I’m wondering if anyone out there has had this affliction other than myself. In the past few weeks I have been doing a lot of mortising. I usually drill out most of the wood and then chisel the rest. I have a severe case of mortise elbow as a result. I can hardly pick up anything with my right arm that has any weight to it and have a lot of pain in my elbow. Has anyone else out there had this same condition as a result of hand moritising? It’s not like I’m doing it day after day. It is typically only on the weekends when I have the time. Any suggestions/remedies would be helpful.
Regards,
Buzzsaw
Replies
Hello, Here's something on the Taunton website over in fine homebuilding regarding hands and elbows. It's been a while since I've read it so I don't remember how accurate it is.
http://www.taunton.com/finehomebuilding/pages/h00005.asp
I managed to get "golfer's elbow" while loading in sheets of lauan for our shop. Luckily workers comp took care of me. Good luck, and take care of your elbow.
Datachanel
Doing things the hard way
Thanks. That article looks like a good one. I guess I'm not the only one who has gotten tennis elbow from woodworking. I appreciate the quick response.Regards,
Buzzsaw
Buzzsaw,
You must have read my mind, I was going to post a question about the same topic (tennis elbow)! I recently have been practicing carving and I have the worlds most wicked case of tennis elbow (I am not using a mallet!) that you can imagine.
My only question is where do you buy a elbow brace, as shown in the Fine Homebuilding article?
Good question. Hopefully someone can post the answer to where to find a good elbow brace. I am actually a weighlifter as well and this is killing my arm workouts. It actually hurts me to lift a cup of coffee. I have never experienced anything like this... Regards,
Buzzsaw
Bob, the braces help very little. I just went through the same thing. I got mine from Woodworking, gardening, Taekwondo, and work(alot of computer work). I had problems off an on for two years. I finally got to the point where I had to have surgery, no strength in the arm, it is not fun. I am still wearing the splint on my arm from surgery.
The best thing to do is to get the musles srong enough to over come the problems. Do some basic strengthening exercises, with dumb bells. The weight does not need to be very heavy, 5-8 lbs. Curls, hand grippers, etc. Get with a theripest and they can give you a set of exercises.
When your arm is hurting, at night when you are not going to do any more ice it down. You can also take small paper cups and freeze water in them. Then tear the paper off to expose the ice and rub it in circles on the spot where the pain is until it is numb. It will go from cold to buring to numb. When you are going to do work apply a moist heat or an off the shelf cream like icy hot. To apply a moist heat soak a towel with water and then ring it out, put it in the microwave on high for about 2 1/2 minutes.
I hope it gets better, good luck
MikeWe are the people our parents warned us about. J. Buffett
Hey Mike,
Thanks for the suggestions, will give the ice and strengthening exercises a go.
I found a brace like the one in the FH article at WalMart. NSAID's like ibuprofen will help, but need to be taken on a regular schedule, 600mg 3x daily for a week at a time. Need to watch how you eat with them, some folks' stomachs can't take that much. Check with your doc.
Expect it to take several weeks (6 - 8) to heal, then several to build back the strength in the muscles.
I managed to ding myself taking out a 28 foot hedge, BTW. Tennis elbow is a repetitive motion injury according to our Occ Med doc here.
Leon Jester, Roanoke VA
Tennis elbow seems to take forever to heal. Ibuprofin to reduce inflamation and an elbow brace like the one shown are the only things that have helped me. You can get one at the drugstore. Even a simple ace bandage, wrapped fairly tightly just below the elbow provides some relief. Wear it to bed and plan on wearing it for quite a while.
I too got a bad case of tennis elbow a few years ago -- bad enough that I went to an orthopod.
She set me up with a brace excactly like the one illustrated in the FHB piece.
She also suggested the paper cup trick that Mike mentions. I froze water in some tiny paper cups, and applied one several times through the day to that bone on the side of the elbow (the spot that hurts a lot when you press on it). This is supposed to be quicker and more effective than a conventional ice pack -- since the cold is concentrated on the affected area.
As others have suggested, healing takes a long time; in my case, it was almost a year before the pain mitigated.
It would be good if you could see an orthopod to make certain that tennis elbow is indeed the problem for you.
Good luck..........
