Re: [Paddlewise] Hip Replacement and Kayaking

On Tue, Mar 23, 2010 at 11:07 AM, John Knoll <wjknoll_at_verizon.net> wrote:

>
> Most important I have learned, it won't have to eliminate my paddling in
> the
> future and hope others can benefit from our collective experience.
>
> It seems that every sport has its own "typical" injuries. Bicycling has
broken collarbones (the Tour de France typically has a few of these every
year). American football has concussion and knee injuries. Kayaking is known
for rotator cuff problems and shoulder dislocations (although fewer of the
latter now that more people are taking lessons and learning how NOT to do a
high brace).

Bruce's remarks about "referred" pain reminded me of why I have arthritis in
my right hip and right foot. I messed up my left knee in an industrial
accident over 20 years ago and have walked with a cane or crutches ever
since. At least any walk beyond the driveway of our house. It's no longer
the left knee that gives me trouble when I try to walk further; it's my
right hip and foot.

The only two sports I can do now are kayaking and (oddly enough)
cross-country skiing. Both of them are low (or no) impact on the legs. I was
amazed to find that I could xc ski, actually, and only returned to it after
a few winters of almost no exercise. Thinking it over I realized that all I
did was shuffle my feet and I had two poles to lean on. In fact on at least
one occasion my wife and I skied back to a plowed parking lot with our car a
half-block away. We took our skis off and I discovered that I couldn't walk
to the car. My wife had to bring it to me. But I could have skied there no
problem!!!

I gave up worrying about using a cane or crutches long ago. They make the
difference between being able to go along on family outings or sitting in
the car. But a recent 5-hour stint on (forearm) crutches at the Woodland
Park Zoo went far beyond the ability of hydro-codone to fix and I'm afraid I
was not my usual cheerful self during the 2-hour trip back home. I was, as
near as I could tell, the only person on crutches there but there must have
been 25 or 30 people in those electric wheelchairs you see advertised on tv
and that got me to thinking. Those folks were all having more fun than I
was. And I'd bet there were used ones on craigslist.

So the next day I started looking at craigslist (using www.craigz.com which
is a search engine for craigslist Pam pointed out to me and is very handy)
for electric wheelchairs and found one for $300. Then I found an electric
lift device that plugs into a Class III hitch receiver for $500. I am going
to use a separate battery so I don't have to always take my own car (almost
all of us have a hitch receiver in my family) and can just swap the lift and
chair to another car and we can all go together.

An unexpected bonus was that I'm now the most popular guy in the
neighborhood with the kids because I let 'em drive. LOL

My motto: I may be old, fat, bald and can't walk so good but it's STILL
better than dead!!!

My other motto: I'm not as dumb as I look.

Oh... new that chair is on Amazon for US$3400 and the lift is on the 'Net
for $1800. Craigslist is your friend.

Never.... ever.... give up your mobility.


Craig Jungers
Moses Lake, WA
www.nwkayaking.net
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