Any worries about carpal tunnel syndrome from prolonged use of a DA?

[ClearlyCoated]

This thread feeds off xantonin's thread about his hands hurting from using a DA for the first time. I have used my G110 several times now and the vibrations taken by the hand steadying the machine (IMC my left hand) is the one receiving most of the shakin'. For you longtime detailers and swirlistas, do you ever worry about the long term effects this may be having on your hands and wrists? Do any of you suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome or some other condition you suspect might be caused by the oscillations? Do any of you take preventive measures (equipment or technique) to protect your hands before and during detailing? How about post-detailing measures like heat wraps, ice downs, shiatsu massage? (JK)

Just curious

[Andrew C.]

Re: Any worries about carpal tunnel syndrome from prolonged use of a DA?

Maybe if you switch it up by not using a handle on the DA and then switching to the handle that just comes out of the side of the DA like on some rotaries and then switching to the D handle could alleviate the stress?

[kaptain_zero]

Re: Any worries about carpal tunnel syndrome from prolonged use of a DA?

Quoted from Wikipedia regarding pneumatic hammer (aka jackhammer) use:

"Prolonged exposure to the pronounced vibration set up by the tool can lead to blood-circulation failures in the fingers, a condition known as white finger. Applying athletic tape is not effective in preventing white finger but seems to help alleviate some of its discomfort. Pneumatic drill usage can also lead to a predisposition for development of carpal tunnel syndrome."

Regards

Christian

[Eddie6th]

Re: Any worries about carpal tunnel syndrome from prolonged use of a DA?

Yes,i've heard of this too,but only with prolonged use.I would only be concerned if I was doing it for a living,i.e. every day for many hours at a time or have a circulatory problem.

[Tim Lingor]

Re: Any worries about carpal tunnel syndrome from prolonged use of a DA?

Hey,

I have pretty bad carpal tunnel and it is not fun. It can happen from any reptitive action including working the mouse on your computer to vibratuions from power tools. I went through all of the medical testing and while mine is bad, it is not bad enough for the operation which my father has had, and did not enjoy.

Like most things is life, moderation is the key. If one does that, you should be fine!

Tim

[Eddie6th]

Re: Any worries about carpal tunnel syndrome from prolonged use of a DA?

Hi Tim,what kind of symptoms are associated with this condition?

[Superior Shine]

Re: Any worries about carpal tunnel syndrome from prolonged use of a DA?

Yes I have pain in both arms below the elbow. It hurts almost all the time and makes it extremely difficult to polish with a rotary.

The pain wakes me at night. My arms go numb while eating or driving.

I have recently started using the cyclo to save what little good is left in my arms.

I don't want everybody to throw away your polishers. Keep in mind I have done hardcore polishing for the last 25 years or so.

[Eddie6th]

Re: Any worries about carpal tunnel syndrome from prolonged use of a DA?

Hi SS,sorry to hear you've got that condition.You do a lot of work with buffers and DA's.

I get something similair,but not from any power tools.i get the numbness.Could be from some kind of habit or stress.I don't know? but i think the symptoms are the same.I get it if I eat too much.Sometimes when I drive because of the way my arms are positioned.

With power tools,I normaly work with angle grinders,but that doesn't have that intense vibration like buffers.Could be a contributing factor?

[ajb39oh]

Re: Any worries about carpal tunnel syndrome from prolonged use of a DA?

Chiropractic care, as well as cold laser therapy can help with carpal tunnel. Cold laser alone is supposed to be 84% effective. I get great results with it usually with my clients.

[Eddie6th]

Re: Any worries about carpal tunnel syndrome from prolonged use of a DA?

Chiropractic care, as well as cold laser therapy can help with carpal tunnel. Cold laser alone is supposed to be 84% effective. I get great results with it usually with my clients.

What is 'cold laser' treatment? is it to complicated to explain in a thread?

[Tim Lingor]

Re: Any worries about carpal tunnel syndrome from prolonged use of a DA?

Hi Tim,what kind of symptoms are associated with this condition?

Morning,

A quick test is after using a machine for a few hours, take a pencil and go up and down along the sides of each finger. If your fingers feel tingly, except for the outside the ring finger between it and the pinky as well as the pinky itself which should feel normal, you may have starting CS. I have gone to specialists who have done the proper tests, but every doctor I have gone to starts with the simple pencil test.

Like Joe mentioned, when driving my hands start to tingle and go numb quite badly, especially if you rest your right hand on the gearshift. Mine got so bad one time, that I was up at a lake fishing, went to bed and in the morning could not close my right hand! Once I started moving around, it started to feel better, but ouch, that hurt!

Now when it starts to act up, I wear a wrist brace that forces my wrist to stay straight. After a few days of rest and wearing the brace, I am back to normal again.

There are many causes but most agree it is caused from repetitive actions and/or using machinery which have vibrations to them. Mine started when I was quite young. While I was going to University, I worked part time building circuit boards for photo-sensitive lights for Coast Guard ships and coastal ferry ships. I built well over 600 light boards which required a lot of repetition actions and the soldering of small parts. Plus I was detailing as well.

In the end, as I said, everything is good in moderation. Every job has its side effects in some form or another. So just remember when your body starts to complain, take a break and allow it to heal.

Tim

[Zuke]

Re: Any worries about carpal tunnel syndrome from prolonged use of a DA?

Superior I'll come work for you amigo. And Clearly i just fired up the g110 last night and i see where your coming from, but if you can provide things like "swirlistas" i think the humor will overcome the pain, haha!

[ClearlyCoated]

Re: Any worries about carpal tunnel syndrome from prolonged use of a DA?

Superior I'll come work for you amigo. And Clearly i just fired up the g110 last night and i see where your coming from, but if you can provide things like "swirlistas" i think the humor will overcome the pain, haha!

[Zuke]

Re: Any worries about carpal tunnel syndrome from prolonged use of a DA?

omg, do they have filiberto's in san diego? rolled tacos.

[xantonin]

Re: Any worries about carpal tunnel syndrome from prolonged use of a DA?

I'm looking into buying a pair of gloves. The manual recommends this to provide "insulation" against the vibrations, or something like that.

The idea is basically for the gloves to absorb the vibrations... So I imagine they have to be loose fitting ones

Maybe someone can shed some light on this if they already use a pair of gloves