Missing the Line Tug

[senile1]

My apologies for being away for a while.  I've been too bummed to get on Bass Resource and read or talk about fishing.  The last 7 months have been quite eventful for me.  On November 21st, 2018 I experienced a severe grade 3 tear of my left calf muscle while sprinting.  It took over 4 months for all swelling to go down and I have been rehabbing it and am just now able to jog a bit.   

 

While I was recuperating from the calf tear, I refinished my basement flooring and basement stair steps.  During this time my right wrist and hand, which already had Keinbock's disease, became extremely painful waking me up 8 to 10 times a night. (Keinbock's Diease is the result of a broken lunate carpal bone in the wrist that dies and breaks into pieces, causing arthritis and damage to other wrist bones.  I broke the lunate 38 years ago.)   I ultimately had to get my right wrist fused on April 5th as the dead bones were removed and a plate with 8 screws was added to stabilize my wrist and allow my radius bone to grow into and fuse through my wrist to my hand.  I have been in rehab to regain movement in my fingers.  On June 12th, my x-rays confirmed that my wrist is fused and I could begin strengthening exercises for my right arm and wrist.  My right hand grip strength tested at only 23 percent of my left hand on June 14th.  I am right-handed.  

 

I managed a trip to Table Rock in March before the operation, but I had the flu during that trip which limited my time on the water due to extreme chills and fatigue.  Other than that, there has been no fishing for me.  I have tried some casting in the backyard and can cast with an altered motion, though I can't do any long distance casts due to pain.  I can't pitch with my right hand yet, so I have been practicing a left hand forearm cast.  I can do that though it is far from the accuracy of my right hand pitch.    With the fusion I lose the up/down and left/right wrist flexion but I still have supination and pronation functionality.  I will have to alter my casting motion to account for this, as well as other things like picking and string muting with my right hand when playing guitar.

 

Anyway, I'm trying to rehab this as quickly as possible so I can get back on the water.  I will probably try putting a line in the water in the next couple of weeks though I may still be questionable for boat handling.  I have already started workouts with light dumbbells in my basement gym.  The weakness of my wrist and forearm limits the weight I can use so that has to be strengthened first before using heavier weights, but it is still nice to do what I can.  As always, there are people who have far worse problems than mine.  Fortunately, mine is only temporary. 
 

[Mike L]

Whew!!

I'm sorry to hear all this. 

I wish you the best

 

 

 

 

Mike

[J Francho]

Wow, get well soon!

[Dwight Hottle]

Good luck with your recovery. 

[senile1]

Here's some pics.  The first is of my calf in late December when some of the swelling started to go down.  The second is my right wrist 19 days after surgery.  The third is the x-rays after the surgery was completed. 

 

 

[Paul Roberts]

Wow. So sorry to hear. We don't get enough fishing time in as it is. A buddy of mine has been dealing with Keinbock's too, and last year had surgery and PT. He's beginning to cook along pretty well now. I've also had epicondylitis to deal with on and off over the years. It required that I begin fishing lefty; That was weird, frustrating at first, but I figured it out. It's sucks getting "old". More can go wrong, and it takes longer to heal. You'll get there though. Go easy. Maybe practice up switch-hitting with finesse gear. Hey, we'd be happy to hear about some crappie fishing! Hang in there.

-Paul

 

Wow, that's quite extensive. Don't rush things.

[senile1]

7 minutes ago, Paul Roberts said:

Wow. So sorry to hear. We don't get enough fishing time in as it is. A buddy of mine has been dealing with Keinbock's too, and last year had surgery and PT. He's beginning to cook along pretty well now. I've also had epicondylitis to deal with on and off over the years. It required that I begin fishing lefty; That was weird, frustrating at first, but I figured it out. It's sucks getting "old". More can go wrong, and it takes longer to heal. You'll get there though. Go easy. Maybe practice up switch-hitting with finesse gear. Hey, we'd be happy to hear about some crappie fishing! Hang in there.

-Paul

 

Wow, that's quite extensive. Don't rush things.

?  Getting old does present some challenges but I expect to get back in the swing of things soon.  I've been chomping at the bit waiting for the ok from the doctor so I am glad to have that out of the way.  I have already gained some strength in the hand and forearm in just one week.  I have always worked out through the years so additional rehabbing and strengthening on my own is helping and comes naturally.

 

On another note, it is good to see another video on your channel.  I am going to watch it later today.

[Paul Roberts]

Having had a habit of exercise sure helps. Great to hear, Ed. Sounds like you'll be back in business soon.

[A-Jay]

Oh My.

Really sorry to hear you've been facing such challenges my friend. 

But it does seem you're headed in the right direction.

Here's to keeping your spirit up.

You've got this.

A-Jay

 

"The desire for vitality is not age denial.  

We are not defying age when we live with strength, passion, creativity and purpose.

These qualities have nothing to do with age.

They are about state of mind - not a date of birth."

