Heeeees BAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaack!!!!

[MALTESE FALCON]

Way to go Avid, glad to hear you're back in the game.

Please don't do what I did a few years ago. I thought i was healed enough but wasn't, and I ended up missing more time fishing than if I would have waited a couple weeks more.

I'd hate to hear you had to miss fishing at The Fork because you re-injured yourself.

I sure wish I was going to be fishing down there with you guys, but my back says NO WAY.

Good luck,

Falcon

[Guest avid]

Not reinjuring myself is foremost on my mind. I got the Optima 2 weeks ago, but things still didn't feel quite right, so I waited. I'm glad I did.

But thanks for the reminder. I'm feeling the soreness and stiffness more today, so althougth I didn't get re-injured, I am still very much in need of more time to get back to full strength. I need to make sure I have enough rest between trips.

Syfer, when my canoe is basically a one man outfit. The battery. tm, tackle, and rods, plus stabilizers etc. pretty much rule out a second person in most cases. In very small water like the park in W.Palm where a TM wouldn't be needed would be the only situation where two might work, but I'm not up for paddling yet. We'll get together fer sure.

[New 2 Bass]

Avid, dude, your ride is sooo pimp!  I got the boat monkey trying to break into my apt.

Al

[Ky_Lake_Dude]

Nice fishys. :D

[Ky_Lake_Dude]

Avid what happened to ur health I don't think ive been a member long enough to know?Sorry if I sound nosy :-[

[Guest avid]

Avid what happened to ur health I don't think ive been a member long enough to know?Sorry if I sound nosy :-[

No, not at all. As a matter of fact in sharing my story I hope to help others avoid the mistakes that took me out of the game for so long.

I Live in a gated community with a private lake. fishing is pretty good, all fish are Catch and release.

I retired in 2004 and bought a canoe with oars to propel me around the lake. Funny, but I bought oars so I would get a "workout" while I fished. Well, I was fishing virtually every day. Between the rowing and the casting I was putting alot of pressure on my elbows and shoulders. Being right handed they were getting the most stress. After about a year I got the "big bass bug" I switched to hevier tackle and heavy swimbaits etc.

I was already noticing pain in my shoulders and rt. elbow, but completely ignored the symptoms by taking more and more tylenol, ibuprofen and then celebrex. I was also on the water alot more. I mean I had it bad. I wanted at least an 8lber but was secretly hoping for a 10.

This obsession really caused me to completely ignore the pain and just take another extra stregth tylenol.

Well one night I set the hook into a big bass. The pain that shot up my arm was so severe that I actually fell to my knees in the boat.

I caught my breath, and still fished a little longer but loading the canoe into the back of the pick up was very difficult.

Next morning I woke up and when I went to lift my arm, I literally saw stars. You know the old cartoons with the stars and birdies twirling around the guys head? well that was me. It hurt BADDDDDDDD

I went to the doc, got and xray of the shoulder and cortisone injections. this was a mistake. The xray didn't show anyting and the cortisone took the pain away. So I went right back.

About six weeks later the pain came back. the doc said it was probably arthiritis , gave me more celebrex and another shot. Foolishly I went right back again. (It would have been nice if he told me that the shots were not a cure, but a temproray measure to reduce the pain)

Well, when the pain returned I could barely move my shoulder.

I went to a different doc. an orthopedist. I had severe cases of bursitis and tendenitis, and a cyst in my shoulder.

I had surgery to remove the cyst, the damage bursa, and bone shaved from the clavical to increase range of motion.

I was in P/T for 2 months, then a month more at home before making my first foray out on lake.

I'm feeling it today, but like I said It's mostly soreness, so alot of ice, and celebrex.

I no longer use any pain killers at any time. I want to feel the pain, so I know when to stop.

If my story saves one BR.commer from going through similar anguish, then my mission was a success.

avid

[Guest the_muddy_man]

I think he originally got hurt lifting a slice of pizza at SPUMONI GARDENS IN BROOKLYN

[BASSMACHINE]

Glad to see that your back in the game! Looks like you didn't even get rusty, way to go! Nice fish, the pics well I've been there myself LOL.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

I bet those slimey critters really missed you!  If you woke up sore, I suggest 1.5 hr sessions instead of 3.5

Build it back up even slower.  I know you've been right on the ball as for not overdoing it but now the bug is back and we are just spurting our warnings to help keep that bug in check,lol.

