Sympathy Corner. "It'll be okay, I can play through the pain"

[rachyuk]

I thought it might be a nice place for people to acknowledge their badminton injuries. Most teams are hit with illness, injuries etc and in some cases find it difficult to field a team.

But, hang on! How miserable is it, when all you can do is bring yourself down to watch...the pain of ONLY being able to watch badminton is often worse than the pain of the injury!! and you thought you'd be okay to just watch'!! Yeah right!

You go to work, limping after the match last night. You tell your colleagues you 'twisted it while lunging for a backhand drive down the line'...and they carry on, unawares of your proud boasts of heroism at diving for a shot'

So let's hear all about those injuries and give each other a little bit of good old fashioned TLC!!

[BrianH]

My worst injury occured whilst warming up, not doing anything energetic played a few shots shuttle hit the net went to pick up the shuttle stood on net post twisted ankle went over like a bag of spuds out of work 3 weeks no badminton 2 months still get the odd twinge now.
The main problem now is age , it is catcthing up fast longer recovery time required between games.

[rachyuk]

I agree that it does seem to take longer to 'heal', the older you get!!

I was once involved in a mixed game between myself, partner and another couple and we were all due to play in a tournament the following day.

During a 'friendly' game of mixed that started to get rather competitive, I went over on my ankle and it 'ballooned' straight away! I was in agony, but managed to reduce the swelling and lots of cold compresseing and elevation...it improved over night.

The next day I got one of those 'cohesive' bandages and strapped up the ankle into one 'locked' position...played ladies in the tournament with the lady I'd fallen against the night before and we got into the Semi's!!! (I just stayed in at the net, lateral movements only!!!)

I had a bruised and stiff ankle for a week. It is still weak now!

[NigelDiplock]

Rachel,

You talk about lack of sympathy from work colleagues - it's even worse when your fellow players don't realise how bad it is!

Early November last year I was just finishing a match and went over on the outside of my right ankle - nothing dramatic, no howls of pain or anything, but I was still surprised that the others on court didn't seem concerned about my well-being, or offer to help me up from the floor! Hospital the following day confirmed no break, but I had badly damaged the ligaments in my ankle - it was black from the outside of the ankle all the way under the heel to the inside of the foot! When I turned up to the next club night on crutches and 'showed off' my injury everyone was rather shocked!

I couldn't play for a couple of months and now wear a support, too scared to risk playing without it (at least until the end of this season's matches)! I'm sure I'm not alone in playing with a support for psychological reasons?

[Twilight]

My latest injuries in the last few weeks have been court burns on my knees and elbow!!

Stop laughing! - It's bad enough people pointing and asking what I was up to the night before!! The nickname Red Square also echos around!
('Red Square' from the lads mag ad for the trendy drink with the pic of a girls knees with carpet burns in the shape of a red square!!)

Anyway, the purple 8 foot skid mark where my racquet grip was in contact with the court as I slid out of it was impressive!!!

[rachyuk]

David,

You see, you never see the internationals diving around the court with great gusto, forward rolls and sideways rolls.....and quite frankly, I think they are missing out.

You don't feel like you've had a good game without having to put your hand out to 'stop' yourself or rolling into the next court backwards!

Good for you? Did you take a photo?...we'd all love to see!!

[Twilight]

Rachel,

Thanks for the sympathy...although maybe not seeing the pro's do it is a lack of professionalism?!?!

As you say, part of the fun/desparation is throwing yourself around like a mad person!! It's not unusual for me to suddenly realise the shuttle is mine, start a late run, maybe get there....but end up in the next court along!! Maybe my brakes need servicing!!

[Wally]

I feel that i must write to you all and ask for some TLC. I have had pain in my elbow for about 2 years before having a car accident and stop playing for about 4 months. On my return i found that i had a pain under the bone in my elbow when straightening my arm.

On visiting the physio i was told that i have a trapped nerve on the underside of the elbow, and damaged ligaments passing through. Her suggestion was to either quit or completely change my technique, so being so insane mind i continued to play, changing my technique which caused problems as it was half way through a season.

It has worked in the sense that my elbow hurts less now, unfortunately now my shoulder blade is killing me, especially when clearing the shuttle, and i've also damaged the muscle in my right leg altering my foot work to take the pressure off my arm.

