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Just curious as to what types of injuries to joints and muscles can develope.
I'm only :wink: 42 so I shouldn't get them yet.Just wondering what to look for from the experienced guys and gals that may have injuries that were from long time fly casting.Also what ways are there to prevent those types of injuries.
Thanks
Rich
Eye injuries.One of the worse,pulling the lure from a tree or brush.
__________
sunbob
Hi noluck, I have had to have corective surgery on my casting arm elbow and I am only 40! I do however fish fairly big rods in big rivers with heavy nymphs. The original injury was from falling over while chasing a fish downstream but the Doc said it would not get better unless I stoped fishing and golfing for at least 6 months. I didn't and my elbow lasted 4 years (of constant pain) before I gave up and had an op to fix it.
It still worked out better than giving up for 6 months as I could fish again within 3 months of the op.
I have seen many anglers on the Tongariro river on windy days with flys stuck in there face or neck and that has got to hurt!
All the best.
Mike.
Well
Im on 13 and i have had my share of injure's! :cry:
Once when i was fishing with a bass lure i got a bite and it was kind of dark and me and my dad were getting ready to back up and go home when i got a huge bit and i had a bass lure on so i was glad! i had never caught a bass before and my rod had never bend that much before and i new it was a big one and then i yanked it to hook it for good! :D :) when i did........ it slid out of the fish's mouth and on to my arm and in the hook went! :cry: :!: i didn't feel it at first but as soon as we went over to are neighbors who was an experinced crappie fisher who had. had many hooks in his arm's or face and he new how to get it out! so.... out came the plyers and a mothers arm to hold when the hook and barb is being pinced so it could slide threw slowly and more easier! :!: :!: and i didn't cry but i screamed! :o :shock: and that was my injury
FisherKid93,
You must make your Father proud! Your story was very good about your injury. I want to tell you something very important and that is, PINCH down the barbs on your hooks with pliers or forceps.
Hooks penetrate your skin easily but the barb is the problem. I never regretted pinching my barbs down and have never noticed that I lose fish because of it.
Your a Great Kid!
Doug :D
Tennis elbow isn't necessarily from tennis, and rotator cup injuries aren't just from golf, and carpal tendon problems aren't just from using the computer. Not getting into the bad knees.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Lateral Epicondylitis. You prevent them by hitting the gym.
KOA1 - if you've got some excerises for the Carpal
Tunnel I'd sure like to hear/see them. Please?
The only thing that I have ever injured while fly casting was my pride. Well, that and a lot of trees.
I have "Trigger Finger". I can close my hand into a fist but then a couple of fingers lock into a close position and I need to open them with my other hand to straighten them out.
Its a problem in my casting hand.
Surgery helps to get rid of it.
My right shoulder is just plumb worn out. Originally from other stuff, but casting doesn't help.
I have to remember to really cast WELL and let the rod work itself. Else I have trouble, oh say, reaching for a coffee cup 2 feet from the edge of the table :O
I have more toruble with the left hand. Doing figure 8 retieves in cold water is tough on the articulations (then again, tree planting didn't help)
Take care when yuo play, ... listen to minor pain.
Quote:
Originally Posted by NoLuck
You think they were all kidding you when they tell you that "AFTER 40, IT's ALL DOWNHILL" ?????
GUESS AGAIN
Years ago my dad got a bass fly hook thru his upper lip--I had to laugh because it looked like he had a mustache. I got out the wire cutters and cut off the point on the inside of his lip.. As far as my fly fishing injures . I have none in 80 plus years,left shoulder that I dont use casting is wearing out. Exercise Exercisee!!! :lol: BILL
When I fish the 10wt, out comes the elastic wrist brace too.
I keep one right on the rod tube so I don't forget.
No luck, I am four years younger than you, and have a fairly annoying case of carpal trout syndrome, from casting 6 or 700 hours a year. Gets worse some days, better on others, and have had it since my mid-20s. I also have knees that are pretty much shot, in part from wading and falling down. I have pierced one ear (#6 tungten conehead slumpbuster) at a hundred miles per hour (note to those who might attempt this at home: it hurts worse), broken one hand in a fall on the stream, banged up every other part of my body, and so on.
Don't ever think the river gods will not have their due.
Cookie Monster
RW here,
I've put a few hooks in my fingers but never in or around my eyes or face. I just push the point on through, cut off the barb with a small pair of side cutters and back it out. As for the joints and muskels, I've been developing a heaping helping of arthritis in the fingers on my right hand (casting arm) and in recent years have gone to lighter rods, in particular my 1-weight. It serves all of my needs for the fish I fish for and the hand feels pretty good even after 3 or 4 hours of fishing.
