rhp245,
“Thanks for the insight.”
Any time, mitigation of pathomechanics should be the first concern with all coaches at all levels
“I got an X-ray a few days ago which didn’t reveal any issues”
Dr’s have a great opportunity to do it right by taking X-rays of both Elbows and compare. Unfortunately finances limit their effort as with all American medicine.
“The doctor thinks it’s “Tommy John” which I think is a misinformed and premature diagnosis because the pain is not coming from the UCL area but rather where the elbow bone connects to the triceps.”
You are correct, most general practitioners do not understand ballistic force application and their pathologies, even Ortho’s get much of it wrong due to lack of Kinesiological training.
They normally diagnose pain at the back of the Elbow as triceps tendonitis when with the traditional intuitive forearm pronated drive the Triceps are not even contracting, a major disruption in the Kinetic chain.
First, Ligaments do not have pain receptors, the pain that is felt in this medial Elbow area is always the overlying Flexor mass tendons that stretch out as ligament laxity (UCL) is produced. This why you see pitchers who have torn their UCL’s want to continue because it does not hurt so bad.
When you are intuitively caught up in Forearm supination pitch types the Flexor mass and pronator Terres that drives pronation are not helping to protect the UCL, because the antagonist Extensors are contracting!
When you forearm pronate your pitch types, the contraction of the Flexor mass assists in holding the Radius Towards the Ulna buttressing the UCL.
“I got an MRI today which should tell me what’s up.”
Prudent, but only with contrast will it be conclusive.
“I think I would only be at the bone splinting part because my x ray came back normal.”
It takes a long time to develop Spurs that break off.
“for treatment I was thinking of doing a PRP shot to help stimulate cartilage growth”
If you can afford it, good
“do physical therapy. The maximum time I have to heal is two months as I need to get recruited this summer (start of June).”
I would not rush anything, are you a Senior? Don’t listen to people in development Org’s tell you how it works for recruitment !!! Their only concern is how fat their wallet can grow. You may be biologically up to 2 years behind. have they gone over that with you? You need a re-mapping, this takes time.
“do you know of any drills to help with the elbow pronation?”
First you need to read DrMikeMarshall.com materials, they are free. Do not be concerned with his superior bottom half mechanics, the baseball establishment is not ready for it yet!
Do use his recommended stride lengths and timings!
Buy an appropriately sized rubber football and learn how to throw a screwball to start by tumbling it end over end, this will push you towards forearm pronation of other pitch types. Also throw a tight spiral by driving your thumb down while popping your Elbow up, this will teach you how to pronate Cutters and Sliders safely. Watch his pitch type video’s . This will get you started after your Dr’s release.
Good luck I will be here as long as I’m allowed to.