It does make me wonder some times why i play badminton because after 3 seasons of virtually constant injury my body probably can't take too much more, and i'm only 25!!

Any one out there got any good remedies for all these injuries or any more that i'm likely too suffer next season??

[rachyuk]

Richard,

Have you tried using an elbow support similar to the ones they use for tennis elbow/golfers elbow. Whereby pressure is applied to tendons, stopping the arm from extending too far (into the painful area).

I know a few people who have found it gives them enough support to carry on playing and others who have said it's cured the problem simply by allowing the area to rest and not be used fully.

[Luncheon]

Richard.
If you are going to buy a tennis elbow support. The best one on the market are Aircasts at around £20. Although more expensive than a basic one they are definately something that you ought to spend a little more on!

[Dimo]

Re Rachel Walters elbow pain - I had exactly the same problem you describe and various treatments made no difference. XRays and scans couldn't pinpoint the exact cause. I then visited Don Gather (in Aylesbury, ex England rugby team physio) who used acupuncture and within 3 days the pain had completely gone and it hasn't been a problem for 6 years. Rather than suffering by trying to adapt your play maybe a look at acupuncture would be worthwhile for you too.

[Wally]

Thankyou all for your suggestions. I already possess a tennis elbow support which does help though the pain is predominately cause by others problems, mainly to do with the trapped nerve, relating to the problems with my upper back.
I no i cant get accupuncture for the elbow because the problem is too close to a bone and i was informed that it wouldn't be pssible or effective due to this point.

One thing i'm going to try is once the season's finished (12th April thankfully), is rest it for about a month, atleast not put it through any serious workouts, and then see what happens. One thing i will however do is reseek treatment before the start of next season so i don't have to play through another year with it all.

Thanks once again for help, fingers crossed that something will work.!!

[Michael Banks]

Does anyone have any special hints and tips for warming up elbows, shoulders, ankles?

Is it just a case of gentle exercising before you go on court or do things like warm compresses help?

[rachyuk]

I usually do sets of rotations for shoulders, elbows and ankles and stretch out the legs - pivoting the knee gently. Then I just run through a few 'shadow shots' with the racket in hand and and skip around a bit.

The last tournament I played in, I skipped around changing direction etc for about 20 mins and it was brilliant! I was warm, heart rate was up slightly and I felt 'on my toes'....had to do it in the ladies changing area though bause I felt a bit of an idiot!

Also, I tend to play the first few rallies with my sweater on and then remove it, as having had a shoulder injury years ago, it is always the first thing to ache after a hard game. Wearing a sweater during the first few points helps.

[Justcoll]

For all the injured people, and especially poor Richard who is in need of loads of TLC it seems, I have plaster and magic kisses. Seriously though, I hope you all get over the injuries which are plaguing you. The physios and doctors are always correct in saying that rest after an injury is the best way to ensure it heals properly. One young woman at our club was a superb player, with colours for badminton and potential to become a Springbok ... she since injured her knee on court and, after five operations, has now been told she will never play again, if she wants to avoid ending up in a wheelchair. Carmel, you'll remember Tarryn Hardman, daughter of Clive! Well, her badminton days are over, sad to say.

[CocaSimon]

It seems to me all of you use this thread to moan!
I have had an injury so bad in result i had to go to hospital and be treated!
I was in so much pain i am now over that injury as the splinter was removed from my toe!! owchhhhh how that hurt but the nurses were ever so fit!

[Alex]

Coco, Ann, Jason???

You have the nerve to say i should be banned??

Case rested!

[Gerald]

My most recent injury (3 nights ago) was the 'normal' twisting of the ankle. BUT this happens to be a very embarrassing injury as I was playing mens doubles and in the 4th set after a very long and tough rally, I was going to the net to retrieve the shuttle when I decided to turn and congratulate my partner for his part in winning the rally. The next thing I know, I am on the floor clutching my ankle and in all the pain that goes with a strained ankle (very embarrassing). Needless to say, I am recoverying from the injury quite well but I do not know how long my fellow players will keep on reminding me about my 'fall'. Hope all you injured players recover soon so that you can get back to the sport that we all love to play. Cheers from RSA.