Fingers/Hand Issues - too much fishing?

[Junger]

This is my first year of consistent fishing. I go out at least once a week for 3-4 hours, if not more which started in late April to now. Just the last few weeks, I've noticed waking up with my left hand (my main hand that I hold a baitcaster) kind of stiff. The way I describe it is, the range of motion in my fingers is "clicky" compared to my right hand. With my right hand, I can open and close my fingers with a steady motion with no resistance from the joints or muscles. With my left hand, when I try the same motion, my finger knuckles seem to be very stiff, and it's like they click on or off (open or close)...it is not a steady motion. It's not painful, but it's definitely noticeable. It goes away after I start pounding my keyboard with emails and get the knuckles moving, but I've never experienced anything like this even after years of video games in my teens, twenties, and having worked on a keyboard for 20+ years. Anyone else experience anything like this?

 

 

[Krux5506]

I get this too with a baitcaster during the colder months. A lot of times, I'm either throwing a spinnerbait or swimbait, both similar types of casting/retrieving so the constant movement of that creates little cramps here and there. Usually if the fishing is on, then it's easy to ignore the cramps. 

[lo n slo]

don’t worry, it gets worse as you get older. ?

[WRB]

Condition called trigger finger where the tendons are compressed from inflammation going through the joints. 

Tom

[A-Jay]

Congratulations,  I see you've been introduced to Mr Arthritis. 

Although he's never really welcome that rarely stops him from stepping in & and ruining the party.

Just keep fishing. 

A-Jay

 

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/arthritis/multimedia/arthritis/sls-20076952?s=1

[Junger]

Thanks all, it seems like it's more of trigger finger. I'll try those hand exercises, as well as some Advil and hopefully it'll go away soon.

[Dirtyeggroll]

A little bit of Advil BEFORE and after you go fishing wouldn’t be a bad thing if it’s once or twice a week.

 

Just as long as you don’t have any kidney disease.

[Steve1357]

Pick up a couple left handed models of your reels. Doesn't take long at all to get use to them. I have a bad day every once in a while, if I didn't have a couple of Abu 5501 reels, I'd have to cut the trip short.

[Catt]

17 hours ago, lo n slo said:

don’t worry, it gets worse as you get older. ?

 

If I woke up in the morning with no pain I would think I was dead!

 

[Deleted account]

Yup, happens as you get older. Try to find an SNL skit called "Il Returno de Hercules" Bill Murray at his best.

 

[bigbill]

I was fishing everyday from springtime till I get burned out three months down the road. Not my fingers it’s my lower back ever since I went to longer rods and try to make record long casts. I have three lower bulging discs, spinol stenosis, ect.

[moguy1973]

I have three trigger fingers and it's really aggravating sometimes when you grab something and you can't let go because your finger won't open up. I sometimes have to use my other hand to open up the finger.  If it has just started an ortho doctor can inject cortisone in the joint where your finger meets the palm of your hand and it may loosen up the inflammation enough to cure the trigger caused by the tendon sheath catching on the inflammation on the tendon.  I had it in one of my thumbs and an injection helped that one.  I also had injections in my three fingers but they had built up too much scar tissue to help with just the injection.  I'll eventually have to have surgery on those three fingers to get rid of the trigger.  Seems like it's a 9-14 day down time per finger.  My doctor says it's just something that happens to some people. It's not from working with tools, popping my knuckles as a kid, fishing, sports, etc.  Although I'm one of the younger people he's seen with trigger fingers in as many fingers as I do.

[fishwizzard]

I get a cramp in my pinky some times when I have been fishing heavly.  I find that taking advil before I go out helps a lot, as does switching over to a spinning rod for a while. 

[Log Catcher]

On 9/5/2018 at 8:10 AM, Catt said:

 

If I woke up in the morning with no pain I would think I was dead!

 

And I thought I was the only one on here that felt that bad.

[Gundog]

Carpel tunnel and tendonitis in my right hand is keeping me from enjoying the end of summer. Not something I'd wish on my worst enemy.

[IgotWood]

Same here bud! Tendinitis, and arthritis for me. Start exercising your hand NOW, before it becomes a chronic issue! It will go away, or at least become less bothersome if you religiously do some stretches. Just google hand and finger stretches. They are all pretty standard. And you must continue to do the exercises even after the problem subsides. 

[Catt]

Although I have a level of pain daily my goal is to keep it manageable through exercise.

 

As relating to fishing I had to change how cast/flip/pitch & set hook.

 

Stay active my friend  ? 

[WRB]

If you don't develope a daily routine of stretches and exercise to keep the joints moving and muscles toned things tend to tighten up loosing range of motion. Inflammation is also created from what you eat so as you age adjusting your diet helps.

The joint damaged is already done by the time aches and pain shows up!

My morning routine takes 20 minutes of stretches before I can put on my own shoes.

Tom

[NHBull]

 Advil helps, it works  best if there is a trace already in your system. That said, it is worth seeing a physical or occupational theropist to get into a stretching routine. I have compression gloves I wear at night and it does help to eleviate some swelling. 

[tander]

I am 67 and don't have much joint pain. I do stretches and walking. I also take glucosamine chondroitin and apple cider vinegar with mother every morning. May not work for everyone but it does for me.

[Smalls]

The way I grip my rods/reels, my ring finger begins to hurt/go numb on occasion. Usually after a heavy day of frogging. It’s minor tendinitis caused by that finger a) taking a good amount of the weight/force, and b) being in a somewhat awkward position for the whole day. 

 

Try adjusting your grip, or holding your rod at a slightly different angle. I also find that taking a 10 minute break every so often and rubbing the affected joints helps. 

[burrows]

Could be carpel tunnel my hand or fingers  used to lock up hurt like a mofo I had the surgery for carpel tunel release and pain is gone let me tell you carpal tunnel ain’t no joke.

[Crestliner2008]

Well, at 73, arthritis is one reason I don't post much anymore. Bass fishing has become very uncomfortable for me with the arthritis in both my hands. Doc has me on Glucosamine/Chondroitin and huge fish oil capsules! And I excercise and walk just about every day. Doesn't seem to help much, but it's about all you can do.

 

Now I fish for crappie & bluegill. Less painful and just about as much fun, with 9' rods & 2# test line! LOL! I miss the bass fishing, but it's no long much of an option these days. Count your blessings guys!

[WRB]

6 hours ago, Crestliner2008 said:

Well, at 73, arthritis is one reason I don't post much anymore. Bass fishing has become very uncomfortable for me with the arthritis in both my hands. Doc has me on Glucosamine/Chondroitin and huge fish oil capsules! And I excercise and walk just about every day. Doesn't seem to help much, but it's about all you can do.

 

Now I fish for crappie & bluegill. Less painful and just about as much fun, with 9' rods & 2# test line! LOL! I miss the bass fishing, but it's no long much of an option these days. Count your blessings guys!

FYI, this isn't medically proven but....reducing your gluten consumption tends to help both myself and wife problems with arthritis issues. Anything that reduces inflammation helps reduce the pain and swelling. Getting old isn't for sissy's! 

Tom

 

 

[Big Rick]

There's a great product called Relief Factor. It's all natural and not some MLM product. Resveratrol, Turmeric, Omega 3, and Icariin. It made all the difference in my inflammation. It took 2 weeks to max the benefits, but it worked....  

 

I'm not sponsored, related, or anything. Just passing along info on what has worked for me. 

 

https://www.relieffactor.com