Re: Welcome Mark/canoeing

[Guest guest]

Thank you, Gretchen. Yes, I had already come across the

articles you refer to. It was such a relief to find them and

read them. So far that is the most information about that

topic I have encountered. I've searched the web quite

extensively, including a number of neurology and urology sites

with little or no success. I submitted a question on one of

the urology sites and the physician replied that he doubted CMT

has anything to do with it and suggested sex therapy.

I do not work out per se. I quickly get bored with exercise

only for the sake of exercise. That is one reason I prefer to

engage in activities like walking, canoeing, carpentry, etc. I

think the canoeing (besides being very enjoyable) is a good

activity for my shoulders, neck and arms because it is a gross

(large) movement. Most of the other activities I do with my arms

and hands are much more constrained, i.e. woodworking, computer,

etc. The tremors I experience are not so much in the fingers

as in the entire forearm, more so on the right than the left

(which makes sense as I am right-handed) They are most

noticeable when I am doing things like using scissors, lining

up a screwdriver or screw gun with a screw, using a knife to

slice or chop vegetables, doing fine carving with a chisel, etc.

Writing is not difficult and I still have very legible

handwriting. It helps that I can rest my wrist on the surface

when I write. My 76 y.o. father's tremors are significantly

worse than mine. He has had to start eating with his left hand

as they are less present there. I suspect that both his and my

tremors may have been worsened by spending all of our lives

using many hand and power tools, even after we were tired, not

knowing till recently that we were probably hastening the

muscular damage by doing so. Anyway, back to the canoeing.

I make sure to alternate periods of paddling with periods of

rest and avoid getting cramps in my hands from gripping the

paddle for too long and/or too hard. Having my camera with me

gives me plenty of opportunity to stop paddling and drift while

I take photos or look through my binoculars. I just purchased

my canoe a few months ago and have been enjoying it immensely.

I am working on a better system for lifting it on top of my

truck so I don't strain my body too much to get it there. I

have always enjoyed being somewhat inventive and learning I

have CMT has provided me with even more opportunities to use

my brain in that way!

Mark