Question for the old guys

[porch monkey]

You younguns will laugh at this now but give it a few years and you'll be searching for this thread. lol

Like a lot of you probably do...I suffer from arthritis. It's pretty bad on my whole right side (shoulder all the way to ankle) and one of the worst spots is my right wrist. I try to wear a brace on it to help some but I have trouble finding one that is durable enough. The ones I use are like the carple (sp?) tunnel braces with a metal piece that goes on the inside up into my palm. I wear a glove over the brace but they still don't last very long...running a saw is about as hard on it as anything. Sometimes it seems they don't really make anything for a working man. Have any of you with wrist problems found something more durable?

Thank you for any help. (And we forgive you kids for snickering.) lol

 

[Gologit]

Old guy? I think I qualify. I have about every kind of 'itus there is, mostly from old injuries and a lot of years spent working in the woods.

Mostly I just ignore them but on cold rainy days an anti-inflamatory sometimes helps. I use Excedrin and I take it before I start work. They're just normal aches and pains that go along with getting older.

The carpal tunnel thing is bad, though. I have white finger to the extent that I can't button my shirts anymore...no feeling in the first joint of the fingers and a resulting loss of dexterity. Maybe that's why loggers wear hickory zip front shirts? I've tried the carpal tunnel wrist things and they just seem to get in the way. This winter I'll be having carpal tunnel surgery on the worst hand and, if it heals up quick enough, both hands. I'll let you know how it works out.

And if the young guys laugh...tell 'em "just wait"...you and I might live long enough to listen to them complain.

 

[JayB]

As old guys, we've learned how to work with some discomfort. A pain reliever, as already suggested will be good to avoid the pain distracting you and leading to an accident. If your right wrist is a little weak, I think the most important thing is to "splint" it to avoid loss of control of the saw.

I think you should get with a physical therapist or athletic trainer and have them show you how to wrap it. The wrap costs about a dollar so it's OK if it only lasts a day or two. This should work better than the store bought stuff anyway. Good luck to you! Jay

PS Watch the Red Green show for more ideas!

 

[oldsaw]

I was in a motorcycle wreck 20 years ago that messed up my left shoulder and herniated 4 discs in my back. Add that to genetically bad knees, and some mornings are tougher than others. Motrin is my friend a lot of days, but not being much of a pill taker, most days I just tough it out, tending to take something at night rather than the day. Once I get moving I can keep going.

 

[2dogs]

OK. You can laugh if you want to but here is my suggestion. Buy a copper bracelet and feel the miracle. I don't know how it works or why but it does for me. All the old cowboys I knew wore them and not as a fashion statement. Look in your local drug store or golf shop. you should pay less than 10 bucks for one. Western stores usually have fancy bracelets but you will pay upwards of 30 bucks there. Indian (feather) markets usually have them too.

I also find a hot bath works when you keep your hands in the water. Vitamins help me too. Again I don't know why. Some doctors now feel that a bacterial infection in the wrist may lead to problems you are describing so long term anti-biotics may be prescribed.

Oh, and stay away from the Stihl MS260. The vibrations really hurt my hands.

 

[andrethegiant70]

Well, I'm not "old" but... oh, who am I kidding? I'm still short of getting AARP magazine, but not by much. I've got hot spots everywhere, but so far my wrists are ok. I guess with carpel tunnel you would want to stay away from compression, since that's part of the problem already. I believe the "braces" that they give you for carpel tunnel are made to limit your movement, hence they are actually MADE to be in the way. I wish the news was better for you there. Regrettably, one of the things they recommend is for people to stop the repetitive motion that is giving them the problems. I myself would try a bunch of things, being very skeptical of doctors. Doctors play the odds, and I have a problem with that, since it's MY HEALTH they are generalizing with. Everyone is different, and what doesn't work for someone else might work for you. Get on the web and see what other people are doing. I bet there are a dozen things you can try.

I'm thinking soaking in Epsom salts before and after and an anti-inflammatory might prove helpful. Maybe try topically applied arnica, you can find it at your local herb or health food store. It's a bit of a hippie thing, but who cares... find your inner hippie, you might be surprised what you get out of it. Many folks get soft-tissue benefits from arnica.

My problem in that area is hand cramping. I do try to stay in shape, but the lot of a weekend warrior is that you really can't cover all your bases very well. Throwing all the wood around is an exercise that is hard to duplicate in some other way.

We won't even go into the lower back, achillies bursitis, elbow, and neck.

 

[bitzer]

I don't think I'm too old yet (27). But a couple of years shoveling and wheel barrowin wet traffic bond was torture on my lower back. I've thrown it out 3 times now to the point where I walked like a duck with a stick in my a$$ for a week. I gotta watch it when I'm limbing or bucking a certain way because it starts to tighten up and makes me hella nervous. On those cold and rainy days I usually throw down a few Ibuprofen and stay really hydrated. Water is the lubricating oil of the body. All good for the joints and such.

 

[Henry G.]

