I bought a great little gadget at the medical supply store.
It’s called a Therapeutic Exercise Ball. It is filled with
little beads of some sort and you microwave it. It’s used like
any other ball that you would squeeze for exercise except that it
delivers moist heat at the same time which works wonders. It’s
made by Duro-Med Industries, Inc.–phone no. 1-800-526-4753.
–Vicki Embrey
My computer mouse solution was to get rid of the mouse. I use a
mouse “pen” which goes over a sensor pad. I love it. It has
greatly reduced pain and allows me to work longer at the
computer.
Someone else mentioned the use of tennis type wrist braces. I
wanted to endorse that too. The “standard, conservative
treatment” of carpal tunnel is two weeks of ibuprophen and
wearing of a wrist brace with aluminum bar in it for 24 hours a
day. You can buy this type of brace, which keeps the wrist in
the neutral position, at the drug store for $20.00. Wearing
them at night helps some people. Also, sleeping on one’s hands
contributes to carpal tunnel.
Incidentally, that treatment has been shown to work well on men,
but works less well on young women, according to a study.
Elaine
Chicago
US
i am a hand therapist and jeweler and have been giving
instructions to patients for 11 years for a paraffin bath and
never have had anyone burn themselves. what you need is a double
boiler, four pounds of paraffin wax, one cup of mineral oil and a
candy thermometer. place water in the bottom of the double
boiler. melt the paraffin in the top of the doubler boiler then
add the mineral oil. test temperature with candy thermometer.
it should be 125 to 127 degrees. dip hand into paraffin above
the wrist and remove. let each layer dry before redipping. dip
the hands eight times. then place hand in a plastic bag and
cover with a towel. keep wrapped 10 minutes or until it cools
off. then peel off the paraffin. paraffin may be returned to
the double boiler and reused.
any other questions, do not hesitate to contact me (marci lebowitz) at
@marci_r_lebowitz/
Marci, I read with interest your instructions for a paraffin
bath. Can you tell me a little about what it does and when to
and when not to use it. If it helps for sore hands, wouldn’t it
also be beneficial for hands that are not sore?
Does this therapy apply only to the hands, or is it also good
for wrists?
Alan
Revere Academy of Jewelry Arts
San Francisco
e-mail: alan@revereacademy.com
web site: http://www.revereacademy.com
One last peep out of me in regard to hand problems. Years ago I
saw a hand specialist and was given the WRONG type of treatment
for my hand problems. Whenever I was at the bench, the computer
or praticing Muay Thai my hands would be in an unsupported
clenched position to work (wrists and fingers bent with out
support). Not only did my hands hurt but I acquired tennis
elbow too. The doctor gave me a bunch of excersises that
worsened the condition. They were all grippng excersises
(squeezing a ball or those hand gripper things)
I was at the point where I could not even type things out on the
computer, use my mouse and my hands shook whenever I worked on
jewelry ( I am 32 years old). I was convinced I was doomed. I
finally saw an accupunturist who also specialized in chinese
massage and he told me I needed to stretch my fingers, hands and
arms. He gave me streching excersises to counter the gripping I
did all day. He also had three people all at once deeply massage
and stretch my fingers, hands, arms and shoulders.He then
recommend an excellent yoga school and told me to get my butt
there asap. At the Yoga center I learned proper yoga streching
techniques and my fingers, hands and arms are stronger then they
have ever been.
I noticed a lot of people were suggesting gripping excersises
but I just want to point out that it may cause more damage then
good in some cases. If your condition does not improve with the
gripping excersises you may need to do the opposite and stretch
and massage your hands and upper body.
