working with your hands

[husky455rancher]

i really have no idea where to post this. i figure were all hard workin guys in this part of the forum anyway so ill put it up here. my hands will start to hurt and if i dont stop doing what im doing and i mean stop for the day they will involuntary close right up like in a fist. its painful and i have to actually pry them open and place my hands on my thigh or something just to keep them open. this happens to me most everytime i use my saw or anything really where i have to grip my hands on a handle, hockey stick stuff like that for any length of time.

i did some cuttin today i bet maybe an hour and a half if that and they damn near got to that point again but it was pretty dark out so i just stopped. i havent ran my saws in atleast a month so i know theres some conditioning involved. the problem is its a pita it really limits what i can do in a day sometimes. im going back tomorrow to finish bucking the wood and then im gonna tractor it out of the woods. maybe fell a few more if the hands hold up.

anyway has this happened top any of you? i really have no idea what the deal is. i suppose i could ask my doctor but really what does he know about hard work lol, thanks guys , Mike

does this happen to anyone else.

 

[cjcocn]

It happened to me last week when I was at the shingling phase of a shed that I had just built. The cause in my case was dehydration and it resulted in my pinky and ring fingers closing involuntarily and I had to force them straight by bracing them against my leg.

For relief of more deep hand pain I use contrast baths. That's hot water as hot as I can stand it for 3 - 5 minutes, followed immediately by ice water for the same time period, then back to hot, cold, etc for 3 to 5 cycles (hot + cold = one cycle). Always start hot and always end cold. This helps to flush the junk out of my hands.

 

[dustytools]

It happened to me last week when I was at the shingling phase of a shed that I had just built. The cause in my case was dehydration and it resulted in my pinky and ring fingers closing involuntarily and I had to force them straight by bracing them against my leg.

For relief of more deep hand pain I use contrast baths. That's hot water as hot as I can stand it for 3 - 5 minutes, followed immediately by ice water for the same time period, then back to hot, cold, etc for 3 to 5 cycles (hot + cold = one cycle). Always start hot and always end cold. This helps to flush the junk out of my hands.

I think that I would rather deal with my hands closing up, LOL.

 

[Wet1]

Stop spanking the monkey so much! :monkey:










In all seriousness, is this a condition you've always had, or is this something that has developed in recent years? If it's something that has started to develop more recently, I'd go see a Dr., preferably a specialist.

 

[elmoleaf]

What the hell do we know? I'm not a doctor, but I'll pretend to be one...you've got carpal tunnel syndrome.

Bad thing to have. See a real doctor.

 

[PA. Woodsman]

I'd try some vitamin supplements first...

It could be a lot of things, but I'm sure that there is something that you can take as far as a vitamin supplement that would help. I just Googled "hand cramping" and "nutrtional supplements for hand cramping" and a lot of stuff came up. I take supplements and they really help; go to a good health food store in your area and talk to them about it; seeing a doctor may help, especially if they diagnose you PROPERLY as it may be carpal tunnel, arthritis, etc. or it may be something very simple that a supplement could help. Most doctors only put you on anti-inflammatory pills and all that does is put a band-aid on the problem rather than cure the "root" of the problem and can actually breakdown your joints over time.There's no need to suffer with it-good luck to you!

 

[ericjeeper]

No one has suggested the obvious.

It is running those rattling Huskies. Buy a smooth running Dolmar. or Stihl.
On a serious note drink more fluids and eat some bananas on a regular basis.

 

[bore_pig]

If you don't get sharp pain through your wrist, and numb fingers in the morning (first,middle,thumb), then it is probably not carpal tunnel. I wear gloves with padded palms when I cut. It's the only way I can cut, split all day and still be able to use my hands the next morning.

 

[mranum]

My dad gets that too from time to time. Usually seems to be associated with fluids & arthritis. Try drinking Tonic Water too. Works awesome for taking away charlie horses and other muscle problems. Its loaded with quinine.

 

[husky455rancher]

ill try the vitaminsd and the tonic water anyway. just to clarify eric lol its not just when i run a saw i get the same thing when i play hockey for a while too. when im done and say im untying my skates my hands close right up and i have ti pry them open. its been happening as long as i can remember. it just happens most everytime now its just a question of when. ill bring a jug of water or something out with me today and see if that helps any, thanks guys

 

[Swamp Yankee]

Tough getting old.

