How far does your arm bend?

[Malcolm Schweizer]

My physical therapist pointed out that my elbow doesn’t lay flat. The image shows the farthest I can straighten it. Although I write left-handed, I mostly use tools right-handed. She says it’s from too much grasping, lifting, and pushing with that arm. I’m curious if you other woodbutchers have experienced this. Doc says mine is pretty severe, and lately it’s been hurting as I’m doing a lot of drilling, sawing, and planing on the boat build.

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[Richard Jones]

WAY too much grasping, lifting, pushing, beating, etc. with mine and I can lay flat.

i've never heard of that, no.

Sorry you're having that trouble. Keep icing it down.............

[Tom M King]

Have you ever broken the Radius bone, or damaged the Radius head? Try carrying around a bucket of water, or sheetrock mud, and see if it stretches it out any.

[Bill Jobe]

Love hurts.

[John K Jordan]

My physical therapist pointed out that my elbow doesn’t lay flat. The image shows the farthest I can straighten it. Although I write left-handed, I mostly use tools right-handed. She says it’s from too much grasping, lifting, and pushing with that arm. I’m curious if you other woodbutchers have experienced this. Doc says mine is pretty severe, and lately it’s been hurting as I’m doing a lot of drilling, sawing, and planing on the boat build.


Yikes! I hope the PT has some good therapy ideas for working on that. !

Mine, so far, is OK. Of course I'm pushing 70 so who knows what next year will bring. I do get a lot of arm stretching carrying bales of hay, buckets of feed and water, etc., I wonder if that helps.

[Bill Jobe]

Mine, so far, is OK. Of course I'm pushing 70 so who knows what next year will bring. I do get a lot of arm stretching carrying bales of hay, buckets of feed and water, etc., I wonder if that helps.

You bet it does.
This past summer was a lot of outdoor heavy work all season long.
I hadn't felt better in years.
I've been a bit lazy this winter, so far, and I notice a big difference it my breathing, especially.
Before cold weather hit I was it great shape.
I, too, am pushing 70.
But my biggest restricted motion and pain is primarily in my hands. My fingers are developing large knots at the joints, immobilizing the joint, as well as causing my fingers to become crooked.
My right thumb hurts the worse.
But, hey, life is painful. Not always physically, but painful.

[Malcolm Schweizer]

Have you ever broken the Radius bone, or damaged the Radius head? Try carrying around a bucket of water, or sheetrock mud, and see if it stretches it out any.

Not that I know of! As for Sheetrock mud, I hate carrying that stuff, and now I know why. Going any further than pictured hurts. I always thought it was normal for carrying 5 gallon buckets to hurt as well.

[Tom M King]

Do you ever remember falling, and catching yourself with that arm outstretched? Find two pretty girls. Have one sit on your shoulder, and the other to sit in that hand. It will probably still hurt, but maybe not that bad.

[Jerome Stanek]

My arm doesn't bend a whole lot now. Had surgery and I am just getting it back through PT.

[Aaron Rosenthal]

Bill, did you ever get referred to an arthritic specialist (sorry about the spelling).
Your hands sound like my late father's knuckles, and he had osteo arthritus - it might help.
I keep mine under "control" by hitting the gym many times a week, plus every bit of physical labour I can handle.
Im also 74.

[Rick Potter]

At 76 both elbows go straight. Both shoulders are permanently torn, and one hand got injured last year, but by golly my elbows are good.

[Chris Kennedy]

Have you ever broken the Radius bone, or damaged the Radius head? Try carrying around a bucket of water, or sheetrock mud, and see if it stretches it out any.

This was my thought. I fractured the radial head a 15-20 years back and had this exact problem once I was out of the splint/cast. I was having PT to resolve the situation and I was making slow progress. Then, I grabbed something heavy instinctively as it rolled off the counter and it wrenched my arm straight. I don't recommend it -- it was ridiculously painful but it did the trick.

Chris

[Chris Parks]

There is a name for this condition but it escapes me. I think tennis elbow affects the outside of the elbow and this the inside and it is not uncommon. Here it is, Golfer's Elbow https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/golfers-elbow/symptoms-causes/syc-20372868

[Lee DeRaud]

There is a name for this condition but it escapes me. I think tennis elbow affects the outside of the elbow and this the inside and it is not uncommon. Here it is, Golfer's Elbow https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/golfers-elbow/symptoms-causes/syc-20372868"Tennis elbow" is a form of tendonitis: it may hurt to get the joint to full extension, but the range of motion is still there.
Or at least that's how the sweet but sadistic young thing explained it to me in PT during my last session.

