Radial Neuropathy is the “acute
trauma to the radial nerve that extends the length of the arm.” Some common symptoms include, “numbness
(back of the hand and wrist), and inability to voluntarily straighten the
fingers. Loss of wrist extension is due
to loss of the ability to move of the posterior compartment of forearm
muscles.” In the college scene, it's
better known as Drunk Arm. It’s the result
of binge drinking to the point of passing out on your arm and damaging the
nerve. In the fly fishing world it’s simply
known as, Streamer Arm.
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| High Water and fast flows |
How do you know if you’re suffering from streamer arm? Aside from the more recognizable symptoms such
as, regularly blaming your poor casting on your throbbing elbow, debating the
use of a woolly bugger as a streamer and the constant smell of Icy Hot in the
boat. There are some lesser known signs
to look for, like wondering if you can overdose on Ibuprofen.
Also, if you're camping in an area that’s under a tornado watch and the sound of a C-130 landing on your head wakes you up. The idea of using your cell phone to check
the weather seems logical but the action involves using your arm. Instead, you take another Ibuprofen.
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Lunch
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If you’re still not sure. A conversation I had with my wife when I got
home might help. Wife, “Did y’all sleep any this
weekend? You look terrible. What’s wrong with your right eye? I think you have Pink Eye. Gross, you have a bug in it.” Me, "Oh yeah, I remember it flying in there
Saturday night but my arm hurt too much to dig it out. Can you open the Ibuprofen bottle for me?"
And why do we do it?
When you see a 25-27-inch brown tracking your fly back to the boat,
you’ll understand? It’s worth every
painful minute. Can’t wait to get back
to the White River and suffer again!
