Fishing through wrist pain

[FryDog62]

On September 11, 2016 at 9:56 PM, briansnat said:

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.

I took the advice... Wore a splint today and went fishing.  Threw spinnerbaits, wacky worms, skipped tubes under docks.  No pain!  And had most of the mobility I need.  Easy trade off.  In 3 hours I caught 11 fish including this 21 3/8 inch, 5.55 lb LMB.  A splint seemed like it would Limit mobility too much... But it didnt.  I'm ecstatic

[CrustyMono]

its all part of growing up-dad

[boostr]

I had the same problem, but it was my hook set technique with the bait caster. I would use my wrist the majority of the time to set the hook. Fixed that problem by using my arm and body.  No more pain.

[FryDog62]

Well ... update --

pain got worse even with the splint.  Saw doctor yesterday and had X-ray.  He suspects a torn ligament, so back in for an MRI in 2 days.  If torn he didn't seem optimistic that even with a cast, therapy, surgery, etc may heal this type of injury.  Will find out soon, but am concerned I may be done fishing at age 54.  Dam

[Sam]

On ‎9‎/‎10‎/‎2016 at 6:24 PM, FryDog62 said:

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...

FryDog, see a doctor.

The problem could be solved as easy as a cortisone shot in the tendon to relieve the pressure and pain.

Or, you may have to have surgery during the winter months so you will be ready to rock and roll.

Have you tried heat and rest? Living in Wisconsin means that the snow and ice is right around the corner so you will have the time to heal.

Aleve is great for pain but bad for your kidney's. Be careful when taking Aleve and other pain meds unless you are under a doctor's guidance.

Hope you feel better, soon.

[lo n slo]

15 hours ago, FryDog62 said:

Well ... update --

pain got worse even with the splint.  Saw doctor yesterday and had X-ray.  He suspects a torn ligament, so back in for an MRI in 2 days.  If torn he didn't seem optimistic that even with a cast, therapy, surgery, etc may heal this type of injury.  Will find out soon, but am concerned I may be done fishing at age 54.  Dam

hate to hear that. hang in there man.

[ING]

I've switch to another hand (in my case - left). It is not so difficult like seems. I made at home special exercises with rubber band and fishing rod. It is significantly help.

[scaleface]

A lot of bowling wrist supports have a built in piece of metal for a splint . Thy are   well made and  inexpensive . II wore them for years bowling , 

[N Florida Mike]

I broke my thumb on my right hand when I was 19 in 3 places .My hand goes numb every night and sometimes during the day.It also hurts occasionally,but ESP.a after a long day of fishing.Had a nice bass up in the eel grass a couple weeks ago and I turned my wrist over quickly to pull him in a different direction. Wrist pain on the same area as the thumb .!!! I suppose it will slowly get worse.

The good thing is I am ambidextrous so I can switch to left hand ( on spinning anyway ). Might be a good thing to learn in your case.( beside the dr )

[FryDog62]

Well I received diagnosis from the MRI... a torn scaphoid lunate ligament, surgery first week of December.  Probably not a total fix but may prevent/delay arthritis.  Some level of hope anyway to be back fishing by spring.  

[the reel ess]

Is it the reel hand? You can get the opposite-handed reel or use spinning. I have resorted to using T-rigs a lot more. You can use a reel with a burner ratio to limit the revolutions. You can also take up trolling for crappies. Or you can fish smaller waters where you know your bait will be seen by fish to limit your number of casts.

On days when I have to crank it to get them, I just suffer later, but more so with shoulder pain from slinging the bait all day. If you're going to have *** worked on, you can do it now and be ready for spring.

edit: I see the last post. Good deal and good luck with it.

[ING]

I've switch to another hand (in my case - left). It is not so difficult like seems. I made at home special exercises with rubber band and fishing rod. It is significantly help

So, at now I could use both hands. When pain in right hand subsiding, I return to right hand casting. If became stronger, switch to left. It is very useful.

[Mr Swim Jig]

I have tried all the things listed and finally have given into my Doctor and am having surgery for carpal tunnel, I just told him I couldn't have the surgery till fishing season was over...lol

Trying different things helped but it would eventually come back and come back a little worse each time...

[Paul Roberts]

On 9/10/2016 at 4:24 PM, FryDog62 said:

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...

I have had epicondylitis in my right elbow. It was my doc's first case of "bass elbow". For most people it's golfer's or tennis elbow. Doc gave me exercises and a forearm brace, and he warned me to rest it before going back at it or I could have more permanent damage and surgery. So... I switched to fishing lefty. Man, that was a frustrating challenge at first. I had to train my well-honed arms and hands to switch jobs.

That was back in 2008 and it took a year for it to heal entirely. Then I re-injured it in 2015 and have been fishing left ever since. Nervous about going back. But, I am now almost a completely ambidextrous angler. 

