torn tendon in arm

[coldfeet]

So another problem after dropping big $ on kayaking.....probably hurt it 2 years ago and cortizone shots masked the problem...mri shows a tear in the left forearm and i'm a righty...freekin hurts bad....looks like surgery in april with the next few months off ...probably will take the summer off to rehad...heard the operation is a 70% chance in healing...my friend went through 6 months of rehab ...didn't work and then he had the operation....tennis elbow it's called......any opinions out there?......I'm wearing the arm band to keep me from hyperextending the tendon.....i'm not happy....also have a knee scoping in april.....need a new tail name....

 

[Stan]

I had tennis elbow and it healed after a few months of p.t. and I resumed racquetball ... this time with an excuse that I milked for years ...

If your paddling is curtailed then there's always ... hiking. Diversification is good, even in recreation.

 

[peakbagger]

Back when I was somewhat active building strip sea kayaks, I would go to shows and it was quite noticable the number of folks who had switched to Greenland Style paddles, generally related to long term damage from using standard paddles. The greenland paddle trades a faster cadence for less surface area and its real difficult to put much power into a greenland which should reduce strain in the body.

Not sure if folks are still making the switch but it may be worth checking out.

 

[Jay H]

yes, the greenland style paddle has been popular at the paddling shows I go to, there are a lot of folks out there teaching classes on making your own and the popularity is growing.

Good luck coldfeet, you might also talk to Tmax as she went through issues with tennis elbow recently. Not sure if she sees the paddling forums.

One of my paddling buddles uses a greenland paddle. They are excellent for kayak rolls as the natural buoyancy of wood is nice. They do make CF greenland paddles.

Jay

 

[spider solo]

....a little chuckle but your probably better off with a new "trail" name...than a new tail name.

Good luck with the recovery!

(I am one of those that did swap to Greenland paddles, so did my wife come to think of it)

 

[coldfeet]

After gaining some weight back I'm gonna need a new tail and trail name....

Greenland paddle sounds nice but i'm not spending any more $ on paddling for a while...I'll ask someone in the club if I can borrow theirs when time comes...

Stan...I got into kayaking because of knee issues.....

Jay....my daughter thx u....cards are going out....

I just want to go on one more kayak camping trip in NJ middle of april...I might just bite the bullet and go for it.....I'm supposed to test it this weekend using the rec boat for 1-2 hours....I miss going out....thx..happy spring...got snow flakes this am here in NYC...

 

[ROCKYSUMMIT]

Hey Coldfeet sorry to hear about the elbow/forearm. I had gotten a shot in my elbow a few years back and almost instantly felt better. The funny thing was I had purchased a kayak that winter and didn't even try to use it for about a year and a half. Different excersizes and time really helped. I have no issues paddling at all but lifting stuff with my hands facing down puts strain on the forearm that I feel. It's fine lifting with hands facing up like in a curling motion, so I'm a little careful how I lift. Is there any possiblity of getting another shot? Perhaps the first one did not hit the mark... I also had a shot in my heel for Plantar Faciitis that hurt like a mother and didn't help either. I still have problems with the heel but too much of a baby to try it again! Good luck and let me know how you make out.
-Tony

 

[daxs]

Dave, so sorry to hear about your elbow. What a bummer. Let me know if you go kayaking in April. I think my plans for a multi day kayak trip in April are going to be cancelled. I'd love to do something with you in NJ. Any interest in going back to Assateague in April?

 

[coldfeet]

Tony....missed u guys last weekend...daughter has mail going out..she thx all of you....had that 2nd shot last Oct before that Maryland trip...lasted app 4-6 weeks....If your heal hurts as much as my arm I don't know how your handling it?....are you looking to get it fixed.....How's your son?....send me a pm...

Carol...i might be stupid enough to try another Mullica trip around 4/13 right after easter sunday....Dr said that I should just "bite the bullet"...once I get cut or scoped I need a few months of therapy and I want to be real careful this time....after all of my knee scopes I never really rested up....I was always very impatient....I'll keep u updated....

 

[Stan]

....Dr said that I should just "bite the bullet"...once I get cut or scoped I need a few months of therapy and I want to be real careful this time....after all of my knee scopes I never really rested up....I was always very impatient....I'll keep u updated....

By "bite the bullet", did the Dr. mean endure the pain of paddling or endure the pain of NOT paddling?

Wish you a steady and successful recovery! Take a lesson from professional athletes, a methodical and purposeful recuperation ...

... but don't take any lessons from A-Rod

 

[coldfeet]

Go kayaking and bite the bullet...but i know if i'm with you we can follow up the trip wih a little tequilla!

 

[Stan]

Go kayaking and bite the bullet...but i know if i'm with you we can follow up the trip wih a little tequilla!

Better yet, we can follow up the trip with a LOT of tequila! My wife credits my tequila regimen with postponing her hip replacement by at least two years!

 

[KayakDan]

Shoulder and elbow stresses are not uncommon in kayaking.I had a tendonitis issue in one wrist,but I never thought it was the paddle,as much as overdoing the distance in rough water. I'm sure some of the "bargain" paddles,which we refer to as "cinder block paddles" have screwed up many a shoulder or elbow,so spend the money on a super light weight performance paddle if you can. I'm sure a Greenland paddle would help as well. I found paddling with a Greenland "twig" pretty amazing.
With a torn tendon,I would be reluctant to stress it any further,before surgery,but that's just my view. Sitting still and healing is really difficult for active people.
Several years ago,we were scheduled to go paddling in the Kenai in Alaska,and a few weeks before,my wife developed a shoulder problem. The specialist she went to gave her a Cortisone shot,and told her to chill for as long as possible before the trip.
The doctors' advice was" this problem could reoccur while you're on your on your trip,and medical help is non existent where you will be. I reccommend you take me along just in case!"

 

[Stan]

I second the motion on lightweight paddles.

I also found that a feathered paddle was more likely to cause tendonitis than a straight paddle, due to the constant rolling of the forearms. To me the benefit of reducing the windsail was not worth the stress on the wrist and forearms.