DeDe
DeDe: as a hand therapist/jeweler and having had plenty of
experience with sore hands/elbows myself, i TOTALLY support your
caution about gripping exercises! one of the challenges of the
american society is that we believe in force, especially with
exercise. i always caution people to stretch, stretch, stretch
and gently strengthen (only after one’s tissue is well-stretched
and not sore). the more force exerted when tissue is already
damaged, there is a risk of increasing micro-tears in the tissue
causing more pain and more swelling. posture and taking breaks
also plays a HUGE role in pain control. thanks for your words
of caution. marci
alan: thanks for your response regarding the paraffin
treatments. the original therapuetic use for paraffin was to
help relieve arthritis flare-ups. over time, people have used it
to help reduce stiffness (have a stiff joint that doesn’t move,
encase it in warmth and it increases blood flow, tissue mobility,
ligament laxity, etc.), for pain syndromes and cosmetic purposes
(in the salons to cultivate beauty!). i dip my hands in paraffin
every so often not because they are sore or painful, but to help
relax my tissue and increase circulation. over time, this helps
to increase the health and integrity of my hands (especially
needed to make jewelery and to do hand therapy!). you can
certainly do this for your wrists, as well. if your pot isn’t
deep enough to get your wrists in, just use a small cup to help
pour the wax on your arm, rather than dipping. i have often
wished i could submerge my whole body in paraffin as it feels so
good (may be a bit complicated!). the paraffin bath can also be
used for problems of the feet.
alan, i have written a lecture series specifically for jewelers
on how to care for their bodies. (i have also written one for
fiber artists and will be doing one for bead makers). this
includes tool and bench modifications, exercise programs, lifting
and carrying instructions, pacing and break schedules, resources,
treatment options, etc. would the revere academy be interested
in sponsoring a lecture program such as this? or do you know of
anyone else that may be interested (i.e. university, society,
private schools, etc.) i know there is great need for this in
the community. the program would include a lecture, as well as,
problem solving sessions at the bench, self-analysis and
teaching of exercise programs. along with this, i have written
a manual that outlines solutions, exercises, and teaches
jeweler’s how to analyze their own workspace and make
corrections. i also offer the service of analyzing jeweler’s
workstations and studios making ergonomic recommendations. all
they have to do is send me a videotape of their workspace and of
them working, and i can offer suggestions. any guidance would be
greatly appreciated. thank-you, marci lebowitz
(@marci_r_lebowitz).
A few suggestions about hand problems:
#1. Go to the very best rheumatologist/clinic in your area; few
GPs have more than observations gathered from patients’
experience. Go to someone who sees nothing BUT sore appendages &
extremeties.
#2. DO NOT DO SQUEEZE EXERCISES! What do you think caused your
hand problems in the first place - lack of use? No, your hands
are hurting from over-use; you have to find out how to use them
without exacerbating the problem with more over-use.
#3. Don’t stop using them: The rheumatologist who diagnosed my
rheumatoid, osteo-, dupy- whatsis, carpal tunnel, name it, said
that the longer I use my hands normally - not exercising - the
longer they can be used. Take the anti-steroidal,
anti-inflamatory stuff, Motrin (Advil).
#4. Find your ‘pain triggers’ & establish priorities. One of my
bugga-boos was impact from the hammer-forging that can’t be
milled I need to do for my neckpieces - taking longer & working
the bench block onto more impact-absorbing material was a help.
Find your ‘triggers’ & work out an alternative methods. Pad saw
handles; increase grip power by sticking copper tubing on some
plier handles (re-visit Archemedes); hold down work with padded
bench vises - hide the torturing ‘hand-held ring vise’. Use a
bandsaw with 1/8" blade for most metal cutting - use double
sided tape, dopping wax, etc. to hold the metal to thin plywood,
etc.shims to cut. I defy you to tell the difference in the
finished item - only your hands know for certain. Prioritize: I
had occasion to see 2 identical sterling chains side by side at
a show, one had been painstakingly made by a perfectionist to
carry the main event: a gorgeous pendant. The other was an
inexpensive import from the middle east - no difference. DON’T
RE-INVENT THE WHEEL AT THE EXPENSE OF YOUR HANDS. Get smart.