Hey Buzzsaw ,
I have had tendenitis (sp) in the elbow off and on for many years. It seems to flare up after long runs of a repeated use . I can relate . The best relief seems to be from limiting the use of said arm. What has worked wonders for me is as another poster said , an ace type of bandage or wrap . What's strange is it seemed to do better not right on the elbow but more on the forearm area and even closer to my wrist. The trick is finding one that fits right. I have gone for almost a year at a time with little or no problems, so it definitely comes and goes. An ice wrap at night feels real soothing also. Try and start to use your other side more.
good luck dusty
Buzz,
I ran a state of the art clinic for Occupational Medicine and Sports Medicine with a bunch of Orthopods, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation specialists, Physical Therapists and about a half million in equipment. We worked with several companies to reduce repetitive stress syndrome and several topnotch athletes to improve performance. A couple of points about your issue
Tendons heal much more slowly than muscle
Muscle is supposed to do the work and keep stress off tendons and the joints.
It is important to keep the muscle in good shape to do it job
It is important to design the job so that stress on tendons and joints is minimized.
Nerves make the muscle contract and expand and while muscle layout is our bodies is similar there are differences between individuals and the fast-twitch verses slow-twitch compostion for each of us varies. The point being cures need to be personal and designed for each person after analysis of the musculoskeletal structure of the individual. The clinical skill set best equipped to do this is the PM&R physician that has corss training in Neuro and Ortho.
If i were you I would ice the joint before I did any more mortices, I woud make sure my elbow stays below the top of the chisle when swinging. I would use a lighter mallet (maybe poplar) with a sloped head so that my wrist was relatively in the neutral up position and the elbow lower than the wrist. I would stretch the forearms with hand presses several times a day.
if it persists, see a PM&R.
Hi Buzz, I have experienced a similar condition when paring multiple sets of dovetails a couple of days in a row. I believe the culprit is continuing to pare after the muscles have become fatigued (sp.?) thereby putting all the stress on the tendons. If you did joinery every day as a vocation you would develop the muscles to accomodate such activity. As a weekend warrior or occasional parer you either have to do strenthening exercises for the appropriate muscle groups or stop when those muscles become fatigued. Another thing is to work at the propper height for a given operation so as to be able to utilize the correct "form" for a given operation. This condition as others have said takes a long time to heal. I have no doubt you will work wood way before you're completely healed, so try to modify your technique. For example, when paring, work at a height so you can center your shoulder directly over the work and learn to lean your upper body weight down onto the chisel for a controlled cut instead of pushing at the elbow. I remember reading somewhere(poss. FWW) a tip for modifying the handle of some chisels with a wooden mushroom shaped handle so you could lean onto it with your upper chest, probabally for this very reason. also, keep your chisels sharp, dull tools require more force. Anyway Happy Wood Working Gene D
Having an early warning of a small relapse myself - mine was originaly from a lot of hand planing hardwood and badminton.
No help for the mortices, but with a spoke shave, I have alternated between push and pull. I also stop as soon as it hurts and tackle another task with different action - such as the lathe for a new....dumbell for the wifes dog, trumpet stand for the youngest son, etc.....
The original injury STOPPED me playing sport (Judo rugby badminton) for 6 months because i didnt heed the warnings. But, I don't have to make a living chopping mortices.
Buzzsaw,
Are you sure it wasn't the weedwacking?
Sorry to hear about your elbow. I did it several years ago. Building a patio cover and forgot I wasn't in my twenties anymore. Swinging a framing hammer and driving 16 P hot dip galvanized nails. It's like hammering in 80 grit.
It re-occurred last year during the winter. I was assembling manifolds at work. Not something I normally do. I wore a brace for about a month and laid off all the physical activity. It took six weeks for it to get better. I got back on the bowflex doing reverse curls and regular curls. It's gotten way better and I've taken up tennis again. Although I don't think I'll be serving 150 MPH like Roddick.
So the bottom line for me was rest to let it heal and then working out to strengthen it.
Good luck.
Thanks Len,
I bought one of those elbow wraps and have been wearing that. I just have to watch myself and lay off the chiseling for a while. I think I'll be fine but not being able to easily lift a coffee cup is a little unnerving. I turned 46 last birthday and it is obvious I can't do what I used to do...Regards,
Buzzsaw
One other thing you might consider, when you can pick up a mallet again, is using a heavier one. That may be counterintuitive, but I discovered it many years ago when I was setting nails in window trim. When I used the 4 lb. sledge instead of the 16 oz. claw hammer, I didn't have to swing as hard. In fact, I didn't really have to swing at all, just kind of pushed.
Hi,
sorry to hear about your elbow, best of luck.
I like to use a dead blow hammer (hammer filled with lead balls) for most jobs that would normally be done with a mallet, wooden or plastic hammer. I think it's better for your hand and arm and also less noisy. I also find that I can dose the applied force better. They come in different weights.
Gert.
I've read through the posts and let me give some practical advice.
Yep. You used some joints and muscles real hard in ways that you haven't emphasized before. They're sore. Yes, a muscle, tendon, or ligament is irritated. Been there, done that. So has everyone that stresses their body in a way that they're not used to.