P.S. I'm 70
Later, RW
Darn and to think I actually paid for my piercings :lol: .Quote:
Originally Posted by DG
Actually I have a sore forearm...though I am not too sure if it is from work or from flyfishing (tend to believe it's from work though)
No Luck:
If you wish some information on typical overuse angling injuries and their prevention and treatment, I would refer you to a book I did a review on last year. The book is FIT TO FISH: How to Tackle Angling Injuries. If you will look over in the left hand side of the screen under FEATURES, then go to Book and Video Reviews, you can find my review of this book and where to find it. The authors are an orthopedic surgeon and a physical therapist who both have years of flyfishing experience, and they did an excellent job of presenting their information.
LF:
You can find some carpal tunnel exercises at the following site: www.eatonhand.com/hw/ctexercise.htm
Shortly after Dr. Seradge developed these exercises, he sent out copies to all the physical therapists that had been seeing his patients. We have been using these exercises for the past 10 years, and in those cases where the symptoms have not yet become severe, we have had pretty good luck with them.
Larry Compton
I guess I kinda figured some of the obvious injuries would be self inflicted ones.
I was more concerned with long term type of stuff from repeated motions like some of you say. I may get one of those wrist braces and try one to see if it curbs some of the potential injuries.I have noticed after fishing long days that my wrist does get a little stiff the day after.
OHHH to be twenty again!! :P
I think I'll look into that book if I can find it also.
Thanks
Rich
Stay tuned folks, I've been classified as stage 4 with the Carpal and I do not want surgery. I tried the wrist brace/splits at the suggestion of my nerve doctor, it got worse - fast.
Searching, I have found an option which I am using. I've invited the company to become a Sponsor here, and they have accepted. Will have their Sponsor Page up very soon. It IS working for me.
I have never heard of "stage 4" CTS. If your electrodiagnostic study demonstrates moderate to severe CTS, I would strongly advise surgery. A trial of conservative treatment is reasonable but if you wait too long, permanent nerve damage can occur.
KOA? I did have the electro testing on both wrists.
My nerve specialist, said there were 5 stages and I am at state 4.
canoeman 1947 Thanks for that link.
We have several people running around the shop where I work wearing the braces you buy at the drugstore and I have had some problems myself when I'm not careful to vary how I handle parts. I've printed out that exercise and will pass it around.
I wish my CTS was because of fishing. I think it was more from my constant computer use visiting FAOL. :wink:
Seriously:
The link for excercise is great. Will have to practice regularly. Turned 40 on Nov.3... at the peak and heading down hill. FAST.
Ladyfisher,
Don't wait to long my dad did and the muscles in his right hand actually atrophied (excuse the spelling)to the point he couldn't use the hand for anything. An Operation helped but he can't hold a rod anymore. If your doctor still sugest the operation go for it.
Tennis elbow,Carpal tunnel and rotator cuff problems can be avoided by 1 warming excersizes before you start fishing. 2 Using proper casting form.There was an article on this recently in one of the mags I'll have to look it up and add which one later.
I've also found that using a grip that just isn't right can cause a problem. I have a Scotty bamboo rod, its a 7' 4/5, that when used for an extended time makes my hand go numb I still can't figure out why it happens but its the only rod it happens with.
Tom
I have never had a lot of upper body strength.Quote:
Originally Posted by NoLuck
when I was 50 and took up fly fishing I went on a 3 day fishing trip. Made lots of inefficient casts. I also fell and caught myself with my casting arm but most of my body weight was forced onto that arm and of course the shoulder muscles.
I injured my rotator cuff muscles but nothing showed on an MRI. It took me 4 years to get over the pain in my shoulder. Part of that was caused by me not stopping the fly fishing. Keep doing some range of motion and shoulder strengthing exercises.
Not having full motion and full strength of your dominate arm can be very limiting and frustrating.
Fly casting off a steep ledge or cliff can result in a nasty wet fall. Of course I am graceful and would never allow that to happen but it sure does hurt when you hit the rocks.
I originally hurt my shoulder when I was around 20 - partial separation. It gets a little worse each year. I turned 40 this year and have quit playing softball becuase of the pain. The smaller line weight I can use, the better. Casting the 8 wt all day will cause pain. The 4 wt is no problem.
Rocks,
Welcome to the club. The waranty give out at 40 and all those bumps and bangs come back to remind us that we can't always find spare parts :OQuote:
I originally hurt my shoulder when I was around 20
I banged my shoulder a couple times too. Nevere avtually popped it right out, ... but I have this sneaking suspicion (sp) that that is the source of some of my discomfort.
