Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and other RSIs

Heard about a guy today, he had to retire from farriery on doctors advice because of carpal tunnel syndrome.

He is 22.

That's T W E N T Y T W O.

This guy was a star apprentice and had a bright future, now has taken a job as a shepherd at probably 25% of the earning potential.

At 51 with no health issues I have been lucky, but it seems the attrition rate in this game is very high.

total BS.......tell him to get another opinion from a few different doctors!!!!!!!!!!!! I have it and just go on with it; and yes my hands do lock up; just man up and get on shoeing....
he might need surgery; but he can go back and shoe!! my late grandfather had it really bad and had surgery back in 1990's; no problems since then.
Doctors........good grief!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thats rough the poor fella but at 22 you would imagine there could be other options open to him? If ya were 51 and all of a sudden found ya couldnt work anymore I would think it would be harder to go in a new direction.

NO! just grew a set of BxxxS; just like the guys are

I have a small bumb come up on the wrist of my right hand? Hurts alittle , is that related to carpal tunnel??

TMI,TMI

We could give better advice if we had pictures and radiographs. Has a vet been consulted. Are you visibly lame?

I hope it's nothing.

Regards

Bet its extra Muscle in the wrist area!!

I've had both wrists operated on to relieve CTS. Completely successful in both instances.

Good to know!! I'm currently having a bout with tennis elbow. Gotta push my Doc for Cortisone or Toradol pretty soon it it doesn't resolve.

Regards

Well since I've moved the anvil off the truck to it's own stand and improved my hammer handling techniques it's gotten better............ Also losing the weight has helped too, I believe as my doctor said it's a contributing factor.

Last injection I had was in February, Doctor said he will not keep injecting.

Sounded a bit strange to me too, but that's what I hear from the guy's girlfriend... and I'm doing her horses now so it seems fair dinkum.

16 of us sat my first year apprentice exam only 6 sat the final exam some of the best guys dropped out there were a range of reasons or excuses. Some guys dont need much persuasion to pack it in. But if he's young and has been diagnosed with this maybe he is right to look at another job oppertunity? There's no one going to give him a medal for bein a hero!

Rick,
Check your stance at the anvil and where you keep your elbow when you swing the hammer. I've had the same problem before and by using a chiropractor, adjusting my position ,swing, anvil height, working everything hot and charging more and working less, I've been able to get the elbow quieted down.

Rick

What do you find is a good anvil height? There is the traditional "knuckle height", but I find my most comfortable height just a tad higher... maybe an inch or two

I'm not Rick, but here's my "theory" on anvil height.

In your normal working position, you want your hammer face to hit the stock flat. This requires the hammer handle to be "level" in your hand when you hit the steel. So whatever height it takes to get you hammer handle level in your hand and your hammer face flat on the stock when you hit - that's how high. Of course once you put a tool (creaser or head stamp) in between the stock and your hammer, everything changes a little because you are hitting a few inches higher and need to adjust your swing. LOL!

Mine is a little higher than knuckle height. I originally hurt the elbow a couple of weeks ago dirt biking. It's not real bad as long as I wear a tennis elbow strap, just a nuisance. I'm having my annual physical next month, so I plan on giving the Doc a chance to impress me. If it gets bad I'll go in sooner. Thanks for the tips guys. I'll double check things tomorrow, based on your advice ( Rick, Anthony and Tom )

Regards

Because of some damage to my elbow, I can't straighten my arm fully, so I keep my anvil a bit higher than 'knuckle height". That said, I think Tom's advice/insights are the best.

I'm going to go with what tom said. And always work hot steel. Easier on your body.