OT...Stiff fingers and joints....

[John(Tx)]

Just wondering if any of you hunters have the same problem I've been experiencing. Lately, since I spend alot of time swinging the Excal II and carrying the the Reilly scoop, my hands have both been bothering me. My hands start to ache and my fingers start to also ache and lock up on me, guess it's from the firm grip on both machine and scoop. Went to the doctor, did the x-ray thing, and it came back normal. He suggested maybe going to a hand specialist and either cordizone shots or surgery. I don't hurt that bad so I may just have to live with it as long as I can. Anyone else have this problem. Sure don't want to give up beach hunting. Thanks and good hunting to all. John

 

[YAKE]

John,
Had the same problem a couple years ago could not grip anything without pain in my fingers and hands made detecting and cooking my other hobby very uncomfortable. The doctor told me to reduce my salt intake didn't help, but I noticed when I drank less diet soft drinks (I was drinking three to five a day) the pain subsided so I quit all diet soft drinks and have been pain free since. I don't know if this will work for you I'm not a doctor. Good Luck.
Jerry

 

[Tony in FL]

Some supplments for joint support that might be worth trying: Glucosamine, Chondroitin, MSM, and/or Celadrin. Best of luck for a quick recovery!

 

[mudpuppy]

What you have is a simple case of 'Hammerhand" once common when carpenters actually had to pound nails in instead of using air nailers, its best treated by wrapping your hand around a cool cylindrical mass of liquid, for about two hours after. You will also experience "Stankear", "Camelknees" "Prunefoot" and several other maladys associated with this hobby, and little known to the healthcare industry. You will have to self medicate for each, and I have found the cure for Hammerhand works pretty good as a remedy for all. Just dont get GOUT! That, my friend, will shut you down quicker than dead batteries, is more painful, and lasts longer than you would like! HH
Mud

 

[amberjack]

used to get the hand thing from plastering holding the trowel all day would wake up in pain with my hand locked shut would have to straighten it out with my other hand and it was painful just had to work through it guess its similar to hammer hand, try those little spring loaded squeeze things, like just squeeze them in and out strengthen the mussels in the hand might help?

i know i get a sore forearm in left arm from diggin with scoop like frank from every body loves Raymond says "walk it off ray" just have to work through it and the mussels will get stronger that's my theory anyway

 

[John(Tx)]

It's a real pain when my right hand locks up and have to use my left to free it up....may also have to do with old at 63, I will try the supplements and the cold thing. Good hunting to all you guys. BTW, cooking is also my other hobby...John

 

[Bill - De]

It's a real pain when my right hand locks up and have to use my left to free it up....may also have to do with old at 63, I will try the supplements and the cold thing. Good hunting to all you guys. BTW, cooking is also my other hobby...John

You might look into taking 350-400 mg per day of magnesium glycinate.

 

[tvr]

I'm about one handful of years behind you on the aging curve.

Don't know if you have a standard handle and rod on the Excal or a straight shaft. If it isn't a straight shaft, get one. The better balance will help. I try not to grip the handle harder than needed based on conditions. Switch hands regularly. Stay hydrated.

This past Sunday I did not stay hydrated enough while out with the wife catching blue crabs and I had bad hand cramping issues. The crabs were very tasty through!
Cheers,
tvr

 

[John(Tx)]

n/t

 

[John(Tx)]

Yes, I do have a straight shaft, a Pluggers and it works great. Jaime and I spent about 6 hours of steady hunting under the hot Texas sun. Even though we were in the water, it was still very hot, we lost so much sweat that our hands starting cramping up bad, it was on the painful side. I ended up drinking about 1/2 gallon of water and after a while the cramps went away but the locking stiff fingers still remained. But no matter, I like detecting so much that I will put up with the discomfort, is this a great hobby or what? I like those blue crab myself.....HH

 

[txkickergirl]

Yes, I also get that as well. In fact in school I was a drummer, and my hands would lock up during a set and the drumsticks would just clatter to the floor.

I noticed for awhile that my elbow was killing me, then I figured it out I put my scoop on a loop around my wrist and would drag it behind me that way, it was too much stress on my elbow for extended periods of time.

I have found that throwing the scoop up on your shoulders help, I also detect with a straight shaft but I am also going to install a strap that will slip around my hand, so that I can open my hand when I am along the shoreline and give my hand a break from always gripping it. I hunt usually 8-10 hours at a time.

I have also been thinking of taking some supplements.

 

[TRIPLE-SSS]

Hi John,
It takes me a full day to recover from an all day hunting excursion. I didn't have that kind of problem when I was younger but things do change with age. When you do things that you have not done for a while,the body lets you know it. The mind is young, but the rest of the body lets the mind know when sometimes we overdo it. I'm sure everybody is different to a degree, but with age comes wisdom and we have to do things a little different sometimes. Supplements and some otc medicines will help depending on the individual.
Hope you can find something to help you overcome this problem.
HAPPY HUNTING
Stan.

 

[John(Tx)]

At 63 i've already out lived my dad by 6 years, dad smoked Camel cigarettes all his life and lung cancer got him at 57. You are correct Stan, the mind wants to go but the body says....slow down, but this hobby keeps me going, best hobby I've ever had. HH

 

[GaBeachsweeper]

Another one saying Uh Huh, "What he said" The fingers on my left hand are nearly constantly stiff and somewhat achy. I swing the Excal with the right hand mostly (draggin the RTG scoop with the left) but switch off for the sake of spreading the fatigue around. Just getting old I guess. At work on particularly hot days, if I am not properly hydrated both hands seem to want to sieze up when I am stripping insulation from control cables for termination.

 

[marc g]

I started using cheap cotton gloves, with the rubberized palms, on my left hand. I find that I don't have to grip the scoop handle quite as hard. I also started carrying my new larger scoop on my shoulder, and that seems to help also.
Marc

 

[deerman]

try eating a banana before going out also some gatorade it will help as it keeps you hydrated and potassium in the banana will help with cramping
hope this helps

 

[johnnymac]

I use an excal with a straight shaft and stock coil. After several hours of hunting in and out of shallow ocean waves my hands start to cramp-up. I bought a minelab gold detector bungee cord from one of the dealers in Arizona and clip it on a pair of suspenders to balance the coil with little effort. I also soak my forearms in one of those large foot message's and use Epsom salt and hot water to relieve cramps and tennis elbow like symptoms

 

[Florida Keys Pirate]

Stick a gatorade in your pouch, and work on it throughout your hunt. Make a bracket/strap/something to hold the bucket of your scoop on your waist, and drag the handle while you are walking. I'm only 39 , and after 5-6 hours , I can barely move my scoop hand. This is my new plan, and I bet it'll make all the difference in the world.