It's Rough Getting Old, But Consider The Alternati

[[old] brianric]

I started rowing for the second time starting on May 27, 2004. When I started rowing I would end up with calluses on my left hand that eventually would crack and bleed, so I started wearing gloves. Calluses went away. Then I got a very painful bunion on my little toe on my right side. That only went away after I used freezone. I now row strapless. Then I cut the living daylights out of my butt. Switched to Jlracing shorts, and fold a towel on the seat. I then developed rowers elbow on my right elbow. Still wear a brace on the arm that puts pressure on the tendon so it does not rub against the bone. This morning I pulled a muscle on my left rib cage area. Hurts like the dickens. <br /><br />I’m 55. Are the problems do to old age, or do these problems happen to the young wiper snapper (lol)? <br /><br />BTW, I have something that affects males mostly. Do I stop rowing to allow my body to heal? h*** no. Never said I was smart.

[[old] Slow Boat]

Brian,<br /><br />My guess is that it beats the alternative. At days from turning the big 5-0 I have calluses on my right hand, but never tried gloves, never had a foot or toe problem, never had a butt issue, never had a back problem, worked out my neck/trapesius issue through physical therapy, the only rib issue I've had was from golfing (gave up that useless sport 10 years ago) but my left elbow hurts like h***.<br /><br />Tell me about "rower's elbow." The pain in my left elbow is at and just below the elbow joint on the inside/underside of the arm. It's strange because it doesn't hurt much at all when rowing, but is sore to both the touch and when lifting things after rowing. I've tried to rest it, but notice no difference.<br /><br />IMHO, the youngsters have it easier than this. They don't know how fortunate they are.

[[old] brianric]

Lost two days of rowing and work. I only watch TV while rowing, so I found it weird watching TV and not row. I have a Tivo and two Replay TVs, so I record everything I watch. <br /><br />The elbow pain is on the inner side of the elbow where it fells like a notch forms. I use <a href='http://www.bioskin.com/MN.asp?pg=elbow' target='_blank'>Bio Skin® Tennis Elbow Band</a> just below the joint when I row. Hope to be rowing tomorrow.

[[old] grams]

I developed an elbow and a wrist problem too when I gor my D. So I have put an old model C handle on my D and that seems to help. It changes the angle of my arm pull, and also brings my hands a bit closer together so I am pulling more in a straight line. <br /><br />Try pulling underhanded for 5 minutes at a time. I think developing the muscles on hte other side of my arms is helping.<br /><br />And I slowed down the spm so that I'm not jerking the handle so much. My workouts are at 19-20 spm, but they are more powerful, so I haven't lost as much time as you might think.<br /><br />My elbows are (almost) ok now, but I still wear the elbow straps just in case. Now to get back in shape. <br /><br />Brian, everyone thinks I am 10 years younger and I owe it all to rowing. That is a real perk in addition to just plain feeling healthy. Go for it you young whippersnapper.<br /><br />grams

[[old] Byron Drachman]

<!--QuoteBegin--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->I’m 55. Are the problems do to old age, or do these problems happen to the young wiper snapper (lol)? </td></tr></table><br /><br />Brian, you're just a baby. At least you look fine in your photos.<br /><br />Grams, I agree that changing the angle of the hands is a big help with sore elbows. <br /><br />It's also helpful to avoid the "guy thing" of using the arms too much. You're supposed to keep your forward lean and keep the arms relaxed and straight, grip relaxed, for the first part of the drive. At the finish when you use the arms, try to "pull with the elbows" so you're using your lats. I confess that I'm not an expert, but I'm passing along some information I've picked up at this forum from Paul Smith and others, the DVD's by Xeno Muller, and some coaches from a rowing (sculling) course I took this summer. <br /><br />If some personal coaching from an expert rower is not available, I'd like to recommend the Xeno Muller DVD's. I think there is a consensus at this forum that you're less likely to suffer injuries if you erg with good technique. <br /><br />Yoda (AKA Bill) offered a nice suggestion for sore elbows a while ago. For each hand you take three full sheets of newspaper, lift the arm off the table, and starting with one corner you crumple the sheet into a ball. No cheating using the other hand. Among other things, it strengthens the grip, which is one of the recommendations for sore elbows according to some sources. <br /><br />Byron

[[old] brianric]

Part of my problem is I have this in my left shoulder <img src='http://www.brianric.com/images/shoulder.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />, and was told I need total knee replacement in my left knee. Going to h*** in a heartbeat, but enjoying life.

[[old] Byron Drachman]

Hi Brian,<br /><br />Yikes, what a mess in that shoulder. I had a shoulder wired together with some hardware after an accident, but the hardware was removed. I returned to rowing trying to get my shoulder back to how it was before. For me rowing has been a big help. <br /><br />I like your philosophy of not giving up and doing what you can.<br /><br />Byron

[[old] Yoda1]

Brian,<br /><br />Your Xray photo looks similiar to both of my shoulders. We're both bioinc. When I was going through therapy the therapist kept telling me that when I was released not to stop doing certain exercises for my shoulders. There are three that I do almost daily. One is the overhead stretch with a pulley, two is internal rotation, and three is the external rotation. Although my strength hasn't come back like I would like, I believe that these 3 exercises are keeping the joints pretty healthy. Also a nightly beer helps.<br /><br />Yoda

[[old] Paul S]

I think Betty Davis said it best, "Growing old ain't for sissies."<br /><br />Paul Salata

[[old] Paul S]

You know looking at my previous post I thought it might be mis-interpreted. I meant I can identify with Brian as various things keep kinda breaking down. In Jan I injured my back, which led to a pinched nerve in April, which left my right leg weak, which led to it buckling as I was descending a stairway in June, which led to a fractured left metatarsal, which led to 4 weeks in a cast, then 3 weeks in a walking boot. So here it is August and I have finally gotten back into my love/hate relationship with my evil-rowing-gadget. I am so glad to be back on it.<br />I finally am feeling human again.<br /><br />Paul Salata

[[old] brianric]

Scared the daylights out of me day after surgery. Had to go to Thomas Jefferson in Philly for operation on the shoulder. The next morning the doctor had me doing PT. It was funny two days later as I was getting ready to leave the hospital. I dressed myself, took 30 minutes to put a shirt on. Some cute young thing came in and said “Who dressed you?” I said “I did.” She wanted me to undress then dress myself to make sure I didn’t hurt myself. I told her unless she was going to get down to her birthday suit so we could dress together to get the h*** out of my room.<br /><br />I’m driving my knee doctor up a wall right now. I’m wearing a brace and that is eliminating 95% of my pain. He wants to do knee replacement, I said see you later, I’ll come back when I’m in pain. He went through the roof when I told him I’m doing a 26.2 mile walk this September 18. My primary care doctor is more supportive, telling me to go for it. <br /><br />My dad, when he retired, did nothing. I said to my brother that dad will waste away. He died a very painful death to colon cancer. I’m not letting anything stop me from doing what I want to do, within reason. I’m not going to waste away like my dad did.