Fishing through wrist pain

[FryDog62]

Anyone out there with significant wrist pain and continues to fish?  Could be just over use, or tendinitis, arthritis, etc.  What do you do to deal with it, do you continue, use pain relievers, switch from right to left hand ... or maybe a sign to give up (gulp) fishing altogether...

[Torn Thumb]

Somewhat similar but not... I've been fishing through elbow pain from work lately. Working behind a serial over tightener on second shift, removing molds with bolts so tight you should be using breaker bars or cheater pipes but are too cool to do that and over working the elbows and wrists.

So I've been focusing on every cast to make sure to use extra care to use the correct motions and not over extend myself. Otherwise ice probably helps.i be fished less in the last week or so due to this. SUCKS.

Do not however give up fishing as you will probably die from a broken heart.

[Scott F]

Is there a reason you are asking for medical advise on a fishing forum instead of from a doctor?

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

If you keep doing what caused the inflammation hows it going to go away. Is your equipment causing discomfort. I have a rod LTB that is tip heavy and has small grip. Due to how I hold the rod/reel this lead to pain in my palm throughout the day so I basically stopped using the rod.

[Mike L]

Go to your local bowling alley and try on every wrist and/or elbow support they have. 

You might be surprised

Mike

[papajoe222]

Prior to wrist surgery, I tried everything. The only things that did give temporary relief were wearing a wrist brace in conjunction with taking 600mg of ibuprofen and a shot of cortisone that helped for a few months.  You can try the first, but like others, I suggest seeing a Dr.

[FryDog62]

Well, I'm 54 and I've had 4 wrist surgeries including 2 bones removed.  Really thought I had it fixed but now have pain in a whole new area.  Is it a sign of decline, or just an irritation with rest and Ibuprofen goes away?  Hope so, otherwise it's a little discouraging to think its always going to be this way and eventually get worse.  

[Oregon Native]

I too have had issues over the years with my wrists....have had a couple surgeries , accupunture,  therepy.  Good days and bad days.  Get a good doctor....this is HUGE.

["hamma"]

I used to have alot of wrist issues, and it was due to my excessive fishing. I just stretched the painful muscles as much as possible every day, and kept up with good eating and good health. Of course my right hand and wrist ended up larger and stronger than my left . But after a few months, the pain disappeared.

 Stop fishing? wasnt gunna happen

[frogflogger]

At age 60 I was told I needed a knee operation - My shoulder was hurting so bad I had injections for the pain. I wore a wrist brace. I fished and/or guided 200-250 days a year and was about to give up. I  was lucky to  read about Egoscue exercises in a Ned Kehde article - bought a used copy of Pete Egoscue's book Pain Free for $3 and now (15 yrs. later) I fish relatively pain free in wrist, elbow, shoulder and knees. But I do have to do the exercises.

[FryDog62]

Thanks for all the suggestions.. Last night I wore a splint to bed and took Ibuprofen and it feels better today.  Will switch over to more use of a baitcaster in my left hand than a spinning reel in my right. Anyone have a good suggestion for a baitcaster for wacky-worming and light plastics?

Appreciate the pep talk guys... not going to quit yet  

[iiTzChunky]

Stop fishing? What's that? 

I have bad wrists as well from doing stuff I shouldn't have at work. The only time I really feel the pain is when I try to top water and walk baits for too long. I basically just try to stretch my wrists out and either power through it or if it's that bad I stop with the top water and go to somthing else for a while. 

[Raul]

Can´t say nuthin´ bout them wrists cuz those are fine, but some years ago I suffered a severe case of tennis elbow ( hell, and I don´t even play tennis ! ) on my right arm, which is my casting arm 99% of the time, couldn´t cast with BCs ( tried to do it and ...... son "!)(%#= !!!!! the pain was horrendous ) so -----> spinning gear here I come !

[WRB]

Pain is your early warning system that something is wrong. You need to determine what is causing your pain before trying to mask it with medication, stretch it or rehabilitate it. We all have different levels of pain thresholds. When pain prevents your range of motion it's time to get professional help from a good othropedic physician so you don't do more damage.

Tom

[chadmack282]

23 hours ago, Scott F said:

Is there a reason you are asking for medical advise on a fishing forum instead of from a doctor?

probably for the advice from other BR members that have had the same situation.

 

 

[Scott F]

1 minute ago, chadmack282 said:

probably for the advice from other BR members that have had the same situation.

There are so many things that can cause wrist pain. 10 people can have 10 different problems. I see you've had problems before, you really should check with your doctor.

[custer]

I'm currently recovering from the 5th surgery on my right arm due to work accident. 

 

Like had been said,  theres a reason your hurting. Find an orthopedic specialist on hands. Get treated

 

I waited too long and the Arthur can be debilitating. I spend too much time watching folks fish then fishing. 

 

Not a good outcome. 

[Jaderose]

I was having pretty bad shoulder pain....especially after fishing.  I have a little bass raider I tool around in on my local  80 acre lake.  Stern mounted Trolling motor.  The pain got so bad I went to the Dr. who said I had arthritis and stuck me on Mobic.  Fast forward a week or so and I went back out...BUT...this time I turned the head on my trolling motor around and mounted it on the bow.  Pain gone.....no more Mobic.  No arthritis.  Just took changing up what I was doing a little.

 

[Gundog]

I've got 50% arthritis in my right hand, the one I grip my reel with. Doc says its gonna get worse. After a couple hours of fishing I notice it gets tougher to open my hand. I take ibuprofen and soak my hands in ice cold water after a day out. Not much more I can do for it but I'll be danged if I'm gonna give up fishing. Not till the day they put me in the ground and even then I'll be looking for a lake nearby.

[BrianSnat]

On 9/10/2016 at 7:22 PM, Mike L said:

Go to your local bowling alley and try on every wrist and/or elbow support they have. 

You might be surprised

Mike

When I had a real bad case of wrist tendonitis that is exactly what I did, grabbed one of my old bowling wrist supports. At first it was good, but as the tendonitis got worse, I took a wooden ruler and placed it over the back of the wrist support and then wrapped the hand and wrist with an ace bandage, which totally immobilized it. After about two months it went away, thankfully never to return.

[FryDog62]

8 hours ago, WRB said:

Pain is your early warning system that something is wrong. You need to determine what is causing your pain before trying to mask it with medication, stretch it or rehabilitate it. We all have different levels of pain thresholds. When pain prevents your range of motion it's time to get professional help from a good othropedic physician so you don't do more damage.

Tom

Unfortunately I know my orthopedic surgeon on a first name basis after 4 surgeries between both wrists.  I really thought I was fixed after the last one, and maybe it is and I just over did it recently. But another part of my is afraid that any repetitive motion is going to take its toll on me.  I hope that's not the case and plan to switch off between right/left, baitcast/spin, etc.. Wear the splint, stretch, take Ibuprofen when needed.  

Fingers crossed ...

[WRB]

As long as you know what the problems are then treating the problem should resolve the pain. Carpel tunnel surgery is fairly common, the following PT is important, listen to the what you are being told to do and do it!

Tom

[Catt]

Pain is part of getting old, how you deal with it is up to you.

Staying active as much as your body allows is essential, to stop fishing would not be wise. 

Exercise targeting specific muscle groups

"I ain't as good as I once was
But I'm as good once as I ever was!"

Needless to say gone are the days of marathon (12-14 hrs) fishing, I pick & choose my days to allow ample time for recuperation.

[FryDog62]

Sage advice from all, thx again!!

[RAMBLER]

Ace Bandage.