Last but not least: We are all doing what we do because we love
it, & we continue to do it even with pain because of that love.
While working, your system is kicking out chemicals that keep
pain messages from getting to the nerves in your hands & wrists,
so do less housework, make more jewelry, & eat dessert first.
Hi All- One suggestion for arthritis not mentioned…cut all
nightshades from your diet. Something in them causes joint
swelling. This includes tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant,
peppers.(rugged!) The client that gave me this info thinks her
arthritis not only got hugely better but that her joints
regained flexibility.
t.lee
Marci, it sounds like a great idea. I can imagine that an
ergonomics class for bench workers would also attract
supervisors, employers, and teachers. While we focus closely on
hands-on jewelry techniques, once in a while we stray off course
to include something associated that is beneficial for jewelers;
marketing, trade practices, legal issues, photography, sales
techniques, etc. I am very interested in walking futher down the
path you suggested, a combination of lecture and information
dissemination along with “hands-on” analysis of the do’s and
don’t’s. Let’s talk further off line.
Alan
Revere Academy of Jewelry Arts
760 Market Street . Suite 900
San Francisco . California . 94960 . USA
tel: 415 . 391 . 4179
fax: 415 . 391 . 7570
email: alan@revereacademy.com
web site: http://www.revereacademy.com
Hi Marci, I remember that Penland had a woman teaching the
Alexander technique when I was taking a Rebekah Laskin workshop
in 1986. She went around to all the different classes and gave
everyone suggestions to improve work habits. I thought that it
was a great idea to incorporate that into the workshop
atmosphere. I still use some of the tips she gave, especially to
lower your chair to improve posture. To find out more about this
check out
I’ve been following this post with interest, and have been a
bench jeweler for a long time now and experience the carpal
tunnel symptoms like most of us. I was able to cure my problem
by using a reverse exersize in which I place rubber bands around
my fingers and then stretch outwards. It works great for me - I
do it every morning while reading the paper and all my symptoms
have disappeared.
two suggestions-- 1. see if eliminating milk products cuts your
joint pain. If you have a sensitivity, you’ll notice a
difference in 24 hours. 2. See a chiropractor. I always thought
they were quacks, but when the m.d.s and physical therapists
couldn’t help me, a good chiropractor made all the difference in
the world. But be sure to get a good one–ask friends for
recommendations. A bad one can actualy make things worse.
Just a quick note about chiropractors, as referred to by
optimal@theriver.com:
I always thought they were quacks, but when the m.d.s and physical therapists couldn't help me, a good chiropractor made all the difference in the world. But be sure to get a good one--ask friends for recommendations. A bad one can actualy make things worse.
Whatever they might have once been, today’s chiropractor is a
highly skilled physician with much the same education and
training as other medical practitioners. My chiropractor is a
brilliant student of the human machine with a sound knowledge of
anatomy and physiology. She has a wonderful touch and a long
list of followers who swear by her; atheletes, business people,
M.D.'s, yogis, and regular folks of all persuasions. She has a
realistic understanding of what she can and cannot heal and she
counsels her patients on ways to take care of themselves and get
off the injured list. I would recommend chiropractors to anybody
with aches and pains or injuries, especially my chiropractor,
Dr. Jean Revere.
Alan Revere
Revere Academy of Jewelry Arts
760 Market Street . Suite 900
San Francisco . California . 94960 . USA
tel: 415 . 391 . 4179
fax: 415 . 391 . 7570
email: alan@revereacademy.com
web site: www. revereacademy.com
I have creeping osteoarthritis in a number of joints. About two
years ago, at the urging of my doctor, I finally succeeded in
eliminating dairy products from my diet. It has made all the
difference. (Among other things, I no longer have a supply of
Haagen Dazs ice cream cartons and lids. Brown Cow yogurt
containers were also a favorite useful item.) I no longer lie
awake at night with aching knees and ankles. Every once in awhile
I break down and have chocolate moussse, and my joints ache for
several days afterward, so for me, I know the dairy thing is
real. Short term gain, long term pain. If your hand problems are
from arthritis, or related to inflammation of the joints, you
might consider this option.
