Leg Pain

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Jim P
C Guru
Posts: 242
Joined: Thu Dec 04, 2003 1:26 am
Location: Ashburn VA

Leg Pain

Post by Jim P »

Part of the game sure but - This week my right leg swelled up and got really sore.

Turns out I have two veins with blod clots - not the deep vein type you hear about with plane travelers but surface veins. Lower risk according to the doctor but they recommend staying out of canoes! Well I have been paddling a Zoom lately and with a saddle down at 8 inches compared to 9 1/2 for my other boats. I wonder if I need to go back to the bigger boats or heaven forbid the dark side...

This absolutley S%CKS!

Anybody experienced this? Any advise?
JFD
C Guru
Posts: 168
Joined: Thu Apr 07, 2005 2:40 am

clots

Post by JFD »

did you have a doppler ultrasound test of the leg? if not, you need one. paddling for long periods of time with our legs curled underneath us puts us at a higher risk for the deep clots (DVT), which can be dangerous. the best way i can think of to help prevent this would be to get out of the boat and stretch often. the higher saddle height should also help. aspirin may be good for you too. just one more thing to look out for...strainers, undercuts, pourover holes, offside crashes, and now blood clots - it's a scary world out there in a c-1.
jay
Jim P
C Guru
Posts: 242
Joined: Thu Dec 04, 2003 1:26 am
Location: Ashburn VA

Unltrasound - Yes

Post by Jim P »

Thats how they confirmed it. Doc says not to do it....I think when this is calmed down, I'll risk it w/a higher saddle and asprin pre run. Higher seat - more roll practice :roll:

Thanks for the input. Anyone else run into this?
wavewalk
C Boater
Posts: 31
Joined: Mon Oct 13, 2003 8:20 am
Location: Newton, MA
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pain

Post by wavewalk »

Hi Jim,

Leg pain, leg numbness or back pain - It's always good to be able to switch between positions. It may not be the most practical suggestion in class V but you still may be interested in reading this:
http://www.wavewalk.com/PADDLING%20POSITIONS.html

Yoav
Jim P
C Guru
Posts: 242
Joined: Thu Dec 04, 2003 1:26 am
Location: Ashburn VA

Post by Jim P »

Well -

I did not wait as long as the doc wanted to b4 going out again. I did raise the seat in the Zoom to 9" and lowered the ankle blocks a good bit. Did some seat shaping to improve blood flow as well.
Balance seems fine with the extra height.

So been out three times on short runs. Took breaks every 30 minutes to one hour. Now I seem only to get numb below the ankles so things have improved from that perspective. No new problems as yet, taking the asprin a day thing to keep the doc away.

If things work out I won't need to learn how to paddle on my arse.
Hate to have to start over again, though I must admit the idea of a strong left sided low brace is appealing

:roll:
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