Yesterday I went out to recon a job, loaded the work truck, hooked up the trailer, got to the site, unloaded ATV, filled boxes with tools, cut some brush, dug two holes, found all but two original monuments (did not make it to those two sites), loaded everything back up and after I had reached town for some tacos and hot wings for Thursday night Football, I could not lift my right are above the height of my Elbow.
Same today, probably gonna put it in a light sling very soon.
If nothing else, it is nice to know that we are not alone.
Ah sweet commiseration.
Try to wear a sling to immobilize the arm for a couple days. Sometimes this helps to give things a rest. You don't realize how much work your muscles and tendons are doing, simply standing in one spot doing nothing.
Number of years back I visited an orthopedic surgeon because both my elbows were on the verge of making my life completely miserable. My left elbow was shattered as a kid and has limited mobility and maybe 70% of the strength of my right, on a good day. My right elbow was so tender I could barely lift a fork to feed myself. Here's what I've figured out. Once you have this condition, your predisposed to having it flair up again and again, unless you take some precautions. That orthopedic surgeon said there wasn't anything he could do for either of my elbows, time and rest would allow it to heal, but he recommended wearing a brace when I'm doing anything that might aggravate it. The trick is to be proactive. The brace works like the capo on a guitar neck taking some of the forces off of the point where the muscles connect to the bone in the elbow joint, the shock of the forces on that point setting off the inflammation. One of those ounce of prevention, pound of cure things. It works, but only if you stay ahead of it. Once inflamed, you're pooched. What also helps is strengthening those muscles with regular exercise and not allowing them to get weak and then slamming the crap out of them all day long. (guilty)
Mine finally healed up and I'm being very cautious. I've got a day of fly fishing for bone fish in the Florida Keys lined up over the holidays and I'll be damned if I'm going to let a little tennis elbow get in the way of that action!
Just because I'm paranoid, doesn't mean they aren't out to get me.
Brad, I quit carrying the normal size pole and now carry a short 3 section seco pole. It is about 3' tall all the way down and will go up to 5.5'. Its light, easy to carry thru the woods. You can get a lot more shots with less chopping in the woods with the short pole too. Dave Stamey said it right, "I aint old I just been used rough".
[MEDIA=youtube]DdpDQ1ApI44[/MEDIA]
Williwaw, post: 349707, member: 7066 wrote: Number of years back I visited an orthopedic surgeon because both my elbows were on the verge of making my life completely miserable. My left elbow was shattered as a kid and has limited mobility and maybe 70% of the strength of my right, on a good day. My right elbow was so tender I could barely lift a fork to feed myself. Here's what I've figured out. Once you have this condition, your predisposed to having it flair up again and again, unless you take some precautions. That orthopedic surgeon said there wasn't anything he could do for either of my elbows, time and rest would allow it to heal, but he recommended wearing a brace when I'm doing anything that might aggravate it. The trick is to be proactive. The brace works like the capo on a guitar neck taking some of the forces off of the point where the muscles connect to the bone in the elbow joint, the shock of the forces on that point setting off the inflammation. One of those ounce of prevention, pound of cure things. It works, but only if you stay ahead of it. Once inflamed, you're pooched. What also helps is strengthening those muscles with regular exercise and not allowing them to get weak and then slamming the crap out of them all day long. (guilty)
Mine finally healed up and I'm being very cautious. I've got a day of fly fishing for bone fish in the Florida Keys lined up over the holidays and I'll be damned if I'm going to let a little tennis elbow get in the way of that action!
My ortho told me the same thing. Went to a Neuro for a second opinion. I was on the verge of losing most use of my hands.
A quick visit to the doc is still my advice...
Maybe you could enjoy watching a kid do your grunt work, and feel righteous about training up the next generation, they heal faster.
Yes!
Whiskey is the elixir of the Gods (referring to the video above). A colleague gave me a bottle of Buchanan 12, a hint of peat and very smooth. I'm going to take some for medicinal purposes, I have a nervous complaint (the reason for a whiskey prescription during prohibition was typically "debility").
If I swing a machete for five minutes it causes elbow pain so I don't do that.
I can get away with swinging an axe, I think the shock doesn't transmit through my arm like a machete.
http://www.allivet.com/p-584-absorbine-vet-liniment-gel.aspx?gclid=CL7g2ujx5skCFQEcaQodVJ4BZA&apos ;">This is good horse liniment. It may be too strong for children, and some women. But, if you are neither a woman, nor a child... it will speed the healing. Another thing, a good hot bath first, then cut the bottom out of a long tube sock. Then, apply the liniment, and put the sock on... it will stimulate circulation!
I was having similar elbow trouble a few years ago and I asked my chiropractor about it -- I had thought his only thing was back pain but he did some sort of adjustment on my elbow and the discomfort went away in a couple of days and never returned. He likened it to "tennis elbow," though I never play tennis. I use a bipod all the time.
I feel the pain, too. I operated a desk for 18 years and worked outside after hours, weekends, and summers. Three years ago, I found myself self-employed when administration shut down the civil, surveying, and drafting technology programs at our local community college. Overweight and needing to work, I spent the next three and one half years surveying. Thank goodness, boundary surveying requires office time as well as field time, so it is not every day I go out. If I go out several days in a row, then my feet, hip, knee, elbow, and back joints complain. I am two months shy of 60, and I can feel my age more as time marches on.
I agree with others above - take care of your body. It has to last the rest of your life. I have more years behind me than in front of me. I use over the counter pain pills, a joint linemint and oral supplement (cosamin ds), a 50+ vitamin and an occular vitamin daily. My knees would do better if I would lose about 40 pounds. My GPS survey gear adds about another 25 pounds or so, making walking treks get tiresome after a few 1320's. I swing a big machete and have some pretty good boots, which are worth every penny.
Slow down a little, and pace yourself. You own the time. You will finish when you finish.