Dealing with Aging and Other Challenges

[Curt Putnam]

One simple tip for dealing with declining vision:

Get a flat tape and lay the square across it to mark. No parallax errors and easier to make an easy to see mark.

448338

If your vision is declining and you have not heard of Derek Cohen;s Blue Tape trick, I urge you to go to his website and learn about it.

If you have a tip for overcoming challenges, please post them to this thread so that we have one place to accumulate them (unless there already is oen and I missed it)

[Jim Matthews]

Put tools away when you're finished with an operation.

It is preferable they always go to the same places.

Store things you rarely use on the wall you face, when standing at your bench.

Consider hiring movers for anything heavier than a suitcase.

[ken hatch]

Put tools away when you're finished with an operation.

It is preferable they always go to the same places.

Store things you rarely use on the wall you face, when standing at your bench.

Consider hiring movers for anything heavier than a suitcase.

Jim,

Funny but true.

I can remember lifting the back end of a VW and now I'm pushed to get a 8/4 board out of the wood pile without MsBubba's help.

ken

[Tony Zaffuto]

My vision is helped immensely with my magnifying safety glasses. My issues are arthritis in my hands, and using my Western joinery saws aggravates the pain. Japanese pull saws are easier on my hands, but getting a Leigh DT jig and a Festool Domino was the biggest help!

[William Fretwell]

A six inch ring lit magnifying glass and quality tweezers for my splinter station is a big time saver. Can’t imagine why I did not do it before!

[Bruce King]

Put the small tools you use a lot on a tray and keep them handy. Easy to move the whole tray when needed.

Don’t put the machines any further apart than necessary to eliminate a lot of unnecessary walking.

Go into the shop around 9pm to setup a machine, organize and plan the next days work.

Keep a nice rolling office chair nearby to take breaks in.

Put notes in your phones note app for things needed and jobs to do.

[Tony Zaffuto]

Put the small tools you use a lot on a tray and keep them handy. Easy to move the whole tray when needed.

Don’t put the machines any further apart than necessary to eliminate a lot of unnecessary walking.

Go into the shop around 9pm to setup a machine, organize and plan the next days work.

Keep a nice rolling office chair nearby to take breaks in.

Put notes in your phones note app for things needed and jobs to do.

I have at least 3 mid-sized magnetic trays (Harbor Freight) near my bench! Huge help!

[Scott Winners]

Lighting!! I was looking for a reputable source online about how we need morelight to see with the acuity we used to have, didn't find an easy reputable link. I can say I took my shop up to 100 lumens per square foot of work area in my early 50s and should have done so sooner.

[Jim Matthews]

I can remember lifting the back end of a VW and now I'm pushed to get a 8/4 board out of the wood pile without MsBubba's help.

ken

Did you have a volume knob installed on that new ticker?

[bill epstein]

Lighting!! I was looking for a reputable source online about how we need morelight to see with the acuity we used to have, didn't find an easy reputable link. I can say I took my shop up to 100 lumens per square foot of work area in my early 50s and should have done so sooner.

Two cheap, easy, and invaluable lighting methods:

LED headlamp.

One of those cheap clamp on lamps with a 1/2" tenon that goes in a clamp. The clamp went in the garbage (they always slip); I drilled 1/2" holes every 12" along the back of the bench top so the lamp can be moved to where the light is needed.

[Rob Luter]

Bifocals and bright lights. Just saying....

[Jerry Thompson]

The older I get the better I used to be.

[glenn bradley]

A six inch ring lit magnifying glass and quality tweezers for my splinter station is a big time saver. Can’t imagine why I did not do it before!

"Splinter Station" made me laugh. I have a too-small-for-much-else drawer in the shop that holds all my splinter removal goodies. It is a small but, often helpful thing to have a place to go where you can get invaders out of your skin quickly and easily. Different things help different people in the battle against Father Time. Good diet and exercise helped dad celebrate his 95th a couple days ago (he still walks 1-1/2 miles around the neighborhood every morning). I follow suit with a daily workout and physical therapy routine. Easy habit to start but, quite difficult to maintain. Arthritis and a soar back from ignoring my age sometimes sets me back BUT, I always re-start :D.

[Lars Helgeson]

+1 on the above - The Japanese pull saws help and I just ordered a Japanese smoothing plane to help my wrists, which decided I was doing too much pushing with them! Also just ordered a ring magnifying light and am thinking about adding more lights to the shop as well.

[Howard Pollack]

More light! More light!.... and magnifiers of all sorts around everywhere (esp. near sharpening station and on workbench). Happy New Year to all.

[Jim Koepke]

More light is always a help. More light will cause your iris to lessen the size of your pupil which in turn makes your vision keener.

For being able to hold things with my aging hands one of my power tools is a lathe. This has helped by making chisel handles that are more comfortable for me to hold.

Some of my saw and plane totes have also been modified to feel better in my hand.

For marking a folding rule's hinges can hold it above a piece being marked allowing a square to be moved without affecting the rule's placement.

Yesterday while changing the blade on my bandsaw it was very helpful to have a pair of clip on readers. They are made to clip on to a regular pair of glasses. Trying to crane my neck using my bifocals under the table while setting the blade guides wasn't going to work. These were found in the needle point section at Michael's Arts and Crafts store. They are likely available from many other retailers. They also come in handy when filing a saw's teeth. They also flip up to return to normal vision when needed.

Another handy item is a rare earth magnet on the end of a stick. Mine rests on a pole holding a lamp over my bench. It comes in handy to pick up dropped items when your back isn't as young as it used to be.

jtk

[Tony Zaffuto]

Just returning from my shop, one of the ultimate solutions: an old couch to stretch out on, to ponder your next move!