(No, I don't play tennis. Turns out "press and click" actually means "pound and curse" in Pergo-speak...two days with a 2lb dead-blow hammer in my hand took a cortisone shot and three rounds of PT to correct.)

[Bill Jobe]

Bill, did you ever get referred to an arthritic specialist (sorry about the spelling).
Your hands sound like my late father's knuckles, and he had osteo arthritus - it might help.
I keep mine under "control" by hitting the gym many times a week, plus every bit of physical labour I can handle.
Im also 74.

No I haven't, Aaron.
My thumb has hurt for 30 years or more. When I had my shoulders done my surgeon said it required surgery, but that I would not like my thumb at all for well over a year post op.
He gave me a splint.
My finger knots and twists are recent....within the last 2 years.
I'll look into it.
Are there specific exercises just for fingers that slow or stop the damage?

[Malcolm Schweizer]

I hurt my knee pretty bad once, and I went to a specialist who said I had injured a tendon. He wanted to do microsurgery and all sorts of invasive stuff. My local friends kept telling me I needed to go to Tony the "setter." He would fix it up. Finally, just for giggles, I went to Tony. He works out of his house, and he does local medicine. We have herbs here like Cat's Claw that you can boil and make painkillers out of, but he goes much deeper into it than that. Tony did a lot of smoke and mirrors stuff- No, I mean LITERALLY smoke and mirrors- he started making some stuff that smoked when he put it on. It felt like Icy Hot. I was unimpressed, still thinking this guy was a flake. Then he rubbed my knee and he separated out the tendon and was pinching the tendon through the skin and said, "There's nothing wrong with your tendon- this is it here." I started to take notice. He was right. Then he said, move your knee, and I did, and he said, "Your knee is just out of place." He asked me to relax and started wiggling my leg. I'm sure you know what is coming, and I wish I had at the time- he suddenly jerked my leg, and "SNAP!!!" my knee popped back into place. He told me to get up and walk. Now, folks- I had walked in on crutches with a knee brace on- I walked out on my own with no pain.

Maybe I will visit Tony again! By the way, Tony has a jar on a table, and you pay him whatever you feel is fair. Pretty cool.

[Malcolm Schweizer]

Do you ever remember falling, and catching yourself with that arm outstretched? Find two pretty girls. Have one sit on your shoulder, and the other to sit in that hand. It will probably still hurt, but maybe not that bad.

Even if it did, I'm liking the remedy. "Does it still hurt?" "Yes, but don't stop."

[Frederick Skelly]

I hurt my knee pretty bad once, and I went to a specialist who said I had injured a tendon. He wanted to do microsurgery and all sorts of invasive stuff. My local friends kept telling me I needed to go to Tony the "setter." He would fix it up. Finally, just for giggles, I went to Tony. He works out of his house, and he does local medicine. We have herbs here like Cat's Claw that you can boil and make painkillers out of, but he goes much deeper into it than that. Tony did a lot of smoke and mirrors stuff- No, I mean LITERALLY smoke and mirrors- he started making some stuff that smoked when he put it on. It felt like Icy Hot. I was unimpressed, still thinking this guy was a flake. Then he rubbed my knee and he separated out the tendon and was pinching the tendon through the skin and said, "There's nothing wrong with your tendon- this is it here." I started to take notice. He was right. Then he said, move your knee, and I did, and he said, "Your knee is just out of place." He asked me to relax and started wiggling my leg. I'm sure you know what is coming, and I wish I had at the time- he suddenly jerked my leg, and "SNAP!!!" my knee popped back into place. He told me to get up and walk. Now, folks- I had walked in on crutches with a knee brace on- I walked out on my own with no pain.

Maybe I will visit Tony again! By the way, Tony has a jar on a table, and you pay him whatever you feel is fair. Pretty cool.

Another great story! Malcolm, you gotta write all of these down in a book. :)

[Ole Anderson]

I dislocated my left elbow in a cycling accident ten years ago. It took a year, but I was finally able to lay it flat again. They said I might not be able to.

[michael langman]

Malcom, My wife and I have had great success with Ruta Grave cream for ligaments and tendons. The stuff is amazing and has been a real life saver to us.
Ours was made by the First Aid Cream Company.

[Nicholas Lawrence]

I broke an elbow about 20 years ago. Doc said it would never fully straighten. He was right.