                                                            Marc Middleton

 

 

[WRB]

Spinning tackle is a lot easier to use with your left hand while you rehab the right with all that hardware. We heal as we get older it just takes a lot longer.

Get well,

Tom

[slonezp]

I can relate. Long story short. I got hurt at work in 2012. 3 surgeries on my left shoulder. Still doesn't work right (or left for that matter LOL) Missed 2 years of work, gave up tournament fishing, and almost gave up the sport completely prior to my 3rd surgery. Was a point in time I couldn't spend more than 2 hours on the water before being in excruciating pain. I had to stop jig fishing prior to my 3rd surgery because I couldn't set the hook. My son would laugh at me every time I attempted it. Hook up rate was maybe 25%. Switched to moving baits. Have since spent more time multi species fishing and less time focused on bass. Currently, if I spend 8-10 hours on the water bass fishing, it takes a day or 2 to recover. If I keep my trips under 6 hours, I'm normally good the following day. If I fish more than 2 or 3 days in a row, it will take a week to recover. I learned my limits and I respect them.

[FishinBuck07]

Wow sounds like you been through the ringer!  This is the exact reason I don't exercise, that and I am lazy!  Lol. Running is bad!  Haha. Hope you feel better soon!

[islandbass]

Hope you get back sooner than later. 

[Oregon Native]

Have to say this body doesn't run either but it sure walks a lot.  Wish you all the best in your recovery....I remember going through pancreatitis and going out to the boat after a long stint of recovery...mold everywhere.....was so so sad.  Rods....reels....carpet...you name it.

[Scarborough817]

sounds like a rough winter a couple positives to take away

1) keep working with that left hand and you will potentially be able to fish more spots that you might not have been able to get a bait into before

2) you now have a built it baton in your wrist

[Catt]

Missed ya!  ?

 

[geo g]

Hay don’t worry about getting back on the water, and take your time with rehab.  Believe me the water and fish will still be there when your completely recovered.  Do something foolish and you could have a big set back.  Best of luck and God Bless.  

[senile1]

1 hour ago, geo g said:

Hay don’t worry about getting back on the water, and take your time with rehab.  Believe me the water and fish will still be there when your completely recovered.  Do something foolish and you could have a big set back.  Best of luck and God Bless.  

Oh, I agree about not doing anything foolish.  I am not doing anything that the doctor didn't say was ok.  He advised that I could do weightlifting exercises as long as I felt like the weight or bar won't slip from my weak hand.  The whole key is to get the right wrist strong enough to grip the heavier weights needed to stimulate the larger muscles like my pecs, shoulders, lats, etc.  That has to happen first. 

 

As for fishing, I hope to get out next week and see how long I can last but I won't be pushing it beyond my limits.

 

12 hours ago, Catt said:

Missed ya!  ?

 

I missed you guys too!

[geo g]

3 hours ago, senile1 said:

Oh, I agree about not doing anything foolish.  I am not doing anything that the doctor didn't say was ok.  He advised that I could do weightlifting exercises as long as I felt like the weight or bar won't slip from my weak hand.  The whole key is to get the right wrist strong enough to grip the heavier weights needed to stimulate the larger muscles like my pecs, shoulders, lats, etc.  That has to happen first. 

 

As for fishing, I hope to get out next week and see how long I can last but I won't be pushing it beyond my limits.

 

I missed you guys too!

How about a squeeze ball you could take with you all day long and work those muscles in the wrist area, and improve the grip.  Do it anytime you feel the need.  

[Bluebasser86]

That's some rough going right there! At least we've been flooded for a majority of the year so far so you haven't missed a bunch of good fishing weather. Hope you get a chance to get back out there soon!

[Sam]

Senile, all the best for a fast and successful recovery.

 

Based on the title of your post, I am sure all will be fine later this summer and you can hit the water again.

 

Please keep us posted on your recovery and when you are able to fish again.

[senile1]

On 6/21/2019 at 10:15 PM, geo g said:

How about a squeeze ball you could take with you all day long and work those muscles in the wrist area, and improve the grip.  Do it anytime you feel the need.  

I started a squeeze ball before the doctor gave me the green light.  I also have therapy putty that the occupational therapist provided.  The yellow putty was too easy so they moved me up to red.  It is quite a bit stiffer and I have exercises I have to do with it. 

 

On 6/22/2019 at 11:23 PM, Bluebasser86 said:

That's some rough going right there! At least we've been flooded for a majority of the year so far so you haven't missed a bunch of good fishing weather. Hope you get a chance to get back out there soon!

Thanks, Blue.  Yeah, the winter and spring around here haven't been conducive to getting out as much so there is that. 

[senile1]

I hit the water yesterday but only lasted 3 hours.  I didn't switch the handle from left to right on one of my spinning setups and then forgot and set the hook holding the rod with my right hand.  That hurt like hell and caused me to cut my time short.  I caught two bass and will be hitting the water again tomorrow. 

 

Thanks for all the good wishes!