Not that old (44) but with all the firewood work lately my CT is getting bad, hands/thumbs tingle on and off all the time, go completely numb at night waking me up. Ibuprofen helps some of the pain, they say braces help keep your wrists straight but lowering them is the only thing that gets the feeling back most of the time...if anyone knows of a good brace i would appreciate it too if it helps

 

[andrethegiant70]

I don't think I'm too old yet (27). But a couple of years shoveling and wheel barrowin wet traffic bond was torture on my lower back. I've thrown it out 3 times now to the point where I walked like a duck with a stick in my a$$ for a week. I gotta watch it when I'm limbing or bucking a certain way because it starts to tighten up and makes me hella nervous. On those cold and rainy days I usually throw down a few Ibuprofen and stay really hydrated. Water is the lubricating oil of the body. All good for the joints and such.

Guys with back issues REALLY need to strengthen and stretch trunk muscles, even the small muscle groups. I threw cargo onto my own airplanes for 5 years and I really started to lock up... it was hard to even sit still.

At 27, you are WAAAY too young to have trouble with that sort of thing. You need to address it now. Go see a physical therapist, or take up yoga (which, BTW, is a VERY GOOD solution). My back was perfect at 27, and I'm just getting by now. Having back problems at 27 is a harbinger of bad things to came, unless you do something about it now.

 

[bitzer]

Guys with back issues REALLY need to strengthen and stretch trunk muscles, even the small muscle groups. I threw cargo onto my own airplanes for 5 years and I really started to lock up... it was hard to even sit still.

At 27, you are WAAAY too young to have trouble with that sort of thing. You need to address it now. Go see a physical therapist, or take up yoga (which, BTW, is a VERY GOOD solution). My back was perfect at 27, and I'm just getting by now. Having back problems at 27 is a harbinger of bad things to came, unless you do something about it now.

I know. Does a 6-12 pack of Miller Lite count for loosening up the muscles?


I'm a poor boy with no money or time for therapy or classes. I take it real easy when lifiting and twisting now. Time at work lost is money lost for my family.

 

[SteveH]

This topic and the responses show why antivibe is probably beneficial and that there is something to be considered as to using a saw a few pounds lighter in weight if it will fit the job. For many of us, anyhow. I have a touch of arthritis in my fingers and my dad suffered from a lot [so I may well, too, before it's over]. I bought a saw this past year with great antivibe and it is nicer on my hands. Just to see if it will help, I have also quit cutting for hours on end. I cut a couple hours, then switch to other firewood chores that don't involve running the saw.

 

[parrisw]

Old guy? I think I qualify. I have about every kind of 'itus there is, mostly from old injuries and a lot of years spent working in the woods.

Mostly I just ignore them but on cold rainy days an anti-inflamatory sometimes helps. I use Excedrin and I take it before I start work. They're just normal aches and pains that go along with getting older.

The carpal tunnel thing is bad, though. I have white finger to the extent that I can't button my shirts anymore...no feeling in the first joint of the fingers and a resulting loss of dexterity. Maybe that's why loggers wear hickory zip front shirts? I've tried the carpal tunnel wrist things and they just seem to get in the way. This winter I'll be having carpal tunnel surgery on the worst hand and, if it heals up quick enough, both hands. I'll let you know how it works out.

And if the young guys laugh...tell 'em "just wait"...you and I might live long enough to listen to them complain.

Bob, you'll love it after that surgery, JUST TAKE IT EASY AFTER, don't over do it, otherwise you'll be going back in. My dad had it done, he waited and kept putting it off for a long time, he finally had it done, and he loves he new hands, ya its like getting some new hands. All the feeling back in the fingers, no pain.

 

[Bounty Hunter]

Stay really hydrated. Water is the lubricating oil of the body. All good for the joints and such.

:agree2:

Staying really hydrated is the best little health tip out there, and best of all it's cheap! I'm not that old of an old guy (50 next month), but my body has been battered in more ways that I care to count...been shot, stabbed several times, motorcycle crashes, car accidents, falling 25 feet twice (once onto concrete), fights of almost every description...resulting in torn ligaments, broken bones, torn tendons, torn muscles, fractures, cuts, lacerations, puncture wounds, serious infections (including a bout with Gangrene )...Geez...I count myself Lucky and Blessed of God to be alive at all...

I am pain-free after all that...water is the amazing life-giving liquid that seems to work hand-in-hand with the body's wonderful ability to heal and rejuvinate. In addition to drinking about 100 oz. of water a day I supplement with Creatine...it's available at Wal-mart in a powder that you mix with water (1/2 the recommended dose). Creatine has been proven to have a lot of health benefits, and water retension in the muscles and tissues is one of them. Bodybuilders use it, but some don't like the water retaining effect...it makes them look fuller, less cut, less defined...but for us regular guys it works great in keeping everything working.

P.S. I am no doctor, so advice is exactly what you paid for it...what works for me may not work for you...but it couldn't hurt to try, you just might hurt less...

Bounty Hunter

 

[StihlyinEly]

I'll be 48 in week. I started getting AARP mailings last year. I sent one back after writing "wait 8 years and then get back to me" in big black marker on one of their membership cards.

