one handed chain saw

BigJon

BigJon

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Pa
I found there are other reasons besides the obvious not to use only one hand on your climbing saw. I've been having a lot of pain in my right shoulder for quite a long time now. I had such a good experience with getting my knee done I finally got my shoulder looked at. I found out the cause of my pain is due the muscle in my shoulder that holds my arm up is too big. It is being pinched by top plate of my shoulder. The fix for this is to cut away the bone and make room for the muscle.

I guess like anything else repetitive motion is not good. It makes me wonder what else are we doing too much of and hazards of doing so. What kind of problems are everyone else out there having do to this occupation?


Big John
 
I think raking debris is really causing a decline in my ability to do my job properly. It seems the muscles and tendons in my arms ache any time I even think about picking up a rake. I think it is truly a hazard and homeowners should be made to rake their own yards so we treemen can be treemen. I know that the quality of our work is mostly judged by the cleanliness of the yards we leave, but I am afraid that is going to have to change. we can't be expected to willfully subject ourselves to the riggors of raking if we can get OSHA to say it is hazardous, can we?
So who's with me?
 
Interesting you should ask Big John - I've been under going rehabilitation training for the past 4 months to put me straight after 16 yrs of climbing. I have been talking with senior arbs about niggling pains, and there are consistent inherent injuries we need to be aware of. This will be a subject for an article sometime soon. The good news is that it can be prevented with proper work technique and training in specific exercises. Rehab is possible if degeneration hasn't set in to the skeletal system. Some of this is in common with other manual workers ie working only one side of the body. But we do have specific problems it seems. I've paid a highly experienced sports rehab trainer (my doctor uses the same one) to video me work and pick out the links to my problems. She thought it was glaringly obvious!

Hands up those with neck shoulder and hip pains they've got used to over the years..........Hmmm......I reckon thats about 80% of time served climbers.
 
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Hands up those with neck shoulder and hip pains they've got used to over the years..........Hmmm......I reckon thats about 80% of time served climbers.

[/ QUOTE ]
Yes to the neck, shoulder and hip.
The hip is fairly recent, I'm thinking it might be due to my using the Pantin a lot. I think I'm going to get the footstrap that attaches to the handled ascender to use with my left foot to take some of the load off my right hip on long ascents.
For the neck and shoulder, I don't hump logs any more and visit my chiropractor regularly.
 
Big John,

I mentioned this to my wife, who is a massage therapist, and she made me agree to ask you if you got a second opinion on this operation. It sounds pretty drastic, and to her it sounds unnecessary. I'm pretty curious about it myself, as I have been struggling with a sore shoulder cap for awhile now. I've never heard of anyone else with such a diagnosis/recommendation (not that I'm up to date on my medical procedures).

Either way, good luck getting through this. I'll think twice before my next one-handed cut.

Keith
 
I didn't get a second opinion. He and looked at the MRI together. It was clear to see when he showed me. You can see the muscle is really large in one area and then get pinched under the bone. It's a combination of the bone being thick and the muscle being to large or thick.

It doesn't quite make sense to me because there plenty of guys out there bigger than me. Do they have this problem? The doctor did say it was common with athletes. There could be more going on inside that didn't show up and they will take a look around once they get in there. The surgery is a week away on the 22. I'm as excited as young woman waiting on a breast job. I've been dealing with the pain for several years now and it's only getting worse. I really miss sleeping at night. I'll keep everyone informed. I know this is a common problem with alot of climbers. My father who climbed his whole life also has problems with shoulders. His situation is the tendons have stretched and if he lifts his hands above his head his shoulders dislocates.
 
I've been told that shoulder problems are common with people in climbiung disciplins. We over develop the front of the shoulder and develop poor posture. This causes the tendons in the shoulder that connect the bicepts to roll over the bone, creating tendonitis.

My problem is that on my right side the front muscles have forshortend, I'm waiting for a schedule with a PT to get some of those weird isolation excersizes that can help streach it. Tried doing it on my own to no avail.

Guess I'm going to have to rush to beat Paullo to publication.
 
Big John,

I keep thinking about this, and I've been torn about sticking my nose into your business and offering a bit of friendly advice. I decided to go for it, but I'll preface by saying I know you are not going into this lightly, and I may be way off base.

But, for what it's worth, just because you can see the problem on film doesn't mean your doctor has presented you with the only or the best option. If you have a spray rig you're more likely to recommend spraying or fertilizing, and if you are a surgeon you're more likely to suggest surgery. As I said, I understand your wanting to end the pain, but perhaps before such an invasive procedure you could explore some other options. One idea that comes to mind is rolfing--hard-core massage that seeks to correct your body's structure. Perhaps by releasing tension on the muscles that have been forced to compensate for the pain, your shoulder blade can move to a better position and the muscle can slip back into its natural place. PT like JPS described might also help. Or even another surgeon might have some insight that would be useful. Just because your doctor's method works, that doesn't mean it's the only solution.

Anyway, that's my $.02. Hope I'm not crossing the line, and you'll take what you like from it and disregard the rest. Either way, I still say good luck, hope you're feeling 100% soon, and let us know how it turns out.

keith
 
Mark, I am 30 yrs. old. Former Marine and up until recently raced dirt bikes. Been climbing for about ten yrs. Not trying to provide a resumè, just saying that my body has taken alot of thrashing over the years and at this point in my life I am in better shape and more limber than ever. Got to be the stretching.
 
I wish I had never gotten knee surgery, it made things ten times worse and is the cause of major knee infection/me having trouble wearing climbers hooks, I will avoid the second surgery if possible (advice of 3rd opinion, very reputable orthopedic) Many of our customers get at least 3 opinions why shouldn't we get 2nd and third opinions, especially if your livelihood depends on it!!!!!!!!!
 
I would think twice before getting any kind of surgery (any surgery!!!) and always get at least 3 opinions!!!!!!! Many of our customers do it why shouldn't we especially when it affects the means in which we make a living. And as one fellow mentioned stretching is an excellent prevention for injuries.
 
you definetly need several opinions, with references. I broke the lowest 3 vertebreas in my back from what the DR.say just trying too hard. Went to 3 orthopedic sport doctors 2 said spinal fusion one said Phisical Therapy. I went with the PH 5 years later I feel fine but do need to spent about 3-5 hours a week streching or there might be potential for pain. My hobbies do not help either. bycicle trials.
 
Its been almost three weeks since my surgery. I went through alot of pain that first week. I'm feeling much better. Things went well. I went back to the doctor today and he checked me out said he was wasting my time to get out of there. The shoulder is fine and I have much more strength. It's stil a little sore and still healing. I need to stretch it and work it. I think I did the right thing. My next and last adventure will be lazer corection for my eyesight.
 
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