Last week I was diagnosed with cmc arthritis (where the thumb meets the wrist) in my right hand. This came as a shock as the pain/discomfort literally appeared out of nowhere. I assumed I had somehow managed to damage the soft tissue, but that is not the case.

Now wearing a brace, and I also had an injection of cortisone today.

Mundane tasks like opening twist off bottle caps, lids from jars, etc. are quite uncomfortable. My concern is paddling. I will be getting out this weekend for the first time this year, and I am wondering if anyone here has experienced this and is willing to share. Thanks in advance.

That's too bad Frenchy. Mess around with different gripping on the paddle. Maybe try wearing biking gloves to help. I don't have diagnosed arthritis in my hands, but I switched gripping while bench pressing (no longer wrap my thumb around bar), helped a ton. I rarely wrap my thumbs around the paddle too. Hope you figure out some solutions.

BigTim: "That's too bad Frenchy. Mess around with different gripping on the paddle. Maybe try wearing biking gloves to help. I don't have diagnosed arthritis in my hands, but I switched gripping while bench pressing (no longer wrap my thumb around bar), helped a ton. I rarely wrap my thumbs around the paddle too. Hope you figure out some solutions."

Thanks-pretty much the advice my doc gave me.

I had this condition in my right hand back in 1997, when I was playing the piano a lot (teaching choral music and also accompanying for a school production of "Oklahoma!") By the time I finished with the musical I was in excruciating pain most of the time. Had cortisone injections a couple times, took anti-inflammatories, and finally was referred to a hand surgeon for surgery. Not what I would have preferred, but I really needed to have two hands to continue in my career.

As the surgeon at University of Michigan Hospital described the procedure: "we will take a piece of tendon out of your forearm, roll it up, and insert it into the joint, where it will make a 'cushion' that will correct the problem. You will be in a cast from elbow to fingers for eight weeks, and your thumb will be somewhat weaker after recovery." And then he smiled and said, "And I should probably tell you that this condition is almost always bilateral."

Sigh.

My high school choirs had their concert December 8th and I had the surgery December 9th. It was outpatient surgery. I directed the middle school choirs with one hand for their holiday concert on December 18th, and then Spartan1 and I departed for Hawaii shortly after that for the Aloha Bowl Game. The people in the cast room at U of Michigan (Maize and Blue) were quite amused when I asked for a green cast, but they gave me one! Of course I had strict orders NOT to get it wet--so I didn't get to swim in the ocean at Waikiki Beach. :-(

The surgery was completely successful. After the cast was removed I had full use of my right hand and I have never had any arthritis pain in that thumb area since. We did go on our canoe trip in June and paddling was no problem. I don't really perceive any bothersome weakness in my thumb either.

It hasn't been until this past year that I realize that I am developing the condition in my left hand now. More of a problem in some ways, since it is my dominant hand. But I am no longer playing the piano and I hope I can put up with it without needing another surgery.

I realize that this anecdote refers to a time more than 25 years ago. There are no doubt different, and perhaps better, procedures or treatments now. I wish you well.

Spartan 2-appreciate the share! Much more than an anecdote when the impact is a daily reality. Thank you!

No story to share about similar issues, Frenchy, but I do hope you find relief enough to enjoy paddling.

YetiJedi: "No story to share about similar issues, Frenchy, but I do hope you find relief enough to enjoy paddling. "

Thanks, Jason. Safe travels on your upcoming trip!

My wife had it from working years in dentistry. It was so bad she couldn’t open a bottle of pop or turn the door handle to get in the house. She got cortisone shots which hurt like a bugger but did bring some relief. She eventually had surgery and is now back to normal.
She also has terrible arthritis in her feet and gets routine injections that do good. She said the most helpful thing was anti inflammatory drugs. Made a whale of a difference. Specialist wouldn’t prescribe it but her general did. Said it’s called Mobic.

Frenchy19: "

YetiJedi: "No story to share about similar issues, Frenchy, but I do hope you find relief enough to enjoy paddling. "

Thanks, Jason. Safe travels on your upcoming trip!"

Thank you! Hope you get on your trip too and that all goes well with the new arrival on the way. :)

Crazy! I hope you find good relief... whatever the course they decide, I hope they get on it and get you back on the water. I’m kinda giving up hope in my case with hands. Good to hear the positive stories. I’m sick of playing the game of going back to square one myself. The hand guy says it’s my neck and the neck guy says it’s my hands... I’m sure it’s a lot of both. I do know I get some relief by going southwest... guess after the Fourth of July I’ll try going west.

Frenchy19: "My concern is paddling. I will be getting out this weekend for the first time this year, and I am wondering if anyone here has experienced this and is willing to share. Thanks in advance."

When I was 20 I herniated two disks in my back. Prior to months of rehab, my therapist asked me what I hope to accomplish with the treatment. I said "I want to be able to portage a canoe again". That was 5,000 portages ago.

A few years ago I almost severed a finger with an ax. After surgery and PT, my hand is OK but I can't make a tight fist.

When I was young I had all my abilities without impediments. Now I have a few but I find ways to keep going.

I don't have your arthritis but you'll find a way if it's something you love. You have more impediments coming but you don't know which ones you're gonna get.
Tom

tumblehome:


When I was young I had all my abilities without impediments. Now I have a few but I find ways to keep going.


