Comments on: My Tommy John Surgery Throwing Notes

By: Dan Blewett

Dan Blewett — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 21:56:14 +0000

I had that, and it slowly went away the more I threw, and it popped up the more I did things my new elbow hadn’t yet done – like throw harder, throw breaking balls, long toss, etc. If it really concerns you, always consult your surgeon. Most of that stuff cleared for me within a day or two, and didnt linger too bad between throwing, though it appeared frequently when I was throwing hard consistently and pitching in games early on.

By: Vicente

Vicente — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 20:27:30 +0000

Hi I had tj surgery about 14 months ago. I’ve been taking it really slow and my speed is back to where it was about. But lately I’ve been having stiffness and loss of range of motion while and after I throw. Is this normal? How long till it goes away? Thanks!

By: ALEC

ALEC — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 01:19:50 +0000

Im only 16, i wish i had 90 mph behind me, but i only throw about 81 to 83mph, Is true that u have more velocity after a full recovery, and i through my first bullpen the other day, my elbow was extremely sore after, was yours really sore after your first time?

By: Dan Blewett

Dan Blewett — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 02:57:23 +0000

You start and your velocity will be about 65 mph, and you’ll feel like you’re throwing your hardest. Next time out, that same intensity will be 68 mph. Then, over time, that 65 will slowly turn into 90, or whatever you used to throw. It just takes time. My bullpens started off at 50% effort, though, and progressed over a number of weeks before I was throwing 90% or 100%. I didn’t jump into full speed by any means.

By: ALEC

ALEC — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 02:47:40 +0000

thank you so much for the feedback, i was starting to get a little worried. But i have some more confidence now. But yes it all goes away within 24 hours or less. I have one more question, on my instructed throwing program it has me starting bullpen sessions in about 3 days if im on schedule, It says nothing about partial velocity, so im assuming that it means i will throw at full velocity, i have a feeling it wont be as fast i as can throw, but my velocity will increase correct?

By: Dan Blewett

Dan Blewett — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 12:19:13 +0000

Yep – I got tons of stuff like that. A Good rule of thumb is to give it 24 hours before you worry about anything – your arm is going to get sore and weird feeling the more you do stuff, especially as you throw breaking pitches and get to game velocity. Most of it will go away within 24 hours, and if not, it’s still usually fine but might need an extra day to rest. It’s doing new things, so don’t expect it to be perfect. Sounds like its going fine.

By: ALEC

ALEC — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 02:26:03 +0000

Dan,
i am 8 months out of surgery and am throwing from 120 feet ( hat drills) and 3 sets of 25, some days my arm feels amazing, best it ever has, but then when im done throwing i get this pain/stiffness in my elbow when i extend and pull my arm into my shoulder, but i do not feel anything when i throw, the stiffness usually goes away within and hour (sometimes a day) did u ever feel this when u were throwing, and is it bad?

By: Don

Don — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 16:24:44 +0000

I appreciate your throwing notes and your responses to questions. I truley believe rehab and coming back depends on your doctors experience and rehab program, which many seem to be very different from one another. My son is a division one baseball player and is a little over three months removed from TJ surgery. He has to wear a brace for four months. His doctor who was trained at the job clinic in CAL, gave the trainer a packet of instructions as to his rehab time table and what to do. My point is, don’t come back to fast, and pick the right surgron. At the college age I feel players should be monitored by a professional trainer rather than working on thier own. Ask questions of the doctor before accepting just anyone. I would probably not choose a doctor who does not provide you with a rehab program.

By: Dan Blewett

Dan Blewett — Fri, 24 Dec 2010 19:54:53 +0000

Jerry – When my elbow wasn’t used to something, it reacted in a very negative way usually. I got heavy into long toss from months 9-11, and I got some pretty significant tendinitis in month 11 that shut me down for 6 weeks, and then I picked back up from short toss. I thought I re-tore it at that point. You just have to keep stressing it in progressive intervals – jumping into anything is going to likely have negative consequences until you are way out, like 18+ months; that’s when the elbow seems to be really, truly back to normal. I would just back off and start throwing again as tolerated, and starting back down at 60 feet seems like a good idea. I would also check with your doctor and see what he thinks. But, a lot of times my elbow got pretty sore during my rehab and it was just part of the process. Sometimes just an extra few days is all it takes and things are back to normal again. If it persists, have a conversation with your doc.

By: Jerry

Jerry — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 16:47:24 +0000

Dan -

I am exactly a year out of surgery. I’m a division 1 baseball player, and with finals done we were told to come home for the break and start a long toss program. I hadn’t thrown in almost 3 weeks, and right out of the shoot, I didn’t hesitate to go right into longtoss on the first day (which was Monday). Now, my elbow has been really sore (almost a bad sore) the past 2 days. I’m nervous to throw now. Did this kind of thing ever happen to you? and also, Do you think I should hold off for a while throwing or maybe go out and throw very lightly up to 60 ft. I know you’re not a doctor but have you heard of anything like this even when the patient is a year out of surgery?