Thread: A sad day

Sorry to hear this Grumpy, hope you get some good news

Sorry to hear that John

Very sad to hear that John, hope you are wrong in your self diagnosis and that something can be done.

Peter.

That is not a good thing to hear. Sorry about the troubles. Here is hoping your specialist might recommend some sort of wrist gaurd for you.

Maybe you will have to start working with wood that is not moving? :

Having had both carpel tunnels done and the trapezoidal bone removed from the left hand all I can suggest is exercise.

The doc made me do hand and finger exercises and things gradually improved.
Hands still ache after a turning but that is the price of getting old.

Fight through it and don't let it get you down.

Keeping my finders crossed for ya. Hoping its just from long stint after long lay off.

Hi John,
Would you please explain for us that dont know, how your conditions happened. Can the rest of us learn from you, how to prevent these conditions happening to us.
regards,
Crocy.

I'm very sorry to hear your bad news. Perhaps you did too much in the one day. Next time try to break down the task into smaller timeslots of turning. Maybe that way you can still enjoy what you love doing and not be in too much pain. I have a neck problem which will be operated on after June/July, which causes a lot of pain all the way down my right arm. I am restricted to turning Pens unfortunately for the timebeing. If I make too many pens in the one go I do suffer as I am suffering today. Made 5 Pens yesterday and am feeling it today. I wish you all the very best and take care of yourself. I've been learning Turning for approx 18 months and didn't get too far with larger projects but have great (Mates) support around me teaching me for when I will be able to turn a Bowl one day. One is as young as they feel. Never let anyone tell you that you are old at 60. 80 is old so you are still very young...............Looking forward to hearing good news from you.

Originally Posted by Old Croc

Hi John,
Would you please explain for us that dont know, how your conditions happened. Can the rest of us learn from you, how to prevent these conditions happening to us.
regards,
Crocy.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Extract from Wikipedia article.
"Work related
The international debate regarding the relationship between CTS and repetitive motion in work is ongoing. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has adopted rules and regulations regarding cumulative trauma disorders. Occupational risk factors of repetitive tasks, force, posture, and vibration have been cited. However, the American Society for Surgery of the Hand (ASSH) has issued a statement claiming that the current literature does not support a causal relationship between specific work activities and the development of diseases such as CTS.<SUP id=cite_ref-25 class=reference>[26]</SUP>
The relationship between work and CTS is controversial; in many locations, workers diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome are entitled to time off and compensation.<SUP id=cite_ref-Derebery_2006_26-0 class=reference>[27]</SUP> In the USA, carpal tunnel syndrome results in an average of $30,000 in lifetime costs (medical bills and lost time from work).<SUP id=cite_ref-NINDS_2009_27-0 class=reference>[28]</SUP>
Some speculate that carpal tunnel syndrome is provoked by repetitive movement and manipulating activities and that the exposure can be cumulative. It has also been stated that symptoms are commonly exacerbated by forceful and repetitive use of the hand and wrists in industrial occupations,<SUP id=cite_ref-Werner_2006_28-0 class=reference>[29]</SUP> but it is unclear as to whether this refers to pain (which may not be due to carpal tunnel syndrome) or the more typical numbness symptoms.<SUP id=cite_ref-Graham_2587.E2.80.932593_29-0 class=reference>[30]</SUP>
A review of available scientific data by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) indicated that job tasks that involve highly repetitive manual acts or specific wrist postures were associated with incidents of CTS, but causation was not established, and the distinction from work-related arm pains that are not carpal tunnel syndrome was not clear. It has been proposed that repetitive use of the arm can affect the biomechanics of the upper limb or cause damage to tissues. It has also been proposed that postural and spinal assessment along with ergonomic assessments should be included in the overall determination of the condition. While addressing these factors has been found to improve comfort in some studies,<SUP id=cite_ref-Cole_2006_30-0 class=reference>[31]</SUP>
Speculation that CTS is work-related is based on claims such as CTS being found mostly in the working adult population, though evidence is lacking for this. For instance, in one recent representative series of a consecutive experience, most patients were older and not working.<SUP id=cite_ref-31 class=reference>[32]</SUP> Based on the claimed increased incidence in the workplace, arm use is implicated, but the weight of evidence suggests that this is an inherent, genetic, slowly but inevitably progressive idiopathic peripheral mononeuropathy.<SUP id=cite_ref-32 class=reference>[33]"</SUP>
<SUP></SUP>
Ulnar Nerve Entrapment
Extract from Wikipedia article.
"This problem is similar to carpal tunnel syndrome but involves a completely different nerve. Symptoms include a feeling of pins and needles in the ring and little fingers, and may progress to a burning pain in the wrist and hand followed by decreased sensation in the ring and little fingers. One common cause of this syndrome is from pressure of bicycle handlebars seen with avid cyclists. Another is from hard, repetitive compression against a desk surface while using a computer mouse."

From what the specialists/surgeons have told me it is caused (in my case) by bad work practices. I was a fitter and turner for 35 years and my hands were subject to a lot of neglect. I'm guilty of being lazy, in that instead of bothering to pick up a hammer to tighten a machine vise I would use the heel of my hand and just "thump" the handle tight. A BIG no no. This and a lot of vibrating air tools has left my hands pretty well knackered. The operations have relieved the symptoms and pain, however it appears that I can no longer indulge in my woodturning as the vibrations from the tool handle cause the pain to return.
I'm 60 years old now and grew up in a time when "safe work practices" were not as prevalent as they are now. Quite a few people say that we're living in a nanny state, and to a certain extent I agree. However if I had my time over again I'd be picking up that hammer every time, I'd also be wearing my ear muffs as I'm pretty hard of hearing as well.

Anyway, as I said, I'm going to see the specialist in May and hopefully things may not be as bad as they seem .

instead of bothering to pick up a hammer to tighten a machine vise I would use the heel of my hand and just "thump" the handle tight.

I keep a rubber mallet next to my lathe & use it on my cam lock levers.

Originally Posted by Cliff Rogers

I keep a rubber mallet next to my lathe & use it on my cam lock levers.

...if all you have is a rubber mallet, everything looks like a nail...

Sorry to hear about your health issues, I hope you can resolve it.

Hi John,
I am sad to hear about your problems.
I hope the specialist has good news for you.