I have some arthritis in my fingers, and after working through about 10 cords of hardwood this year I have aching ligaments in my left elbow and a very sore right wrist. Ibuprofen is my friend, though Aleve seems to be better for my light arthritis on those cold, wet days.

I have a neoprene elbow wrap/brace that works well, but like Porch I've never found a wrist brace that will last. So now I just wrap it with a good old-fashioned tan Ace bandage. Seems like every household has at least one of them floating around, and they are excellent and cheap. And when it starts to shift/unwrap, just take a coffee break and re-wrap it.

Bitzer, Momentum is a great back pain medication. It's a bit expensive but is available over the counter. It's both a pain reliever and a muscle relaxant, and that's an excellent combo to make your back pain disappear.

Staying hydrated as mentioned is a key to overall health/healing, and laying off the booze/beer when the body needs to heal up is just as important.

 

[parrisw]

I don't think I'm too old yet (27). But a couple of years shoveling and wheel barrowin wet traffic bond was torture on my lower back. I've thrown it out 3 times now to the point where I walked like a duck with a stick in my a$$ for a week. I gotta watch it when I'm limbing or bucking a certain way because it starts to tighten up and makes me hella nervous. On those cold and rainy days I usually throw down a few Ibuprofen and stay really hydrated. Water is the lubricating oil of the body. All good for the joints and such.

For the lower back. You need to strengthen your core muscles. I had enough when I put my lower back out 3 times in the span of a couple months recently, I've been exercising now working the core and stretching and running on a treadmill, just make sure to stretch the right muscles after running other wise you'll seize right up. My lower back feels way better now.

 

[bitzer]

For the lower back. You need to strengthen your core muscles. I had enough when I put my lower back out 3 times in the span of a couple months recently, I've been exercising now working the core and stretching and running on a treadmill, just make sure to stretch the right muscles after running other wise you'll seize right up. My lower back feels way better now.

Thanks. Yeah I probably should, I'm "woods" tough right now. Not necessarily workout type tough or in shape like that, if you get my drift. I can run a saw all day and throw logs around and whatever else has to be done, but I'd be dying after runnin a half a mile. Funny, when I went in for pain meds from the doc, they never mentioned anything like what has been suggested already on this thread.

 

[parrisw]

Thanks. Yeah I probably should, I'm "woods" tough right now. Not necessarily workout type tough or in shape like that, if you get my drift. I can run a saw all day and throw logs around and whatever else has to be done, but I'd be dying after runnin a half a mile. Funny, when I went in for pain meds from the doc, they never mentioned anything like what has been suggested already on this thread.

Ya, man, it totally works. I'm the same. I'm a pretty strong guy, and that's how I've hurt my back, I can lift and move a heck of a lot, and doing so put my back out with my weak core. Right now, I'm doing 2miles 3 times a week on the treadmill, slowly will be doing more. Docs don't seem to mention stuff like this. Go to a Physio or massage therapy place and ask them, they will likely mention this.

 

[bitzer]

Ya, man, it totally works. I'm the same. I'm a pretty strong guy, and that's how I've hurt my back, I can lift and move a heck of a lot, and doing so put my back out with my weak core. Right now, I'm doing 2miles 3 times a week on the treadmill, slowly will be doing more. Docs don't seem to mention stuff like this. Go to a Physio or massage therapy place and ask them, they will likely mention this.

Thanks again. I think I'm jacking this guys thread, sorry Porch Monkey! I guess I'll have to get my a$$ in gear! On all the crews and jobs I've worked on I'm usually the hardest workin guy (not tryin to toot my own horn here). I had one boss that couldn't understand it, he'd say "why do you work so hard?" I'd say I don't know I just like to do it that way. I was usually doing twice the work of the other guys which is probably why my back is touchy. You think that boss would have given me a better raise than the other guys? No way. Oh well, I like feelin like I'm getting something done. The wife will think I'm sick or cheatin on her if I start workin out tho! Ha. Ha.

 

[parrisw]

The wife will think I'm sick or cheatin on her if I start workin out tho! Ha. Ha.

ha ha ha, my wife is the one that pushed me to work out.

Ditto on the working hard thing, we must be long lost bro's or something.

 

[drill.daddy]

I agree 100 % with parrissw , training will help the lower back , core trainind is essintial . Make sure you do the training correctly or you could end up doing more damage than good and see a doctor or chiropractor to make sure you dont have more serious problems than just an aching back . All this said core training has helped me out more than anything.

As far as joints and aches and pains, I drink Elations daily , it is in the pharmacy section of walmart , bout 7 dollars a 6 pak , but it helps and I noticed a difference real quick . Another problem with hands can be caused by nerve damage in the elbows. My doctor told me it was actually how I was sleeping that was hurting me more than anything . I would sleep with elbows under me folded up in a manner of speaking and this was causing nerve damage and one side of my hands would go to sleep .

I know im not old yet but i hope this helps, I am dreading my elder years with all the dmage i have already done to my body . The elder croud tried to warn me but i didnt listen.