A lesson for �Team Pampers�

[mrbassky]

Im only 24 so I never really thought much about that.

Substitute any number and TommyBass hit a key point.

Approaching 50 and no MAJOR problems as yet. But they are creeping in.

-Detached retina (from climbing stairs!!! -Go figure!)

-Tendonitis in dominant elbow (my Doc's first case of 'bass elbow'. Can fish ambidextrously now).

-I've got a hip that grinds now, only noticeable when hauling a 50+lb pack into the high country. I know that my elk hunting days are numbered.

-Need reading glasses, so I have to peer over them to talk to you LOL.

What these "minor" chips are signaling is that I have to be MUCH more careful with my body than I used to. Elderly people (>70) tend to be relatively fine until they fall, and the slide begins, oftentimes terminal. Recuperation is MUCH more difficult. This is true with us "younger" folks too.

Some suggestions:

-Stretch (those muscles and tendons)

-Exercise (walking is fine). Stay on it. It gets harder to play catch-up.

-Good time to look at your diet.

-I now wear a neoprene forearm brace when fishing to protect tendons.

Take care of yourself and it goes along way. Some injuries are job related or genetic but alot are not.

[luger306]

41 has made me fish smarter not harder use to run and gun now I plan a trip and do the homework.if I could have a do over I would take better care of my body.just can't wait tell I turn 50 :

[clipper]

At 63(nearly 64) I consider myself fortunate to still be able to hunt, fish, and work.  I would be miserable if I couldn't do all  three.  A bulging disk and resulting leg pain if I drive too long or lift too much has forced me to modify my lifestyle somewhat.  I also don't hear real good out of my left ear even with a hearing aid.  I still do pretty much everything I want, I just suffer for it afterwards.  I fished 8 hours today with my son and I am feeling the effects of it right now.  It will be worse in the morning.  I have a good wife, good children who are married and either raising or starting families,  wonderful grandchildren, and I can still hunt, fish, and work.  I guess I am a blessed man.

[Hammer 4]

Boy, I feel lucky compared to some of you guys..at almost 61, only 3 things jhave changed for me with regards to fishin..

Twisted and curved spine (pinched nerve) means I can't sit or stand in one position very long, and my back hurts like hell after a days fishin. my castin hand (right) was broken 3 times from racing motorcycles and arthiritis is settin in so that hurts and my accuracy is off from years ago.  :-/

Lastly, these old eyes ain't what they use to be, I'm due for caturact (sp) surgery this year, and even with my reading glasses, tyin a lure, or hook on takes forever..

Oh, and I still work in construction..lol

[Red]

i am 31 now. a few years back i lifted (and twisted at same time) a 4x8x7/8 sheet of plywood while standing atop a ladder, needless to say, it did not end well. i shifted the lower 8 inches of my spine and my entire pelvis 1 1/2 inches to the right(you should have seen the x-ray!). after weeks in the chiropractors office i was "fixed." i still go balls to the wall at work, i cant help it i guess. co workers tell me to slow down, take it easy etc etc. i just have to do the job as fast as i can while maintaining the quality of my work. the doc told me that this one injury will probably haunt me the rest of my life. i do still get a little bit of a sore back after a day of hanging sheet rock or something, but i have not had any serious probs like the first time i injured it.

additionally i have this deal going on in my right hand, dont know what it is, maybe arthritis or tendonitis or something. it gets all tingly, like when your foot falls "asleep". it causes my grip to be very weak, this is the main reason i switched from round abus to LP. it has helped some but it still happens. i get this whenever i am doing anything that requires me to grip stuff, fishing, hammer etc etc. basically i just stop, stretch it out till the tingle goes away and continue on.

Cliff

[Bassn Blvd]

i am 31 now. a few years back i lifted (and twisted at same time) a 4x8x7/8 sheet of plywood while standing atop a ladder, needless to say, it did not end well. i shifted the lower 8 inches of my spine and my entire pelvis 1 1/2 inches to the right(you should have seen the x-ray!). after weeks in the chiropractors office i was "fixed." i still go balls to the wall at work, i cant help it i guess. co workers tell me to slow down, take it easy etc etc. i just have to do the job as fast as i can while maintaining the quality of my work. the doc told me that this one injury will probably haunt me the rest of my life. i do still get a little bit of a sore back after a day of hanging sheet rock or something, but i have not had any serious probs like the first time i injured it.

additionally i have this deal going on in my right hand, dont know what it is, maybe arthritis or tendonitis or something. it gets all tingly, like when your foot falls "asleep". it causes my grip to be very weak, this is the main reason i switched from round abus to LP. it has helped some but it still happens. i get this whenever i am doing anything that requires me to grip stuff, fishing, hammer etc etc. basically i just stop, stretch it out till the tingle goes away and continue on.

Cliff

Could be from your back injury.  Go see a DOCTOR and then perhaps the Chiro.

