Sharp elbow pain from trekking poles?

Ulner?

http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=a00069

I don't think its the ulnar nerve. I don't get any numbness or tingling when I experience the pain. The pain is localized in the elbow as well.

I xc ski race and often will get some early season elbow pain with certain poling motions. I think it is a sort of tendinitis and by backing off a bit and massaging the area it's disappears quickly. I think that ignoring the pain significantly delays recovery.

YOur pole straps need to be used in the same way they are for cross country skiing. GOOGLE "XC pole use" and see what I mean.

You should have your Entire hand coming UP through the strap loop so the strap forms an inverted V in your palm and the web of your thumb.

That way you push off "on the strap" and only have to hold the pole grip very lightly. This RELAXES your forearm muscles and tendons a lot more than constantly gripping the pole.

(Thanks for the photo Franco!)
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Have you consulted a physician?

Joshua,
What part of your elbow hurts? Is it the dorsal aspect (outside) of elbow or the flexor (inside) aspect? Is it the back of the elbow- olecranon? Is there an area of point tenderness? Specifically, while resting your palm on a flat surface & dosiflexing (raising palm) at the wrist against resistance from the other hand, does the outside of the elbow hurt?

James,
The pain comes from the olecranon area, on the back side of my elbow. It feels like it is coming from the ulnar groove. I only feel it if I exercise my triceps in a particular way. Almost like I'm pinching something. I tried lifting my palm with resistance and didn't feel any pain.

I haven't seen a physician as I don't have insurance. It's too bad I didn't see one when I first experienced this pain. I had insurance then.

You should see a doctor. Medical advice on the internet in a forum seems risky.

Anyway. I had similar problems. Mine was diagnosed as tennis elbow.

I went through something similar with "golfers elbow" I believe they call it–the opposite of tennis elbow; i.e. pain on the inside of the elbows. It took a long time to resolve (a year) and I was told that this was typical. What helped me was doing strengthening excersizes that targeted that area. My gym has a hand gripper that worked great for this; squeezing a ball actually hit the same area. I too nordic ski and use hiking poles; it was one or both of these activities that caught up with me by surprise.
Two years after recovery and I've been golden; it can be done! Now if I can fix my knee…

Elbow problems like this are really tough. Mine would get aggrivated by the simplest things. It took about 6 months to get a bit better with exercise and stretching. A Cortizone shot helped a great deal as well. Some people can never rid themselves of tennis elbow.