So I've developed photographer's (tennis) elbow..

After working for a couple months in the Caribbean walking and carrying a 70-200 F4, 1Ds, 580Ex my elbow finally gave up the ghost.

Lateral epicondylitis is treatable by rest and anti-imflammatories and cortisone injections. I've resorted to massive ibuprofen injections and when not shooting carrying the rig in my left hand instead of walking around with it in the hand strap on my right arm.

I can't use a monopod too well on the sand but it appears I'll have to modify my shooting and carrying habits permanently in order to avoid pain/discomfort.

And to think when I said I bought the 70-200 F4 for it's portability people chuckled and thought I should have went 2.8... I cannot possibly imagine walking 5 miles a day with that sucker on my arm.

So don't let it happen to you if you shoot professionally or a HELL of a lot. I'm doing about 250-300 shots a day hand held/walkaround.

Wow, I know SLRs can get heavy, never though it would be that bad!

Maybe you need to try a shoulder strap and let the camera hang?
Or a small wasit bag you can slip the camera into, and just take the weight off your arm while walking.

Either way, make sure you let the arm heal properly, or it will bother you for the rest of your life. I don't think elbow replacement surgery is avliable just yet.

You could of course send me your gear in exchange for my A80, its very light and Im sure won't bother your arm one little bit.

Hm, I wonder how to prevent this? Regular exercise? (I apologize, I don't mean to insult you in any way).

Soldiers regularly carry rifles of 4kg (AK47) with 10kg packs and I'm sure walk more than 5mi a day. I'm assuming they don't get tennis elbow (all of them) or we wouldn't be fighting so many wars!

Anyway, I do hope you heal well soon! Your work looks good, can't let that stop!

I had a similar thing last year. My elbow was killing me after even an hour of shooting. I went to the doctor and they sent me to a place that made prosthetics and they made me a brace that worked wonders. I could still shoot, albeit somewhat uncomfortably. After about 4 months it slowly got better with a bunch of drugs and this.

It is not fun, that I know. Good luck.