[Catt]

Cliff not to discourage you but most of my problems especially my lower back is a directly related to construction and many years of handling sheets of plywood, sheetrock, and hanging acoustical ceiling. My knees and hips are from walking stilts while hanging acoustical ceiling.

[Red]

yeah i hear ya, i have only been in the business for around 4 years now, and my back injury happened in my first year.  i guess i will stick to it till i cant anymore, i am one of the lucky ones who enjoy going in to work every morning, i love my job! ;D  when i get to the point where i cant do the work physically anymore, i will look for something else in the field, maybe estimating or something in the occupational safety area.  i am pretty big on the safety stuff (dont mind the fact that i shot my own finger to a 2x4 with the nail gun, OUCH!! ;D)

[rfunfarm]

Let's see if I got it right  <60 Pampers-->60 Depends--That makes me on the border. ;D I am starting to notice pains in all joints now-- but have never been hospitalized--one sprained ankle playing ball--no broken bones--no surgery--SO starting the 2nd half of life, I plan to continue fishin as much as possible. AM I A PRIME DRAFT PICK FOR EITHER TEAM?? : :  GOD has blessed me.

[mazdabassmaniac]

im 25 ive had my miniscus in my right knee cleaned out and a new ACL put in (someone elses achillies tendon) ive been in 4 car crashes so my back is garbage i have broken just about every finger ihave,my left miniscus is on its way out from favoring my right knee cause i was walking around with a torn acl for like 2 years before i did anythin,no fishing injuries yet but then again ive only been at it for like a year oh yeah i was born with a dislocated hip but i dont remember anything about that

[CJ]

This is interesting. Last year my dad blew out his elbow using the 12 o'clock hookset. For those who know me, I am a lean built and a little wired kind of guy. I actually use my whole body when I set the hook, most of the time. I stand when I fish, no seat on my front deck...yet anyway. My hookset starts with a quick step back, my arms are locked in. Then i generate power with my hips. The snap does come from my forearms and wrist. It's a 6 to 2 o'clock. I never have problems with my elbows...yet anyway. Dad has switched to spinning gear until his elbow rehabilitates.

Catt, it ain't the years...it's the miles. Sounds like you've been down the road and back! My dad is learning to adjust and one day I will too.

[Catt]

Hang in there Red & CJ I've been around the block a time or four

Thanks for the participation y'all it's been fun!

[FD.]

At age 42 I have had the following:

Lower Lumbar fusion L3-L4 at age 14

Scoped both knees

Broke a bunch of bones in my left hand (I hit myself with a hammer)

Broke a bunch of bones in my left foot (surfing)

Tendon issues in my right elbow and shoulder

I start almost every morning with ibuprofen for breakfast and fatigue sets in quickly when I am standing for long periods.

How do I fish tournaments?  I sit a lot.  I can pitch and flip with either hand and I am learning to cast left handed.

[fishfordollars]

Well I have been gone a week so I am a little behind so I will catch up.

Pains and ailments and surgeries: Heck lets just go with surgeries:

Neck: 6 surgeries, three plates and a dozen screws

Rt. elbow

Rt. Knee twice

Lt. Knee

Rt. ankle

Rt. hip Three screws

Rt. Shoulder twice

I can stand most of the day but not all.

Must take a break.

Changed hookset due to not being able to lift rt shoulder.

WOT happens less and less especially if there is a little wave action. Trailer closer to the fishing area.

Very few three days in a row anymore

In fact, very few two days in a row.

I spend more time studying waters I am familiar with with a map trying to cut down on the throttle time

Pray for a little warmer weather...Cold weather kills my joints

Now all that being said don't take me for a wuss cause if the money's right I ain't backing down...

Long Mike and Catt have both spent time in the boat with me and can back me up on the standing most of the day.

[1inStripes]

I dread how bad I will be at 40.  Im 27, and have a bad right shoulder from a football injury.  Bad knees from every sport, and now I am about to go to a doc to determine if I have psoriatic arthritis in fingers on my right hand.  I didn't even know till recently that psoriasis could lead to a type of arthritis.  Psoriasis isn't deadly, or even painful, but I wouldn't wish it on anyone.

[Tooth Dr]

Getting older certainly has its problems, but for the most part, it is better than the alternative. Tennis (Bass) elbow: I suffered with this for years. I was advised by a friend to try a chiropractor. I was very skeptical, but 60 minutes later ~50% of the pain was gone, a few visits later, all the pain was gone. Dr Bechert in Guntersville AL is my hero. For the first 32 years of my life, I managed to get most every bug that came around, but after attending Dr Marshall Ringsdorf's course on oral medicine, I have not missed a day of work due to sickness. I am convinced our diet is missing many things our body needs; so, I have been taking the supplements Dr Ringsdorf recommends since 1976. I am also convinced exercise is very important if good health is important to you. I walk every day and I also do stress bearing exercises. Fishing is my hobby, and I now cast using both hands. I also have found out my boat has speeds other than off and wide open. I also pull my boat close to where I am going to fish for several reasons, including sudden bad weather changes. I fish for fun, catch and release. I do take pictures.

