are another possible option.. good luck..

 

[Digdoggy]

I wouldn't have thought a 705 with the digger coil would cause pain or fatigue. The swing speed is slow so your lingering over a sweep path so long it can add up to a lot of swnging. I believe what was said above, I spent xtra time getting my shaft length comfortable. Its usually illustrated in the MD's manual. You shouldn't have to xtend your arm. I also keep my coil just a little snug so I can easily press it against the ground and adjust the angle to the surface. This helps cause you don't have to lift or slant the coil on little hillsides and such. It all helps but I'm 55 and swinging anything for over a couple hrs is going to wear me.

 

[ChicagoJohn]

Thanks so much! I am working on my left and test on my coin garden. Not too bad and if I think good spot then I use right to make sure something down there before I dig the hole. Maybe this November when the weather get cold and I go see specialist about my right elbow then maybe surgery or not for whole winter!

 

[ChicagoJohn]

As good as the E-trac is, its a boat anchor to swing.
The swing thingy is a pretty simple thing to make. My brother Ron bought one and then got to looking at it and he just made one and fixed it so he can move it from one detector to another.

Here is what he came up with.

The only other item not pictured is he affixed a nylon tie to the detector shaft near the control housing and the hand grip to form a loop to hook the bungee to. He cut and adjusted the bungee and the shoulder strap to take off a good bit of the weight of the detector as he swings it, its simple to unhook it from the detector.

Mark

Nice set up and thank you!

 

[ChicagoJohn]

A heavy detector or unbalanced detector will do you in.

Couple questions
Do you have to force the coil towards the ground, do you have to lift up the coil to swing it level to the ground?
It's unbalanced, does wonders for your wrist and elbow.

When you lower your arm to your side to detect are you lifting up with your shoulder or elbow to keep the coil off the ground?
Your lower rod is extended to far out.

I go to great pains to balance my detectors if they are a bit heavy. Otherwise my elbow redevelops tendentious very quickly.

For those machines that are impossible to balance and or a bit heavy. I have on hand The Detecting Buddy, it will save your elbow and or shoulder.

I think so but I don't see myself what I am doing. I went to heavy hunted park and I found some nice old coins came from difficult spots like steep hill, tight brick walls, etc!