[Bankbeater]

Most of the time I fish only during the weekends.  If my wrist starts acting up on a weekend it usually clears up by the next weekend.  If it didn't I would go to a Dr.

[Jeff H]

It'll work out, you'll be fine by spring.  I've got more than my share of joint pain(arthritis) to deal with at the same age as you.  I take 800mg of ibuprofen when I fish and just grit it out.  I'm lucky my pain level still allows me to do that.  Lots of times it's the loss of mobility that bothers me more than the pain.

[ING]

I've switch to another hand (in my case - left). It is not so difficult like seems. I made at home special exercises with rubber band and fishing rod. It is significantly help.

 

Guys, I couldn't understand: Nobody doesn't want consider switching to another hand?

It is much better than to poison yourself by ibuprofen or other drugs. God has provided us by two hands, Use both!

[FryDog62]

Had the surgery 3 days ago... MRI ahead of time was inconclusive if the ligament was partially or fully torn.  The hope was partial so they could do some reconstruction.  Unfortunately when they got in there it was a complete tear.  Doc wondered how I put up with it the past 3 months.

So they cleaned up the frayed ends, and snipped a few of the nerves in the area - both to minimize discomfort, but not a fix. 

Choices are to either live with it the way it is, but likely arthritis will form and get worse over time (I'm 54).  Or explore total reconstruction surgery - which he said is a 50-50 prognosis and a very involved healing/rehab process.  

Last resort might be to fuse the wrist and lose 50% strength and range of motion but take most/all the pain away and lessen likelihood of arthritis (or at least less).

BTW, this is my right (dominant hand).  What would you do...?

[scaleface]

Its really a tough  decision to make  .  

Three years ago I had a complete distal  bicep tendon rupture    . I elected to have it repaired  . No lifting anything heavier than a coffee cup for three months . Then slowly start lifting heavier objects .Luckily it happened in the fall so I didnt miss out on too much fishing . So far so good .. 

[FryDog62]

Oh yeah, and I just had bought a new boat (Lund Pro-V Bass) that hasn't even seen the water yet --

Probably not the best timing (purchased 2 weeks before the injury)  but makes me want to figure out a long term solution so I can finally enjoy the type of boat I always wanted.  

[blckshirt98]

Dang, that is tough luck and sorry about your injury.  When they say "arthritis will form and get worse over time" are they talking in 5-10 years? Would the surgery prevent the arthritis?  If the arthritis isn't for 8-10 years out I'd probably just try to fish without the reconstructive surgery, and see if surgery is an option down the line once the arthritis gets bad.  10 years of fishing would take you to 64 and retirement and you can just bait fish while reading a book and drinking a beer in a chair on a dock somewhere!

[flippindocks]

If it's constant pain, on and off the lake, apply heat. If it's pain only when you move your wrist a certain way, apply a cold pack.  Apply the aforementioned for 20 minutes ON - 20 minutes OFF - repeat several times daily.

It has taken me up to 1 month to get rid of some wrist pain. Age is awesome huh?

[geo g]

In the past I have had wrist and elbow pain from time to time.  I now start out easy for the first five minutes and after all is warmed up increase the tension and casting distance.  I also stretch in the morning before going out to fish.  I have not had any problems for several years after following these few steps.

[Spankey]

I've been in electro/mechanical heavy industrial equipment repair my whole life. I also have that nasty habit of liking to fish. I use my hands all day every day. For years, many years I've know I've had Carpol Tunnel. Had that electrical test done on both arms back in the early 90's. I ignored getting anything done about it for all those years because I, I'll be honest I pussed out on surgery. The dumbness and pain that was local to my hand gravitated to my elbow, bicep, shoulder in a few spots over time. Anyway last holiday season I couldn't take it anymore. I felt my quality of life. Pain you would not wish on anyone. Not really sleeping right for many years I decided to get the surgery. My life now is bact to a time I can not remember. My left hand by test results is as bad as my right but I don't really have the symptoms as bad. This February I'm gonna get that hand done. I realize our situations are different but to continue with constant pain try to eliminate it. If there is even a way to get a long term relief go for it. It took me to being 57 years old to figure the quality of life thing. Knowing now I could have been better years ago. I was very dumb. Just get yourself taken care of before pain and discomfort become the norm. You'll just try to live with it from day to day, next thing it will be years. Take care of yourself.

[Red Bear]

On 12/12/2016 at 8:58 PM, geo g said:

I also stretch

I cant even begin to emphasize how important stretching is before ANY physical activity. I usually stretch before i do anything thats going to work my body and muscles. stretching can help to prevent injuries. and also stretching prevents a lot of aches and pains one may get when they finally relax at the end of the day after doing physical activities.

odd thing for me though. my wrists are sore a lot, but once i start fishing all that goes away. same for my back. i can stand around for an hour just talking with someone and my back will start killing me, let me stand around for hours fishing and im just fine with no pain...i cant explain it