CYA soon!

[New 2 Bass]

I think he originally got hurt lifting a slice of pizza at SPUMONI GARDENS IN BROOKLYN

He tried to do both the slice and the beer.

[edbassmaster]

Well we tease him alot but we got em on the spot...welcome back!!

[Long Mike]

Glad to hear that you are back out beatin the hydrilla again.  Can you tell me more about the fold-up dolly?

[PeterF]

Welcome back. Repeat after me "No Dr. I haven't gone fishing yet... , I've been good!

[Guest avid]

Hey guys,

Thanks for all the reminders,  believe me I do need them.

For the past month or so I have been able to bank fish a few hours a week (hence the spinning outfit, lighter and better distance with light baits but the big plus is being able to switch from rightie to leftie)

Of course, if ya have a boat you gotta use it.  Because my lake is electric motor only, I bought a TM a MK vector 3x 55lb. thrust. Great motor. but it weighs 44lbs.  

I needed a way to lift and transport the battery and motor without stressing the joints.

Doc warned "worst thing is heavy lifting"

So I went to home depot and told my story.   One guy was very helpful and he showed me this little dolley about 3.5 feet long and 2 feet wide.  The handle folds down flat along side the bed, so I bought it.

It's perfect.  I can take put it on the dolley. The only lifting is the actual install and remove.  Because the dolley is about  inches above ground level, the lift into the rear seat of the pickup is shorter and easier.  I do the same with the battery, but I also can leave the battery on the rear floor of the p/u cab.

I used to lift the trojan grp 27 into the bed of the tacoma prerunner (high ground clearence)  doc informs that this move was the final straw that blew out my shoulder.

So the lighter optima battery, which I have dropped on it's side on the concrete ramp.  takes a lickin' and keeps on tickin', and the fold up dolley, have put me back in the game.  My tm has a maximizer built in so I able to spend a decent amount of time on the water, but not too much which is good.

The battery acts as a mandatory trip limiter.  Keeps me from overdoing it in spite of myself

As far as lifting the canoe into the pu bed.  it's pretty easy.  I store the canoe with the front on a 100 gallon cooler so it's a pretty slide right into the bed.  then at the ramp is this little rise.  so after I unload everything I repostiion the canoe and just pull it up the rise (grass covered, easy pull) and with just a little lift I get the nose into the bed and then push from the back.

It sounds alot more complicated than it actually is.

Hope this was helpful

Have fun and good luck

avid.

[KU_Bassmaster.]

One more word of warning:

If you happen to stick a 10+ bass ......... cut the line.  NO HEAVY LIFTING!!!!!! ;D ;D

[SPEEDBEAD.]

Kinda late on this one, havent been at work in four days. Keep it up, hope everything continues to heal up for ya.

Wayne

[BadKarma42]

nice fish

[Redtail]

Glad to hear your back in the game!

Your abstract picture taking ability can only be compared to Spielberg - Awesome!

I hope you realize Avid spelled backwards is Diva - Bassresource's very own Diva!  Wow

Stay Healthy and Party on my Friend!

[Blue Eyed Fisher Chick]

Glad you back and feeling good.  Just remember to take it easy so your not "without fishing" again!!

[K_Mac]

avid, we members of the "broken fin" club salute you.   8-) I am happy that you're able to get back out on the water. Keep up the good work , and as many have said, be careful out there.

[Guest avid]

Well,

Thanks for all the kind words, but I spoke too soon.

Even though I can fish - if with caution, I had a nagging pain deep in the shoulder that never went away.

It's odd, because it's constant low level pain unless I apply weight or pressure in a few positions.

Anyway.  MRI revealed a rotator cuff tear.  I'll be heading back under the knife.  I'm not too depressed because I have no intention of stopping fishing.  

I see the doc on Jan. 31.  I want to hold off untill the summer (in Florida that makes more sense than it would in Wisconsin)  

I can cast without pain, but setting the hook hurts.  So I'll be using my RH baitcasters and switching the handle on my spinning reels.

I will be going to Lake Fork

I'm not sure how this happened, but my wife is like a pitbull on that front.

thanks again for the kind words.

Please DO take care of yourself.

avid.

[Redlinerobert]

Avid,

I'm sorry to hear that your headed back for another surgery.  I will pray for a speedy recovery for you.