Elbow Pads really necessary?

[GuitarAwesome 1]

Want to know why you need elbow pads?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olecranon_bursitis [WARNING: PRETTY GROSS PICTURE WITHIN]

I decided for a game of shinny last year, to forego elbow pads and shoulder pads, since we were just messing around. Sure enough, cutting inside the zone, I get tripped up by the defenseman's stick, resulting in all 200 pounds of me hitting my left elbow, while I was accelerating top speed. Hurts. ALOT.

I finish up the game, go off the ice, notice I have a huge bump on my elbow. No big deal, I get bumps from hockey all the time. This one is different however. It's not hard, like a normal bump. It's squishy. As in, full of liquid.

I immediately realize something is seriously wrong, and consult a doctor. Apparently, if you smash your elbow, the lubrication gland goes nuts, resulting in a huge lesion. It goes away on it's own (THANKFULLY, having that drained....no thanks), but my arm looked ridiculous for two weeks. The nickname is "Popeye Elbow." Yeah. Ridiculous.

Morale of the story: WEAR ELBOW PADS.

[mnpucker 33]

Just the thought of not wearing elbow pads made me throw up in my mouth thinking about an injury I once had. I was in the D zone, I was weak side wing so i was high in the slot cover man. The puck went to the offensive d on the wall and he attempted to give it to the ceter D on the Blue. I stepped between them picked it off and was about to be off to the races. At the time I was not wearing hard capped elbows. Rather I had on some lighter weight foam Koho pads. I was at about my 5th power stride up ice when the D man lunged and stuck his stick between my legs. Think of someone throwing a stick in your bike spokes while going full steam down a hill. I slammed to the ice landing elbow first. Hit so hard my arm went knumb. i played out the period and between periods went into the rooom and took my jersey off. My left arm, elbow and side were blood soaked. My elbow bone burst right through my skin, most know that the area of the body with the fewest nerve endings is the skin on your elbow. The topical pain wasn non-existent. I cleaned it up and bandaged it and finished the game. the next day it swelled so much I could not slip a shirt on.

To this day I have to wear at least light elbows even when I coach because I now have an overly sensitive elbow that will never be the same. I play in hard capped, Jofas, and will only buy the best elbow pads.

For me Elbows are more necessary thatn BREEZERS (aka Pants) and shoulders. I would even play in a pair of choppers before I skated without Elbows.

[Larry54 243]

Not telling you to skip shoulder pads, but I would lose shoulder pads before I left off my elbow pads.

My sentiments, exactly. I even wear elbows and shins just playing shinny on outdoor rinks. Just look at the kits they sell for rollerblading... elbows, knees, and wrists.

[IniNew 53]

I wear elbows because I've fallen doing other things and landed on my elbow. The numb arm/stinger I get from it I don't like, Hence elbow pads.

[fawn111 0]

All it takes is one slight fall without elbow pads and and your elbow will explode and be swollen for days and be painful for at least a week.

I would never play a game without them.

Shoulder pads are a different story. In my league at least a 3rd of the guys are going without them. Maybe even closer to half. I have not worn them since starting ice 3 years ago. Maybe coming from a roller background turned me off to them, but in a non-checking league i just really don;t see much need for them.

[the iceman 132]

Elbow pads necessary? Yes.

[sickwilly 37]

One more vote for wearing them at all times on the ice, except public skating. I'd second the advice of going to your local shop and trying on a few different sets.

[Joshison 1]

Just don't wear the shoulder pads and use your elbow pads.

[mhkehoe 1]

I try to always use elbow pads, whether it is pick up or league games. I will put two stories out there:

1.) Playing pick up roller two weeks ago, I decided not to wear my elbow pads and one of the guys on my team "passed" the weighted puck to me at elbow height a few seconds in and got me right in the tender spot (funny bone). For a solid minute I was unable to lift my arm (thought it was going to be a trip to urgent care for x-rays). The rest of the night I had trouble using my lower hand for shooting.

2.) A couple of days ago, I was screwing around at a public skate trying to be fancy with stops (note to self, can't do a one foot inner leg stop) and I ended up falling on my elbow. I forgot how hard ice is on a bare elbow. I still wouldn't wear them during a public skate, but I will definitely reconsider what I try out there on a public skate. As mentioned, when you fall, your elbows tend to be your go to stopping device. Guess it is better than my skull.

Shoulder pads aren't really necessary if it is non-contact and guys are nice enough to keep shots down.

[All Flash 49]

+1 for wearing elbows

[mug25 2]

Ever fall on the ice and nail your elbow? Doesn't feel good.

Ever get slashed on the forearm? That hurts.

Don't be dumb, wear elbow pads.

[Race4LastPlace 31]

Break your elbow on a fall and you will be sorry. It is one of the worst injuries one can have.

DEFINITELY!

I broke my elbow falling when i was younger. Fractured the humerus which pinched up on the ulnar nerve. Holy Crap that was one of the most painful injuries ive ever had! (and ive broken a lot of bones!). The arm grew crooked and ive never been able to straighten it out. Even today when i hit that 'funny bone' it hurts 100 times worse than on the other arm. I would NEVER EVER consider going without elbow pads!

[DumpN'Chase 1]

I agree with everyone else. Elbow pads = winning.

[LoneStar77 25]

I'd consider playing without shoulder pads before ever considering taking off my elbow pads. I wore them for inline when not everyone did just because I never wanted to fall (which I do seemingly at least once a game or more) without them.

[hunterphfr 12]

Two elbow injury stories:

1) I have to have a chip of bone the size of an M&M floating around inside my elbow surgically removed. Happened a long time ago when I was a kid. I got knocked down pretty hard and during or before my elbow pad slid down.

2) Just this past Sunday our center was standing in front of our net He wears old school Jofa elbow pads that protect the elbow and forearm, But not the top of the elbow/bicep. There was a pretty hard shot that hit him in the elbow. He wound up with a fractured elbow socket, with elbow pads on. If he hadn't been wearing elbow pads it probably would have been shattered.