Hi all,

While fishing in Iceland this year i noticed a severe pain in my casting hand after a couple of days, making a fist became very difficult, and after 4 days my hand was largely numb first thing in the morning. after a few casts it loosened up a little, but remained very painful to cast for most of the day. I got back about 2 weeks ago and while the pain has eased, i still have some pins and needles in my fingers. I believe this is likely to be carpal Tunnel? Does anyone else suffer from similar symptoms when fishing intensely (12 hours per day, 5 days) and what's the best treatment? I was fishing a single handed 8 weight most of the time, and wonder if the handle was too small/large?

Anyone else get these symptoms?

Cheers
Alex

A friend of mine only early 30s was diagnosed with this and was told he had to have an operation.He had the right hand done and said it was excruciating pain for the op and coming weeks.It was so bad that he refused to go back to have the other hand done and said after a while it eased off.

TT

I'd heard that the op was fairly straight forward with a minor wrist incision!? sounds nightmarish. Am hoping the tingling eases quickly!

What they say and what you get totally opposites i guess.Saw him suffering and off work for a while and no fishing either for a few months with his wrist all bandaged up.

TT

I had three episodes of CTS and it is effing painful. I found myself strapping up my left wrist and stuffing my face with painkillers in order to keep going. In the end I had to admit defeat and stopped fishing for three months. This cured it, and touch wood I've not had any further problems in the 20 odd years since.

The problem is where the nerves controlling the fingers pass through a tunnel at the base of the thumb. If they get stressed and inflamed through overuse it is very difficult to treat with ultrasound because they are shielded by the bone. Rest and anti-inflammatories will work, but it takes time.

my partner had carpal tunnel in both hands and had them both done within 2 weeks of each other, right hand done first then back to work 3 days later using a computer, then a fortnight later she had the left 1 done and it was exactly the same. the whole arm is aneathatised, after the stitches come out you have full use of your hand albeit you have to be careful, stitches are in 10 days but the only pain is if you over stretch the stitches.She says she would definately go through it again if need be and advises anyone who is offered the chance to go for it.
the only pain during the operation and its not really pain, you can feel a slight tugging when he is working to release the nerve. ( similar to when a dentist removes a tooth, you can feel him prodding and poking but no pain)

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new to flyfishing,recognise some members names from other forums

Hmm... i guess living in canada and pretty much having a 6 month winter isn't too bad then, and ice fishing is pretty fun too.

Thank you for that information! My wife is waiting to have the operation on both hands, the right hand first; and after a few weeks the left hand! She will be pleased to hear of your partners successful outcome! She also is waiting for an operation on her spine, but she's not looking forward to having that done! Anyhow, thanks for your post on the subject of Carpal-tunnel syndrome!

Regards

Mostyn

if you want to put your mind at ease google the web md, this will give you all the info you require for c t s.

Hi

Do you use a computer mouse a lot for work or home? The reason I ask is that I also suffer from CTS and use a special 3M ergonomic mouse at work which has taken a lot of stress off my hand and means it doesn't bother me as much when I fish / DIY although it is still sore. The mouse is not cheap but it has really helped me.