Over the past couple of months I’ve been dealing with pain in my right elbow. I went to the doctor and found out I have Lateral Epicondylitis (Tennis Elbow). I haven’t played tennis in decades! So I’m renaming it Woodworker’s Elbow. This was brought on by a weekend marathon of hand sanding, on my Greene & Greene chair project. Lesson learned, listen to your body! I knew at the end of the first day, I was going to hurt the next day, but I bit the bullet and pushed through. The doctor says I have to stop or greatly cut back on woodworking for awhile. So there’s the challenge! It’s like trying to get a crack addict to stop smoking crack!
It is getting into the Winter and Holiday months. Weekends do tend to be busy and cold (in an unheated garage shop). So maybe the timing is good, if I really have to cut back. There are some small projects I think I can do, that won’t irritate the arm. So I don’t think I have to go cold turkey on this! I have my first Psychical Therapy appointment tomorrow, I’ll know more after that. Stay tuned, I plan to keep something going on the blog in the mean time.
Yup! WW’s elbow. I have bouts with this phenomena too! Bummer! The house remodel caused my problem. All that siding. I hope the Dr. also gave you some exercises to do also?
A couple of years ago, I did a marathon sharpening session and the next day I developed trigger finger in both hands. It persists today but less pronounced. Also, have WW elbow but getting much better now. There is light at the end of the tunnel! It will get better.
Paul, I hadn’t heard of Tigger Finger before. I have an itchy tigger finger, when it comes to buying tools! Is there anything they can do for it? I think my WW Elbow is getting better, but will see if some Physical Therapy can help it along.
Mike
hang in there, man! inflammation sucks. rest up and that elbow will bounce back stronger. good on you to be seeing some PT. Make sure you like them. Not all PTs are the same (goes without saying).
also, for the interim, might this not be an *opportunity* to attempt switching planing arms around???? You might be the first inquistitive woodworker that is also AMBIDEXTROUS!!! Imagine *THAT* on your business card:
Mike
Ambidextrous Woodworker
I met with the PT person yesterday and it all sounds like good news. She said after age 35 (I go that beat), things like this will happen!
I can already plane left-handed
, but planing doesn’t really bother the arm. Hammering really does though! So doing chisel work might have to be kept to a minimum. Hammering left-handed could be dangerous for me!!
My next few weekends are busy with non-shop things, so I’ll be giving the arm a rest.
Mike