I don't have your arthritis but you'll find a way if it's something you love.
Tom"

Tom,
I hope it isn't just that I am cranky tonight, but I get tired of people who are barely older than my children spouting off with "you'll find a way if it's something you love." True enough, to a point. But some "impediments" do actually make what you want to do a task that is beyond your ability or your reach. It's called reality. Just ask Ben. Ask some of the rest of us, who are approaching 80 and finding that "impediments" tend to sort of gang up on you, and sometimes you need to adjust your plans.

I realize the sentiment is supposed to be encouraging and I am all for encouragement. And I want to encourage Frenchy19 too, as I do think there is help for his condition and he will be fine eventually.

Still, that comment just sticks in my mind and it seems insensitive somehow. I truly hope you are still saying it in 22 more years, and if that is the case, God bless you! Ah, what the heck, God bless you anyway.

I am probably just cranky tonight.

You are indeed cranky.

My post was purely inspirational with no harm intended.

I think about skiers with no legs or blind people climbing mountains. If they can do their thing, a dude with arthritis in his hand will find a way and I don't mean any of this will ill intent. It's inspirational.

If the impediments mean that you fish from a shore in a wheel chair then you too have found a way. See what I mean?

Like my father who was a technical writer by trade, I don't put a lot of adjectives in my posts so sometime they come off as snarky. I love everyone with a big warm soft and fuzzy hug.

Happy days.
Tom

Frenchy, sorry to hear this. Arthritis - hate it. The braces likely help (I have 2), however, the times I need them the most seem to be situations where they interfere and I cannot wear them .... Regarding paddling, I will often not grip the paddle as we normally do, w/ thumb opposing fingers, rather, thumb and fingers on same side of paddle shaft, and use whole hand to pull paddle through water. This doesn't hurt, but in dicey conditions one would want to return to the grip.

Mark, hope you and the docs can find a treatment to mitigate what you're experiencing with the arthritis. It's a bummer and I hope you can get back out there on the water soon (if you're not out there already this weekend :).

nctry: "Crazy! I hope you find good relief... whatever the course they decide, I hope they get on it and get you back on the water."

Thanks, Ben. You have had a few rough years, medically speaking. Maybe we can design a canoe that we can paddle with our feet and tongues...

Appreciate all the comments and kind thoughts. Cortisone is starting to help a little, and hopefully it will even more so. Paddled a small local lake over the weekend, and at the end of a half hour or so, I was done. The good news is that Deb, my wife, had to rake out the lilacs this year-my least favorite yard chore;-)

I have a Kawishiwi permit for 5/29, and I am going back and forth on whether I should hang onto it and give it a go or relinquish it. I guess I will wait a few more days.

Thanks again, all!

Frenchy19: "Mundane tasks like opening twist off bottle caps, lids from jars, etc. are quite uncomfortable. My concern is paddling. I will be getting out this weekend for the first time this year, and I am wondering if anyone here has experienced this and is willing to share. Thanks in advance."

May I tag along, please? I broke a finger once in my mid 20's and the doc said, btw, you also have arthritis. Take Advil to relieve the pain. That turned out to be bad advice for my overactive immune system.

The problem with my finger/thumb joints has always been sideways pressure. Or basically using them in a way they were not built for. There's no grinding. There is just instant pain and a period of time that tells me not to do that particular motion again for a while.

I have also lifted my bird finger when lifting a glass because that sideways pressure hurt that middle joint enough to lift that finger slightly off the glass. Please do not read anything into that. I was honestly at a bar/restaurant once where someone came over and asked why I was always flipping him off.

Paddling has never aggravated my thumb or finger joint issues. If anything - they helped.

Late last year I mentioned to my wife I was contemplating another canoe trip. She asked if I was joking. Since then, I'm wondering if she has a voodoo doll and is sticking pins in my knees. I'm also thinking you may have meant 5/29. ;)

tumblehome: "You are indeed cranky.

My post was purely inspirational with no harm intended.

if the impediments mean that you fish from a shore in a wheel chair then you too have found a way. See what I mean?

Happy days.
Tom"

Your point is well taken, Tom. (about me being cranky.)
And I don't want to beat a dead horse about this or hijack a thread about someone else, but I guess I didn't interpret your comment to mean that impediments should lead to new adventures. "You'll find a way if it's something you love." To me, that means, if you love something enough, you'll find a way to keep doing it, no matter what the "impediment."

I am trying to see what you mean. Fishing from shore in a wheel chair is fishing. Maybe that is a good replacement for a fishing trip out several days in the BWCA. Maybe not. But it is a different adventure. If you think that is the same, I challenge you to give it a try.

Staying in cabin on an entry-level lake and taking day trips is paddling. (That is what we do now.) It is a different adventure. But in no way does it replace the feeling of accomplshment of a real wilderness paddling and portaging trip for 10-12 days. Not complaining here, just thankful for what we can do.

When we were canoe-tripping at the age you are now, we thought we would be doing it forever. We had dreams of being a tandem pair in the "wilderness" when we were in our mid-80's. Talked pretty big about it. And now when I hear of those in that age bracket who are still doing it, my hat is tipped to them in GREAT admiration! (And I experience a bit of envy, too.)

It's all good. I know you were just being encouraging, and I am glad.
Happy Days to you, too.
Lynda

uqme: "May I tag along, please?"

Your flipping the bird anecdote made me chuckle, and thanks for the edit on my entry date. I hope your find your wife's doll and burn it; happy paddling!

Been fighting with "Arthur" for years now. Had joints replaced in both feet as a teenager. Left knee replacement. Right partial knee replacement. Now the knuckles in my hands have doubled in size in the past month or so. Naproxen has now become both my friend and enemy. But I will not give up going to the Quetico.