Tennis Elbow… without the Tennis… or the Elbow

I think, if I’m honest, that it was the kayaking that did it. Sure, I have a little cart that helps me get the 35kg kayak to the water, but then there is all the lugging before and after this. Then the repetitive action of paddling, which seemed innocuous enough.

I’m obviously in a mid-life crisis. One website mentioned that the likely time to get this was between 35 and 55 years of age, which puts me smack in the middle. Of course, I’ve done the right thing – I’ve been to see the Doctor, rather than relying on my Internet-based, self diagnosis.

I recall my mother going through a stint of Tennis Elbow in the mid 80s – except this was caused by tennis. At the time, I recall her complaining of the ache, but not the specific nuisance factor it can cause in so many other aspects of one’s day to day life. My ache seems to run along the inside of the forearm, for the most part, rather than the elbow per se. Here are some of the current problems:

• I can’t play the piano (one might argue that I couldn’t play to start with, but there you go)
• Typing is taxing (this Post is seeing lots of pauses and arm stretching)
• Handwriting is worse – obviously this is just a reminder of how redundant it seems to be in contemporary life

Then there are the ones that catch you out, such as opening jars and bottles, reaching up to grab something from a shelf, opening a car door or even putting the belt on once you are in. I’m supposed to be taking anti-inflammatories, like ibuprofen (but I sometimes forget) and, of course, rest rest rest.

The offending arm… perhaps “if thine arm offends…”?

Having read on another website that I can expect it to go anywhere from a few weeks to twelve months from now is not filling me with delight! Perhaps it is a karma reckoning for my Long Service Leave indulgence!

P.S. To those who have been Following my site, I apologise for my month’s absence. Missing a Post for one day seemed to roll around into a matter of weeks… I’ll try to make amends.

Abducted by Aductors

6. So the much anticipated kayak arrived today. Some good news… it fits in the front garden (always good when the delivery guy turns up and you have to put it somewhere from off of the truck), I can wrangle it sufficiently to get it down the side of the house, I managed to avoid stuffing any part of its maiden launch. I haven’t worked out, from a general scan of the length to angles, as to whether I will be able to slide it under the house, using the fence as a prop point. That will be a tomorrow “thing”.

ready for launch!

Anyway, I managed to get the helpful little cart underneath the 32kg mass and was able to tow it, without drama, the three hundred odd metres to the boat ramp in the park near me. It was at this point, where I took my time making sure that the scupper plugs were put back in and that I had everything I needed, that a guy wandered up to ask me whether this was a good launching point?

I don’t know, I said, this will be the first time I’ve used it. If you hang around for a few minutes, you’ll be able to see for yourself… and hopefully not seeing me sink as I go in.

Taking my time as I recognised that where the mud was dry on the ramp was “okay” but where it was wet it wouldn’t be, I managed to get myself into the kayak uneventfully. Getting off the bottom of the ramp was a little more involved, with prodding of the paddle, some wiggling of my torso and rocking about. Finally, not feeling too embarrassed, I managed to get away. I turned back to see that the man had gone.

Heading down the creek…

I set out paddling, wind behind me, Fatima Island passing by to my right. All was good. The kayak moved well (especially with only me in it, rather than two paddlers), the water was still, the paddle dipped and flipped with ease. Even my back was feeling good, my only concern coming into the exercise. I hadn’t been in a canoe or kayak for about five years. The back felt good. Tick.

What didn’t feel good were the aductors. Despite whether I stretched the feet further down into the longer pegs, or whether I sat upright, the tightening rubber band sensation across the groin was inescapable. Later in the day, I had an appointment with the chiropractor. The back felt great, but the focus had shifted to the general discomfort I had with actions like lifting my knees to hip height, or getting in or out of the car. In addition to working on the muscles, she advised me to go for a walk, accelerating steadily, tomorrow. My intention is to heed her advice. I’m just worried my body won’t be up to the challenge!

Anyway, back to to paddle. I was able to do the whole thing – to the end of the Creek – in about 90 minutes round trip. Wolli Creek is only a small ‘arm’ off the Cooks River. To each side are mangrove trees, with their roots extending out from the mud. Small crabs scuttled about – too fast for me to get the iPhone out from the water tight hatch I was keeping it in. Despite the reminders of suburbia encroaching, such as the depots for Australia Post and a bus company, it was remarkably tranquil.

mangroves abound

Anyway, the return journey, apart from the aches and a bit a of a headwind, went well enough. I am now looking forward to exploring some other parts of the river, once the aductors have calmed down… and I’ll do a bit of a stretch before the next trip too 🙂