I'm going to coin this phrase, "Surveyors Shoulder", it is when you carry a rod around for 25 years and lately a 6-7+ pound robotic rod. In the last few years I have had a pain in my shoulder, that has recently been diagnosed as tendonitis and impingements in my rotary cuff of my left shoulder. That is the shoulder I have carried the rod around for 25 years.
After I get a shot I start walking before I pick up the rod and have to pull it up from behind. I think its that motion that has blown out my shoulder.
Anyone else have this issue with their rod carrying shoulder?
What are you doing about it?
thanks
i get machete shoulder from time to time aka rotator cuff. i have one of those elastic band exercise things. once the soreness goes away, after the injury, i start on that. when i get more strength and confidence, i work on that shoulder a bit at the gym
Yep - I've got that. I have been ignoring it because I thought it was a rotator cuff problem...
Yup. Same issues. I thought some jokester put some lead at the bottom of the rod, but I guess not. Just normal geezerdome setting in.
Solutions include regular walks not involving work. Keeps the legs & heart working. Perhaps a couple miles to the pub, and then back. Regular morning push up sessions with mama as suitable padding underneath you to get your day started off right. Go easy on stuff like coffee and other dieuretics (sp) in the morning, stick to a bloody mary to loosen up the joints. And most importantly, maintain your water intake.
I've tried rotating the carry method to the other arm, but the balance is just plain not right. But ya got the rod, the loaded stake bag (I use a golf bag), a 6# hammer, extra paint can, water, etc.
Sometimes just sit for 30 seconds helps too. Sometimes using the ATV is a big help too.
Best of all to ya....;-)
I had surgery on mine in March. Arthritis, bone spurs and impingement on the rotator cuff. Orthroscopically the surgeon took what was (according to him) a VERY expensive Dremel tool and ground off the arthritis and bone spurs. I am about 80-85 percent full range of motion with minor pain now. Its been no fun, but well worth it.
Andy
I've been fighting this problem for years. Mine comes from carry the instrument, though. I usually will put my shoulder under the gun and in between the tripod legs and the lift up so that the gun remains mostly level.
My right shoulder was the first to go, so I switched to the left shoulder. Now I make sure to alternate them. They get sore but not debilitating as they were before.
I will use a towel as padding if I have a long walk to make and that has helped.
There are some exercises that help;
Exercise 1
Yep, same problem here, my left shoulder. I had an MRI done about 12 years ago, they just said inflamation of the rotator cuff. The last few years it has gotten slightly better, but I don't work outside as much as I used to.
No problem with the shoulder but then again, I am not all that old in surveying years. My only problem is dickie do disease. But then again, I would need a lot of field time to help cure this ailment and then my shoulder probably would hurt.
Yup, just as you described it, but I'm pretty sure mine is aggravated by digging up and setting monuments in hard ground, plus putting the reflectorless on the tripod with one arm. I tried the exercise bands but that made it worse. Just carrying the rover rod doesn't seem to bother me. I went to my regular doc, a specialist, and therapy. None did any good, but once I eased off I healed.
Getting old..."surveyors shoulder">Hijack for a joke
dickie do disease
GUARANTEED WEIGHT LOSS PROGRAM.
Guaranteed like hell," he thought to himself. But desperate, he calls them up and subscribes to the 3 day/10 pound weight loss
program. The next day there's a knock at his door, and when he answers, there stands before him a voluptuous, athletic, 19 year old babe dressed in nothing but a pair of Nike running shoes and a sign round her
neck. She introduces herself as a representative of the weight loss company.
The sign reads, "If you can catch me, you can have me." Without a second thought he takes off after her. A few miles
later,huffing and puffing, he finally catches her and has his way with her. After they are through and she leaves, he thinks to himself, "I like the way this company does business!" The same girl shows up for the next two days and the same thing happens. On the fourth day, he weighs
himself and is delighted to find he has lost 10 lbs. as promised. He calls the company and orders their 5 day/20 pound program. The next day there's a knock at the door and
there stands the most stunning, beautiful, sexy woman he has ever seen in his life,
wearing nothing but Reebok running shoes and a sign around her neck that reads, "If you catch me, you can have me." He's out the door after her like a shot. This girl is in
excellent shape and it takes him a while to catch her, but when he does, it is worth
every cramp and wheeze. She is by far the best he's ever had. For the next four days, the same routine happens and much to his delight, on the fifth day he weighs himself
and found he has lost another 20lbs. as promised. He decides to go for broke and calls the company to order the
7day/50 pound program. "Are you sure?", asks the representative on the
phone. "This is our most rigorous program."
"Absolutely," he replies, "I haven't felt this good in years." The next day there's a knock at the door and when he opens it
he finds Richard Simmons standing there wearing nothing but pink running
shoes and a sign around his neck that reads, "If I catch you, I can have you."
If you didn't know what dicky-do disesase is, that's when your belly sticks out farther than your dick do(es).
Getting old..."surveyors shoulder">Hijack for a similar joke
...kinda like "dun lop disease"....
....my belly dun lopped over my belt buckle...
Several of those exercises (or variations of them) are in my physical therapy. Strength is pretty much back, now to work on range of motion.
Andy
Yep. Tripod Shoulder too.......
Sounds like I'm lucky to have been in the office for 18 years! My only issues are monitor squint and chair butt. LOL
Yeah, I had the same problem. I quit the field and took an office job now I have sore A$$ (HIPS) from sitting all the time. 🙂 Jp
Yep, got it in the right shoulder... along with bad back, aching knees, a hernia....
Luckily nothing in the shoulder yet. However my knees are so shot that I haven't bought anything from the lowest self in a store for years.
Packed a bunch of stuff around on my shoulders, often a T2 or DKM2 on one side and an EDM on the other, along with a tripod hanging from one side or the other with a battery in a box with a handle in one hand and the field book in my arm pit. I think that carrying "T" posts while posting line was the most painful. Don't seem to have any problems in my shoulders from any surveying activities. Maybe all that hay and 100# grain sacks I packed around and stacked as a kid had something to do with it, I only weighed 105 pounds when I went to boot camp, came out at 125. I do remember that I thought boot camp was a lark, many had strength and endurance problems to add to their discomfort. Just packing around those old Springfield 1903's made many sore and it only weighed a little over 8 pounds. I suspect that many problems that come along with age are rooted in the activities of youth which would build strength and endurance, a benefit lasting a lifetime.
jud
We all gotta face it, as we get older things do not work as well as they once did and some things quit working all together. You just have to learn to adapt and overcome. At my age, I am supposed to hurt. It's like a badge of honor. I made it this far and it ain't stopped me yet. 😛
I pulled something in my shoulder once....
[sarcasm]Rubbed some dirt on it and kept right on pounding hubs...;-)
[/sarcasm]
Cheers,
Radar