To fix it? Cut out the stress for a while. Do something else, or do the job with other muscles and motions. Ice what hurts after a day of work. Put crushed ice in a couple of zip locs and hold it in place with an ace bandage. Put a washcloth or hand towel underneath because it's hard to have ice 3 mils of plastic away from your skin.
Take some anti inflamatory like aspirin or ibuprofen - watch out for tylenol, especially if you drink a beer or two. You liver will thank you.
Use glucosamine/condrotin supplements every day, every week, until it doesn't matter anymore. Real science has shown this "natural" remedy to have demonstrable benefits, unlike most hippy dippy remedies.
Most of all, you just can't stress a joint that hurts without making it worse. You're just going to have to cut out the motions that hurt. These little aches and pains come lot easier as you get older - age stinks, doesn't it?
Buzz,
Sorry to hear about your joint...and the remedies for it. I've got the same thing. I, too, can hardly pick up any weight unless the arm is already bent. Ibuprofin and ice are the recommendations of a sports trainer I know. And like others have said, this could take a while.
TomS
Thanks TomS,
I am a very active guy and can never seem to get away from not using that arm. It hasn't gotten much better. I'm going to have to get some ibuprophen. I'll be away from home for the next week at a class staying in a hotel so hopefully I'm near the ice station. I also work out a lot but I'm going to have to stick with legs and cardio a lot more over the next few weeks. At least my mortises came out very nice. Thanks for your concern and advice.Regards,
Buzzsaw
TomS,
I've been taking the ibuprophen and it has worked wonders! I want to thank all of the posters in this thread. Your experienced advice has really helped and I feel very fortunate to have found this website. Thank you all!Regards,
Buzzsaw
All,
Although I somewhat hijacked this tread (I had the same issue as the original poster). One of the posters pointed out that tennis elbow brace might help out the situation. I gave one a try this weekend while carving, and I must say it really seems to help a lot.
Thanks to all for the suggestions, my right elbow thanks you :-).
Edited 9/13/2004 1:34 pm ET by BOBABEUI
Hi Bobabeui,
I was the original poster of this thread and I can say that my elbow is getting much better. I also bought a brace and have used it while working out and woodworking. It was most definitely the mortising I was doing by hand for a kitchen island I'm building. I would also suggest, as I heard from other posters, to use ibuprophen. It has helped me immensely. I take 2 total a day, 1 every 6 hours, and it has been the best medicine. I also haven't mortised since I had the pain and I really have no need to at the moment. I was really quite shocked that so many others had the same affliction. I guess I'm not as wimpy as I thought I was. Good luck!Regards,
Buzzsaw
Sorry to hear the news about your arm. I too had terrible tendonitis. Saw doctors, got numerous cortisone shots, did physical therapy...all with little success. I was referred to an acupuncturist and at the same time lightened up on my work load. This helped tremendously. After 6 months of treatment and a lighter type of work, I returned to work. I stay attuned to my arms though. Good luck
john
I have read all of the postings, and there is much to be learned from many of them. I am a former owner of an urgent care clinic, with experience in P.M & R. My personal brush with inflammation of the common extensor tendon of my right fore-arm come from day-long swinging of a four- inch paint brush. I noticed that doorways became narrower, such that I would often bang the lateral epyicondyle of my humerus to my great distress when passing through a familiar door..
Stress avoidance, otherwise known as rest, is the best treatment. The "Tennis Elbow Brace" sometimes helps. Cutting back at the first sign of trouble is important. Any repetitive activity in which the hand is elevated at the wrist with the palm down will aggravate it. If possible substitute a palm up position for lifting, as it uses a different set of muscles. Try not to bang that boney prominence at the side of the elbow! OUCH!
Orthopod is a bastard term, for which ORTHOPEDIST should be substituted
Tom
Tom,
Actually, Orthopod is slang....as is Orthopedics, Orthopedist. The correct term is Orthopaedics, Orthopaedist.
Yeah, I know.......... but I still like orthopod...............
Tom,
Thanks for the informative post. I don't think I'll be mortising any time soon and I've altered my workouts. Based on the palm-down point that you made it looks like curls would be OK for my arms. This injury has surely been a lesson learned. I'm still really happy with my mortises. Thanks again.Regards,
Buzzsaw
Buzz, Sorry to hear about your affliction.
They say "Laughter is the best medicine", so I'm prescribing this curative for you . Call me in the morning.
DR. Steinmetz
Dr. Steinmetz,
Thanks for the joke. It helped. Actually my arm is much better after using the ibuprophen. I didn't think I could buy something over the counter that helps so much.Regards,
Buzzsaw
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