Dr T

[Ineedanewscreenname20170204]

I'm 43 and don't have any real issues yet with my health but I know they're on the way.  I commend you guys with physical limitations who still find a way to get out there and fish - you're an encouragement to me.  Keep on keepin on guys!

[retiredbosn]

I turn 40 on Thursday, I have been permantly disabled since 2002.  I was injured on active duty (not in the war) in 1992.  I have had three spine surgeries.

S1-L5 fused- 1992

L5-S1  fusion broke and the resulting injuries meant I had to be fused again from L4-S1 in 2002

C4-C6 fusion in 2006

Nerve damage from back injuries include bottom of feet having numb spots, pain in my legs, sciatica, numbness and weakness in legs

Right now I have two more bad discs in my neck and two more in my back, pain radiates down arms, through hips and into places that just shouldn't hurt

How it affected my life.  I was an AVID birdhunter kept a kennel of bird dogs, up to 5 at a time.  I loved it, walked miles and miles daily while hunting, this was after the first back surgery, did really well, until it fell apart.  I fished as opportunity presented itself.  As time has passed I found myself selling my guns and dogs (they were very unhappy and neurotic not hunting), and now fishing is my outlet.  I can not stand for any length of time, and 90-95% of my fishing is done from the sitting position.  I do not run my boat hard, no jarring.  I can no longer pull all day fishing trips, I quit floating the river, last year my back went out about 2 hours from the pull out, not fun.  My john boat has pedistal seats for the back rest, sits on a trailer, and I lift nothing.  My bass boat is put in as close as possible to where I'm fishing, my poles are light and I take a lot of narcotic pain medication and muscle relaxers while fishing and wear bengay like sunblock!!!  I also use an electric winch for loading, the boat is floated off and on, I take it very, very easy.  

One thing that does really bother me while fishing is back spasms, sitting helps a lot, but the posture of holding both hands in tight, one on the pole and one on the handle of the reel, causes a lot of pain. If anyone has a suggestion on this I would appreciate it.  

So in short fishing is my outlet due to my disability, I go when I can and stay until the pain makes me give up.  

[cwen]

At age 32, not sure where this puts me, pamper or diapers, but from playing college basketball to now I hae toen the ligaments in both ankles a total of 7 times. Left ankle has non-stop pain due to a cyst and i also have tumor in that foot. Mid-way through the season my right shoulder hurts like hell but that is a fishing related problem.

[backpain...]

Team Pampers <30

Team Depends >30

Suggestion for both teams: Learn to cast and set the hook with

your forearms and wrists; less strain, less fatigue, maybe a little

less distance on your cast, but greater accuracy.

;D ;D ;D ;D

OH NO i AM ALMOST IN DEPENDS!!

For me though I have always had to take it easy. I had a ruptured disk that required surgury at 20. I had to make sure to have a comfy seat while fishing and alternate between standing and sitting frequently. Also a no go for jumping out of the boat. I recently put on a foot controled TM because I couldn't reach down and do the steering anymore.

I am certainly not looking forward to the depends club!

[kms399]

well i am still team pampers i am 27 and over weight 6'2 295. my back, knees, ankles, hips, all get pretty sore i broke my left wrist 3 times so that feels great when it is cold. i am trying to loose weight but have no time for excersise i have 2 kids one is 3 and one is one month. working 50 hour weeks and getting 5 hours of sleep if i am lucky. maybe this summer hasnt effected fishing much though

[Paul Roberts]

i am trying to loose weight but have no time for excersise

I have a suggestion here. The American diet is likely a big part of the problem. Our reliance on carbs (sugars and starch) and fatty meats have literally created a culture in which, at this point, will see the first generations with a shorter life expectancy than their seniors. Yeah, that's Team Pampers.

To eat that kind of diet most would have to exercise an insane amount to maintain a healthy weight.

A friend told me about some native South American Indians who visited NYC as part of an international convention. They saw people in Central Park running (in spandex) and were baffled. "What are they running from??" they asked. They thought that one ran because you were chasing something, or it was chasing you! Our culture is so dis-connected with nature, and our "normal" diet so contrived by industry, that we've developed some strange and unhealthy habits.

The answer is to eat a diet we evolved to eat -lean meat (chicken turkey, fish and very lean (or wild) red meats), with whole vegetables and fruits. It's the easiest diet ever, except for losing the sugar and grains that's tough, in terms of eating habits and expense (grain is cheap -that was the idea).

Moderate exercise is good, but an appropriate diet and some walking will do the trick.

Here's a book title for you: The Paleo-Diet, by Loren Cordaine.