anyone have any experience on paddling with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
Surgery the only real cure? Good/Bad experiences?
Did you come back as strong or stronger than before?
Submitted by haoleboyzach on Mon, 02/02/2004 - 6:13am
anyone have any experience on paddling with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
Surgery the only real cure? Good/Bad experiences?
Did you come back as strong or stronger than before?
Submitted by haoleboyzach on Mon, 02/02/2004 - 6:13am
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Hey zach, I don't know much about carpal, but I did have a wrist problem before. Actually I had a big old ganglion cyst. It was a massive lump on the top of my wrist and kind of restricted my range of motion and would sometimes hurt. for example, doing something like pushups would be too painful. But in paddling it never really bothered me much since there's only that pulling and pushing stress on the wrist, not all that much bending. I got it drained by a doctor, but then it came back. But then in summer I fell on it during a hike and it exploded and has been gone since. :shock: I think if that never happened my only choice would have been to eventually get surgery. Now my wrist is pretty fine as long as a stretch it a bit when I do push ups or something like that.
I guess this doesn't help much, just kind of a funny story. i should try find a picture it. was pretty ugly. :mrgreen:
later
#1 Mon, 02/02/2004 - 8:32am
HA! that's funny keizo. hehehhe...cracked me up. dang, it really exploded...that's pretty nasty. for sure post a pic.
#2 Mon, 02/02/2004 - 8:36am
ha, yeah keizo's thing was nasty... a huge ball growing out of his wrist... i once had to have surgery on a boil of mines.. cause i couldnt sit in the canoe anymore... not really surgery but anyways i dont know why i'm saying this.... goodluck finding help zach
#3 Mon, 02/02/2004 - 2:49pm
Hi Luke.....I had that surgery and it really made a difference....I had shooting pain from my elbow going up toward my shoulders and from my shoulders to my hand. Plus my hand would feel like needles sometimes. At first the doctor thought it was from my back but decided to do the surgery since I couldn't stand the pain...(the shots didn't work either)...it made a world of a difference. My grip is stronger and the pain is gone.....so far anyway....this was 2 years ago.....and the surgery was not sore and I was back paddling within a month......
#4 Thu, 02/05/2004 - 7:41am
hi Joy,
u don't happen to be in southern California do you? I could use a good doctor recommendation....
also, you really were able to paddle with only a month off? that might be the push i need to finally have the surgery.
zach
#5 Thu, 02/05/2004 - 5:59pm
Hey Zach.....I come from Kauai.....you know where that girl Bethany got bitten from a shark......and her doctor was my doctor for the carpal tunnel surgery. Lucky we have some great doctors over here. He's a surfer too so he understands why its important to recover and get back in the water as soon as possible. My hand and arm felt so relaxed after the surgery....all that tightness and pain went away. Go for it....better than suffering with the pain and taking anti inflammatory pills.
#6 Mon, 02/09/2004 - 7:35am
You're talking about Dr. Ravinski right? Zach you should make a trip out to Hawaii to train for a little while and go see him, he's a really nice guy and a great doctor
#7 Mon, 02/09/2004 - 7:55am
oh yeah, I think that's the Doctor I went to for my wrist too. He just drained my thing with a needle, but I would of gone to him if I eventually needed surgery.
#8 Mon, 02/09/2004 - 8:14am
Yep that's the guy.....Dr. Rovinsky.....with the pony tail......great guy.....trying to recruit him to paddle but he loves surfing.
#9 Mon, 02/09/2004 - 8:31am
mahalo guys, i'm calling my insurance now to see what they will cover...wish i could go have it done on Kauai..nice place to "recover" for a few weeks...
#10 Mon, 02/09/2004 - 9:53am
oh....another thing that you might want to do is use a shorter paddle and change to a wood paddle. I used a carbon fiber or that black paddle before but I now only use my Makana Alii paddle. That's the best paddle to use. It rips thru the water quick and its really light....it really helps the pain in my shoulders too......ho.....the wonders of growing old.
#11 Thu, 02/12/2004 - 11:06am
Hi Zach,
I am a hand therapist on Kauai and have worked with many paddlers with CTS. I think the important thing is to look at how tight you are gripping your blade and perhaps wearing padded gloves may help to give you some feedback on not bearing down. It is often that sustained grip that will give you CTS symptoms. Also Joy is right about causing referred pain into your neck but it can also be coming in the other direction. look at your posture and neck position. Doing streches and nerve glides can also help and I can fax you some if you want to send me a fax #. If you are thinking about surgery there are many excellent hand surgeons in southern California and if you let me know what area you live in I can find you one and a good hand therapist. Also your MD should have you see a Neurologist to rule out a more proximal problem-like your neck.
Aloha Midge
#12 Sun, 02/15/2004 - 9:10am
Hi Zach......listen to Midge......she was my hand therapist after my surgery. She is so wonderful....and yes.....she was the most important person that contributed to my recovery after surgery and she is a good one man paddler on Kauai. So you see......I had a surfer doctor and a paddler as my therapist......what else could I ask for.....she even designed a glove with gel pads that I use for paddling.....oh.....Lucky we live on Kauai!!!!!
#13 Wed, 02/18/2004 - 7:38am
mahalo you guys! i've spoken to Dr. Ravinsky and Dr. Evslin both of Kauai, and they've been a ton of help. after dealing with this ailment for about 10 years now, I think it's finally time to get the surgery. But it might just have to wait till after the Kauai World Challenge. :D
Midge, if you could email me at zachary_j@hotmail.com i'd love to get some of those referral names here in Socal. again, thank you!
#14 Wed, 02/18/2004 - 12:56pm