Might just have to go and find a 2 handed rod this summer :-)
This is probably the worst kind of injury:
http://ebaumsworld.com/2006/07/flyeye.html
Deanna, RW here
My wife had the operation for carpal tunnel. She was driving within 2 days. A clerk who worked for me in the post office had severe carpal tunnel, aggravated even more by the repeated motion of sorting mail hours every day. She had both hands done and was a mess for almost a month. Go figure. I think some folks have post operative problems and some don't.
But remember this Deanna. It never gets better...only worse, and the nerve damage becomes irreparable. I know you probably know this, but I would certainly get the operation. I don't know anyone that wasn't glad they had the operation.
Later, RW
1. Lower back - Probably from carrying way to much stuff in my vests and not paying attention to proper load distribution
2. Upper shoulders - See above
3. Blisters on right hand/fingers - Need to remember to take a break now and then, and lotion would probably be helpful.
I've had carpal tunnel in my early twenty's on both my hands. I worked as a data entry clerk entering in insurance claims into a database. It was lot of typing and I was paid on the amount of claims I processed. Eventually I changed jobs, and the injury went away. As of today, I have not experienced it while fly fishing.
Casting (tennis) elbow - cured after 6 months of annoyance with very serious exercise program under the supervision of a good physical therapist.
Shoulder - mild pain the last few months probably related to golfing or baseball as a youth - seems like the joint is not as stable as the other. Doing the rotator cuff exercises with limited success. May have to check in with the PT.
Working in automotive industry developed a 'tennis elbow' in right arm. Two separate injections of cortisone and rest. No help whatsoever. Elbow surgery (thirteen stitches long) corrected totally. Recovery therepy was fly casting. Still doing it. Don't know if I should stop therepy, doctor died. Elbow seems fine. Will keep up therepy whenever possible. Doctors orders.
Every Sept and early Oct, I'm in Wyoming fly fishing 8 to 10 hours a day , 7 days a week for three weeks. When I get back, my elbow hurts for about two months as it still does NOW. I've learned to get over it and suffer in silence.
Mark
The medical term for my condition is "painus in elbowus" heretofore incurable.
That may well be, but you're smiling the entire time!!!Quote:
Originally Posted by Marco
Lateral epicondylitis is an overuse injury. The extensor muscles and tendons are too weak and/or too
inflexibile to handle the workload of casting. As you perform the back cast or stop the forward cast, stress transmits up your casting arm to where the extensor tendons insert on the lateral elbow. The tendon injury is degeneration and not inflammation at the site of the insertion on the bone.
A few years ago, I developed this problem at the end of steelhead season. It continued for months despite conservative treatment but of course I kept casting. I looked like the walking wounded with a wrist brace and elbow wrap while fishing. By July, I had enough and I injected my own elbow. Don't ask me why this works but it did for me. The pain does need to resolve before strengthing rehab is attempted. It is very important peform the flexibility and strengthing rehab or the problem will return.
Steelhead season is coming up. Time to put the rebok weights under the coffee table for easy access.
Most of the damage seems to be between the ears, and the wallet... :roll:
As mentioned in an earlier post I recently went fishing up in Oregon. Never having cast anything larger than a 5 wt I figured that I better practice with my new 8 wt. Oh sure, put a nice big fat chernyobel ant on it and Im good to go.! Yeah, right . I get to Oregon and the guys there tell me how to rig up . Basicaly it was two 22 lb bowling balls separated by 18" of 1" steel chain (Ya gotta be on the bottom.)
Lets talk knuckle bumps on the back of my neck mellon. Back cast my eye! I was thilled to get all that line (about six feet) moving . Then there was the duck and covering that I was doing. I eventually got into a rythm so that when I caught a forward cast with the bach of my head I could use the riccochete with some degree of accuracy and place my casts. I had never really wanted a second ear pierceing but didnt want to go barbless with the particular fly that I was using (The Dr.says that the hole will eventually shrink by itself ).
The next time I go a bit larger than usual Im thinking of getting with some of my military friends to borrow a bit of body armor, maybe somthing in a flak coat and leggings. :wink:
Cheers to all,
Perch
:shock:
WOW!!!!
I am skeeered now :!:
All this talk is got me double thinking about all this stuff.
Maybe I better quit now and put all this fly fishing stuff in the closet. :P
NO way!! I am going to do my best to curb those stinkin problems with stretching and exercises.
Rich