Another thing which helped me, paradoxically, was eliminating
the daily bedtime round of aspirin. My doctor gave me some
research material to read which indicated that aspirin,
ibuprofen, and acetaminophen actually contribute to long-term
damage to the joints. This is because they are made of large
molecules which the joints consider as “foreign bodies”, thereby
promoting calcium buildup as a defense. I had also been plagued
with nightly headaches, and my doctor suggested that these also
might go away if I cut out the aspirin. (I was taking 2 - 4
aspirin a day.) I stopped taking the aspirin on a daily basis,
and the headaches have largely gone away.
Whatever they might have once been, today's chiropractor is a highly skilled physician with much the same education and training as other medical practitioners.
Perhaps so (and I noted the name of your chiropractor), BUT –
I did find it rather put-offish when a practitioner of my
acquaintance offered to cure my cold. When I demurred, his
offer accellerated to assure me that when I left his office, my
cold, and all symptoms of my cold would be gone. Further, he
avowed that my symptoms would not recur, and I would not get
another cold, flu or sinus infection for at least a year!
When I went so far as to tell him that although he had
significantly reduced the muscular problem for which I had
originally consulted him, that I considered him – how shall I
say this – WAY out in left field, he flew into a near rage. He
claimed cures – not relief, but CURES – for such things as
cerebral palsy, polio, birth defects, and cancer. He went on
to berate mainstream medical professionals as quacks, and that
chiropractic should be considered the only healing art.
Needless to say, I have not been back! Further, I feel that
this individual has clouded my opinion of the entire
chiropractic profession. While I did greatly benefit from his
ministrations, I will certainly never return to this individual,
and most likely not to another at any time in the forseeable
future. It has been six or seven years since this happened. The
practitioner in question was in his early to middle forties at
the time, so certainly was a relatively recent graduate of his
medical education. I have no idea where he studied, and really
don’t care! I had been referred to this person by my regular
doctor. With some reluctance, I related my experience to him.
My doctor replied that because of other similar complaints, he
had stopped making referrals to this gentleman, but was still
referring patients to other practitioners.
I wish to offend no one with my opinions. I offer them merely
them to illustrate another viewpoint. I would certainly welcome
any comments you might have about these experiences and
opinions.
Thanks … Marrin Fleet
Hi Marrin, You will find opinionated people in every profession.
Another case of “One bad apple spoiling the bunch”. Back to the
hand problems…I have found that my breadmaking helps. Kneading
the dough stretches all the right places.
Want to buy a boat I sailed it
from Ft. Lauderdale to Newport.
Rene, You just jogged my addled brain. A very intellectual friend
and disbeliever, was facing surgery for bursitis. He had
everything leading up to that conventional treatment wise
including gold shots, nothing worked. He visited a Health Food
Store and perused the books. There he found a book entitled
"There is a cure for Arthritis." He bought the book and followed
it religiously, no surgery was ever needed. Segue forward a few
years, my parents moved to California, my mother was on Motrin
for arthritic pain. My friend went home, got his book and gave
it to Mom. She also religiously followed the diet regime and
never again had a complaint.
The book was written by Colin Dong M.D. whose surgical career
was in jeopardy due to arthritis. Bottom line, his financial
success enabled him to eat “Madison Avenue” style, he had never
had problems when he ate as an Oriental. One of the strongest
warnings is against cooking even water in aluminum. There is a
cleansing out period with the juice of lightly boiled vegetables
only.
The book Yes There Is A Cure For Arthritis by Colin Dong M.D. is
about 20 years old, I am certain it can still be found.
Hope this helps someone, I will dig it out myself and follow it.
Teresa