Diagnosis: Medial epicondylitis in the elbow, with moderate wrist tendinitis and possibly a little arthritis thrown in for good measure.

Medial epicondylitis is known by a common name: "Golfer's elbow." It's the opposite of "tennis elbow," which is lateral epicondylitis. The difference is the location (i.e., medial vs. lateral) of the injury. One of the triggers of "golfer's elbow" is -- you guessed it -- bowling.

It's been two weeks since the injury, and I'm still bowling once a week (probably against advice but what they don't know won't hurt them, I guess -- just me). The pain has lessened greatly but I'm being advised to stay in the wrist brace, perhaps permanently. CRAP!

So anyway, tonight I roll my second-best series of the fall season so far -- wearing, of course, the hated brace. I've used two different braces for two weeks and here's the comparison of each and the reasons why you should be careful when you go to and from braces.

Mongoose Lifter -- This is a straight-back brace and the most comfortable of those designs I've ever worn. It's not an adjustable tool, which makes it seem less a "crutch" to me and more acceptable, I guess. Positives: I can still make lateral adjustments with my wrist even with the brace on. Also, the design does promote more finger lift and "finger feel." I also tend to stay behind the ball (almost to the point that I become a stroker). Negatives: For starters, using it changes my PAP from 4 over 3/8 up to 5 1/2 over 7/8 up. That's a pretty big move, and as a result, all my balls drilled 4x4 are now basically drilled 5x5. So if you're considering going to a brace, be aware of this. Also, the finger strap needs some padding; it tends to rub raw on the left side of my middle finger. This is also the worst brace I've seen at changing hand spans. I bowl with a relaxed span, but with the Lifter on, it stretches me out. As a result, I had some thumb joint pain after using it last week and if I stuck with the lifter, I'd have to plug and redrill most of my arsenal (a tidy 49 balls, folks).

Robbys Revs I -- This is one of those robo braces and is very similar to the new Storm Gadget. It was the brace I used for years before I made a move to go brace-less. Positives: Easily the most comfortable brace I've ever worn, and nothing else comes close. I can bowl 100 games with the thing and not feel any wrist fatigue. It also has a very clear stabilizing effect on my accuracy. My PAP measurement changes only slightly (to about 4 1/2 over 3/8 up from 4 over 3/8 up) and my span doesn't need to be shortened to feel comfortable. Negatives: For all its adjustability, I find it very restrictive. I can't dial in minute changes in hand positions (the preset changes in wrist angle work, but the lateral hand angle adjustment is too vague), so I have to make adjustments using equipment. I used five different balls in a three-game league set tonight, four of them in one game. That's insane. At least I shot 208 that game. Also, there's no doubt it's a crutch, and it makes bowling a lot less interesting for me. I also have seen a LOSS in revs, and one of the strange side effects of the brace I've never been able to explain: My thumb will begin to swell noticeably after four or five games. This doesn't happen with other braces, or when bowling brace-less.

Next week, I'll test an older Storm Strongarm brace and report the differences. And continue to rehab my wrist, of course.

Jess