Sore hands- a couple tricks to try

Hi everyone, I am a bench jeweler/watchmaker of about 25 + years and
have also experienced ALOT of hand and joint problems as a result of
my work. A couple very simple things I have done that have mostly
remedied my problems , and avoided surgery, is 1) a nutritional
supplement called glucosamine, and 2) added a ball to my steering
wheel so that I grasp it differently , giving my hand some relief
from its normal toolholding position. Also, a gluten free or low
gluten diet helps keep inflamation down in the joints The low or no
gluten diet is relatively complex to do, but has been well worth it.
I discovered its benefit by default, as a result of my wife’s strong
allergic reaction to wheat , oats , barley, malt,etc… Its easier
to eat what she eats, since she’s the main cook , and I experienced
radical benefits from it. The glucasomine is a supplement that
rebuilds cartilige in the joints. I took about 2000mgs a day for 8
weeks before I noticed any benefit, and then dropped off to 1500 mg
for maintenance and now do not use it at all. I was originally
diagnosed as carpal tunnel, and then added in impingment syndrome,
and was un able to work at all for about 6 months, or drive a car
either. Now I backpack, put in four 10 hour days at the bench each
week at my store and type, and probably another 10-20 hrs each week
doing miscellaneous wax modeling, clock repair, etc… and have
relatively little problem with my hands anymore.Additionally , some
physical therapy exercises have helped at tougher times too. Ed

Ed - I’m sure everyone will ask, but how is the ball affixed to your
steering wheel? And in what position?

Thanks -
Ivy

The ball is a standard auto accessory , available in any automotive
department or store, and it attaches with a built in clamp.
Positioning would depend on where you are most comfortable in placing
your hand - acommon spot that you use or place your hand.

Ed - I'm sure everyone will ask, but how is the ball affixed to
your steering wheel?  And in what position? 

Is this what they used to call a “suicide knob”? And aren’t they
illegal now?

Tas ← dating herself

    Ed - I'm sure everyone will ask, but how is the ball affixed
to your steering wheel?  And in what position? Thanks - Ivy 

We used to call those “suicide knobs”. I had one on my 53 Chevy
with a clear plastic top and a real scorpion sealed in it (dead, of
course). It left your right arm free to put around your girl. By
the way, I saw them advertised recently in the Harbor Freight
catalog, unfortunately, no fancy ones with scorpions or I’d be
tripping down memory lane and online ordering one.

David L. Huffman (dating myself in the extreme).

We used to call that knob attached to the steering wheel of our hot
rod a neckers knob. You can imagine why teen agers would call it
that. Boy talk about aging a person. Lee

The steering wheel ball is a common enough fitting on farmers
vehicles here, and I was thinking of getting one myself. Plus a piece
of straw. /Are/ they illegal? How could they be illegal in the free
world? :wink:

Bri

I’m not aware of it being called a suicide ball, but could be. As
far as illegal, not in Indiana anyway,but could be on a state by state basis.

    We used to call those "suicide knobs".  I had one on my 53
Chevy with a clear plastic top and a real scorpion sealed in it
(dead, of course). 

If you can find a nice big authentic truck stop with a good store by
the side of the highway they often sell these…I’ve seen 8-balls,
but no scorpions yet! Do I sense a revival? I could get out the
resin! But most cars these days have those darn bucket seats, no way
to snuggle up in front (a real bummer on long road trips, of which
hubby and I are quite fond).

-Jessica in SF, with bucket seats

Hello Brian, Why might steering wheel balls be illegal? They earned
the moniker “suicide balls” due to the common practice of the driver
using only one hand to steer the car while the other arm was draped
across the shoulders of his date. My older brother used one during
his teens and rolled his car. After that, they were certainly
illegal in our family! This anecdote probably reveals my familiarity
with the '50s era… and my age as well :wink: Judy in Kansas