I have white finger disease from years of running power equipment, not just chainsaws though they are among the worst culprits. (or as we used to say when anti-vibe came out, I ain't payin' $25 for that crap).

Anyway to the point, when I was undergoing testing, the neurologist explained part of the locking up after using my hands was due to swelling. That's right your hands swell during the day just like your feet. (Try taking your boots off after wearing them all day and then put them back on 20 minutes later) The swelling in your hands, forearms and wrists can put pressure on nerves kind of causing a short circuit making it difficult to work your fingers. Padding will help but not cure.

Try poping a couple Motrin or Tylenol to get some of the swelling down, that may help.

Suggest you go find a real neurologist and have them take a look, as I didn't even stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.

Take Care

 

[mranum]

Aleve also works well for reducing swelling but it can be hard on the stomach. When the day is done I often take 1 or 2 at the end of the day and it really cuts down on the stiffness after you slow down.

 

[bruiser 1]

Working

IT's Called OLD AGE!! That's the Old Man Arthritis coming to visit you and stay. Sorry man we all get it, some sooner than others self included.

 

[Octane]

Ive never had it happen to me where my hands would literally lock into a fist.
I do always wear gloves when Im using a saw or trimmer because if I dont, after a while my hands will start go numb from the vibration.
If I were to venture a guess, I would say its just a muscle ache. I work out quite a bit lifting weights and whatnot, so for me its not an issue, but if you normal job isnt really physically demanding, it could just be that you are overexerting your muscles and thats where the problem is.
Lets face it, cutting firewood is hard work. Im only 28 years old, plus I lift weights and work in a factory, so Im in decent shape and even for me a day of cutting firewood kicks my butt.

 

[husky455rancher]

octane ill be 28 in a a couple weeks myself, i also work in a factory where i move sheets of metal all day long. i figure it happened so fast the other day simply cuse i hadnt cut wood in so long.

on a side note i started taking vitamins i cut more wood yesterday then i did on saturday and i didnt get it that bad they just started getting a little crampy when it was time to pack it up as it was getting pretty dark. well see what the vitamins do anyway. i figure its not gonna hurt to try.

 

[Wet1]

I usually associate cramping with dehydration, but this sounds more like arthritis or carpal tunnel to me... but I'm not a Dr. either.

 

[Hugenpoet]

Sorry to hear that you are having this problem, but glad that the vitamins are helping somewhat. As someone said above, also eat a banana every day or so for the potasium.

I'm 62 and thankfully have never had any real problems with aches or pains after cuttin' or splittin' all day long, but I attribute that to the vitamins and minerals I get from drinkin' A LOT of beer.

 

[gink595]

What the hell do we know? I'm not a doctor, but I'll pretend to be one...you've got carpal tunnel syndrome.

Bad thing to have. See a real doctor.

+1, On the Carpel tunnel syndrome, I've known a couple guy/gal, that has had the surgery and it made a world of difference for them. But they described the same symptoms. Go to bicycling shop and get a pair of the gel gloves to help reduce the vibrations.

 

[Scootermsp]

Try Stihl gloves

Rancher, I have some Stihl anti-vibe Gel gloves and they make a huge difference especially with my weed trimmer. I used to feel my fingers tingle after using same. A neurologist friend warned me to get some gloves to dampen the vibrations from my power tools as they can cause nerve damage. Contact you Stihl dealer to get a pair

 

[husky455rancher]

well i wouldnt rule out the carpel tunnel. my right hand needs to have some bone ground out so it dosent saw through a couple tendons, but ive been putting it off. its gonna put the hand outta comission for a minimum of 6-8 weeks i was told. whenever i get that done i suppose the carpel tunnel thing could en addressed at that time. i also started taking a potassium pill.

i got today off im entertaining going to my mons again to finish of the wood pile started getting out of the woods. i got 7 trees down all bucked and damn near all are in the to be split pile now. i figure i got 2 more to fell and buck anyway. they were alll dead so i figured id take em