[Pat Barry]

A persons arm should be able to be straightened completely. If not there is a problem. You need PT at a minimum.

[Larry Frank]

Just my two cents...
if you are having problems like the elbow, try seeing a doctor and find out what is happening. Typically, earlier you catch a problem, the more they can help. Or, you can get expert advice on a forum.

I will not go into all my joint problems but I am almost fully Bionic and am just finished charging my battery. I good doctor can be a great help but never be afraid to get a second opinion.

[Bruce Wrenn]

Broke the radius head in Rt elbow 41 years ago. Had a Swanson prothesis installed. Still can't lay my hand out flat to accept change from a cashier. Those Swanson's had an estimated life of about 16 years, so mine should have worn out 25 years ago. Before any surgery, I REMIND doctors that right arm doesn't go out to the straight position when they are strapping me down for surgery.

[Jon Nuckles]

Hi Malcolm,
Neither of my arms can straighten completely at the elbow and never have. It has never been an issue of pain when straightening them, they just won't go any further. I have had some elbow pain at times as a result of use; right now my right elbow is painful as a result of overuse of a block plane and an ice chipper, but that is unrelated to the straightening issue. In exams, doctors have asked me to straighten my arm fully, but when I told them that it cannot go any further, they have never indicated that it is a problem.
Jon

[Wade Lippman]

My right arm has never gone straight.
The look on my karate instructor's face when he tried to straighten my are out 45 years ago was priceless.

[Aaron Rosenthal]

No I haven't, Aaron.
My thumb has hurt for 30 years or more. When I had my shoulders done my surgeon said it required surgery, but that I would not like my thumb at all for well over a year post op.
He gave me a splint.
My finger knots and twists are recent....within the last 2 years.
I'll look into it.
Are there specific exercises just for fingers that slow or stop the damage?

My dad used to squeeze a rubber ball, and there are grip strengthening things out there. A good Physiotherapist will be able to give you exercises.
I have arthritis in my fingers, writs and knees - like father, like son.
My gym program is 3-5x per week with 60+ minutes of weightlifting and about another 30 minutes of cardio; treadmill, rowing machine and/or recumbent bicycle.
Oh, and I'm not anywhere near obese, but I COULD use a weight loss of 15 lbs, which is my new aim, plus, I'm changing my diet with emphases on less red meat, more anti-oxidants, and no margerine etc.
I started because I was having trouble with using my throttle and clutch on the Harley, and nothing will stop me from riding until they pry my license out of my wallet.

[Mark Hennebury]

My arm is just like it, it also doesn't close up. I have been to a doctor and specialist, and am waiting to get to another to get surgery. I was told that it was from bone growth, probably from an injury. The only thing that I can recall is machine fell on me and pinned me to the ground, the machine weighed 600lbs, pinned my legs and cut me up a bit,but didn't break. them. I don't recall my elbow being a injured, as I was more concerned with my legs, but maybe it was hurt trying to stop the machine as it fell.
I recently went to a PT for a few sessions, manged a bit more range, but it is obvious that something is stopping it.

[Edwin Santos]

I hurt my knee pretty bad once, and I went to a specialist who said I had injured a tendon. He wanted to do microsurgery and all sorts of invasive stuff. My local friends kept telling me I needed to go to Tony the "setter." He would fix it up. Finally, just for giggles, I went to Tony. He works out of his house, and he does local medicine. We have herbs here like Cat's Claw that you can boil and make painkillers out of, but he goes much deeper into it than that. Tony did a lot of smoke and mirrors stuff- No, I mean LITERALLY smoke and mirrors- he started making some stuff that smoked when he put it on. It felt like Icy Hot. I was unimpressed, still thinking this guy was a flake. Then he rubbed my knee and he separated out the tendon and was pinching the tendon through the skin and said, "There's nothing wrong with your tendon- this is it here." I started to take notice. He was right. Then he said, move your knee, and I did, and he said, "Your knee is just out of place." He asked me to relax and started wiggling my leg. I'm sure you know what is coming, and I wish I had at the time- he suddenly jerked my leg, and "SNAP!!!" my knee popped back into place. He told me to get up and walk. Now, folks- I had walked in on crutches with a knee brace on- I walked out on my own with no pain.

Maybe I will visit Tony again! By the way, Tony has a jar on a table, and you pay him whatever you feel is fair. Pretty cool.

That's a great story mon!
If it were me, I'd be making Tony my first stop. If you take your arm bend problem to him like I hope you do, please report back. Hoping for another good success story like that,
Edwin