Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Flyfishing

[HeaveToo]

I have been flyfishing since I was 12.  With over 20 years of flyfishing under my belt, some guiding, selling some flies, and things like that I have now encountered something new.  I had my first case of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome about 6 or 7 years ago from putting in over 300 wooden stake posts with a digging bar and 10 pound sledge hammer.  My carpal tunnel flares up once in a while.

I have discovered that it really flares up when I flyfish some.  It is irritating because I have to take breaks because my right hand goes numb.  I wear a brace at night and right now I am taking Ibuprofen to try to get the inflammation down.

Has anyone else had an issue like this?  How did you overcome it?

I am so tired of having a numb hand and I have been to the doctor to this before.  I don't want to get the surgery unless I absolutely have to since I work in Law Enforcement and I depend on my hands (I also don't want to burn 6 weeks worth of leave or go on short term disability). 

Any suggestions or experiences would be appreciated.

[Ernie]

Be very careful with Ibuprofen. It can and will damage the kidneys. I know....

There are folks that know how to work on these type of conditions but you will need to take the time to see them and have the hand worked on.

Ernie

[Daniel Davala]

My suggestion is not a medical one, but rather a casting alternative.  Practice and become proficient casting with your non-dominant hand.  It really isn't as difficult as it first seems.  Often times during a basic fly casting class with complete beginners, I will have the new casters switch over and use their non-dominant hand for a bit, especially when their dominant hand gets tired from the new activity.  I have not had a single student that could not adapt the casting principles they just learned to their off hand.  Some even cast better loops with their non-dominant hand.  

 

A word about practice.  I suggest that you DO NOT strip a whole bunch of line off of the reel and try to make your long cast right away with your non-dominant hand.  Instead, work with about 25 feet of line (+ the leader and yarn fly) outside of your rod tip and pinch the line to the grip - no line hand necessary.  This will eliminate the other variables and let you focus on making a good, controlled loop with a fixed amount of line.  Once you are making good, narrow loops, you can attempt to shoot a little line.  It may take a few sessions to build up your competence, but it will improve the rest of your casting life.  Once it becomes second nature, you can simply switch hands and keep fishing when your Carpal Tunnel Syndrome flares up.  At other times when it doesn't, you have a very useful casting tool that will give you angles and accuracy in situations when your dominant hand is simply on the wrong side.

 

Dan Davala

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[Paul Brooks]

I've had a lot of problem w/ tennis elbow and pain across the top of my casting had.  After speaking to numerous hand specialists, the only thing that I found that works was ice.  I ice my arm for 20 min every morning and every night.  I also ice it after I lift, run, fish.

 

I too can't afford surgery due to work concerns.  I agree w/ watching the pain killers of any sort.

[Brad Gentner]

I seem to be prone to tendon issues. Tennis elbow in the right and
gamekeepers thumb in the left. Issues with both knees (patella
dislocations) and SLAP tears in both shoulders. Rest (immobilization)
is really the only thing that works to get rid of the issue. Stretching
and strength training in the appropriate muscles prevents return of
problems. My physical therapist gave me a set of hand stretches for the
tennis elbow and I haven't hand any problems since she showed me those
years ago. I have also found that supplements help - fish oil,
glucosamine/chondroitin and a good multi high in manganese and copper.
I started taking all three for pretty constant knee pain and they have
worked wonders. YMMV.......

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[Trent Jones]

I would also try casting while gripping the rod half as hard as
normal. A lot of people grip the rod much to hard which fatigues the
hand and makes dampening the rod at the stops harder..once you feel
good with that...repeat...again...half as hard.

From the Anchorage Club

-Trent

[Frank Polito]

So you been gripping your rod too tight since you were 12?

In the interest of keeping this forum family friendly I am not going
to say anything else on this matter.