[Stan Calow]

Shop glasses - aka office glasses. Combines reading glass distance with medium distance vision. Can't drive with them, but for work in the shop, they're great.

[ken hatch]

Did you have a volume knob installed on that new ticker?

Jim,

LOL, no but the good news the Doc said if I got an Apple watch with the EKG I could come off the anti clotting med. That was a no brainier, six months and the watch pays for itself.

ken

[Doug Dawson]

If you have a tip for overcoming challenges, please post them to this thread so that we have one place to accumulate them (unless there already is oen and I missed it)

Tool control. Everything in its right place at the end of an operation, and if that’s not the case, _find_ it.

[ken hatch]

Tool control. Everything in its right place at the end of an operation, and if that’s not the case, _find_ it.

Doug,

In my 50 odd years of flying there were two types of mechanics. One was every tool had a place and every tool was in its place, if it wasn't they were lost. The other, the tool was where it was last used, if someone moved it they were lost. One of the last type was the best and most efficient aircraft mechanic to work on any of my aircraft. I expect many wood workers are one of the same types.

I'm kinda in the last group but must admit to owning a few duplicate tools because the original couldn't be found :o.

ken

[Jim Matthews]

Tool control. Everything in its right place at the end of an operation, and if that’s not the case, _find_ it.
Amen, Reverend.

I took a "taster course" at NBSS when starting out.
They were merciless with First year students about putting things away, having only the tools for an immediate use out and cleaning as they went.

Lance Patterson said "Even when you're deep into a project, the only evidence should be stock prepared for the next step."

Never saw anyone crawling around looking for tools in a pile of sawdust there.

[Tom M King]

I do so many different things, and have thousands of tools to support it all, if stuff didn't get put away, as part of the job, it would be hopeless.

I refuse to participate in aging.

[James Pallas]

Good lighting, magnifiers, tools put in proper place, gloves with hand tools ( I like Atlas 370) that someone here recommended. For those with arthritic thumbs learn to change your grip a bit to use your palm. If I’m sawing or chiseling a lot I put a piece of double stick tape at the base of my thumb going to the palm it’s surprising how much that helps. Try to remind yourself about lifting get help that one bravado lift will cost you days in the shop. I’m an expert on that one. Instead of waiting an hour I would lift at the cost of days. I now try to have a couple of things lined up to do so I don’t feel the pressure to make that one lift.

[Bob Andre]

Stall mats, lots, around my bench on concrete floor. So much better on my back and paid for themselves several times over in no damage to dropped tools. My hands and wrists are arthritic and I have very poor finger sensation. New shop will have even more mats.

[Tony Zaffuto]

When you feel good.....don’t over do it! Take short breaks through your work time. Also, spend time to organize for efficiency, to make the most of your time.

Bob Andre: arthritis in my hands is my biggest obstacle to enjoying woodworking. I’ve purchased very thin gloves made specifically to help, but as James Pallas posted, gloves made for woodworking, offer great support (I use a pair from Duluth Trading).

[Bob Andre]

Tony- I wrap tool handles with Medi Rip, a variation of VetWrap. This makes for a much improved grip surface on everything from chisels to clamps. I switch too often from power to hand tools and for me gloves are a no no. This is a great string of ideas folks. Stuff that we all have merged into, enabling us to do a better job. Thanks for sharing.

[ken hatch]

One more thing, as you age it is easier to tear or cut skin plus many of us end up on anti-coagulants. Blood is a good rust inducer so you need oiled rags to clean up the mess you usually do not know you are making until it is everywhere.

ken

[John Keeton]

One more thing, as you age it is easier to tear or cut skin plus many of us end up on anti-coagulants. Blood is a good rust inducer so you need oiled rags to clean up the mess you usually do not know you are making until it is everywhere.

kenThin CA glue! I keep it handy in the shop. At 72 I have concluded my body is absorbing my skin from the inside! That can be the only explanation for the wrinkly covering I am developing.

[Jim Matthews]

Thin CA glue! I keep it handy in the shop. At 72 I have concluded my body is absorbing my skin from the inside! That can be the only explanation for the wrinkly covering I am developing.

Same as popular bronzes, we lucky few get more "polished" as we make our way.

[Clifford McGuire]

I've been having a lot of pain in the arm that I use for sawing dovetails.

Doctor called it 'tennis elbow'. He said to put a brace on it, but didn't have much else to suggest.

[Michael Bulatowicz]

I've been having a lot of pain in the arm that I use for sawing dovetails.

Doctor called it 'tennis elbow'. He said to put a brace on it, but didn't have much else to suggest.

Cross friction massage can work very well, best done by an experienced Physical Therapist (also known as a Physiotherapist, depending on where you’re located). It won’t feel comfortable, but it will help you recover much more quickly.

[Tony Zaffuto]

Can't remember where I heard or read it, but something to the effect that woodworkers should keep a box of baking soda always handy. Supposed to stop bleeding from minor cuts as well as draw splinters out (this works, though it takes a day).

[Aaron Rosenthal]

Better dust collection.
It’s come home to roost that all my years of construction, then doing woodwork in enclosed spaces without a suitable dust collection system has permanently damaged my lungs. Bah!
Yes, better lighting too.
I'm still struggling with the putting tools away. Between my handyman/construction stuff I can’t bear to sell off, amd my woodworking tools, I don’t have any more shelf space.

[Jim Koepke]

I've been having a lot of pain in the arm that I use for sawing dovetails.

Doctor called it 'tennis elbow'. He said to put a brace on it, but didn't have much else to suggest.

It may help to study how your arm moves when you cut. If it is out of line or causes you to grip too hard that may be the problem.

One thing that has helped me is to saw with my other hand. This may require some practice before trying serious work.


I'm still struggling with the putting tools away. Between my handyman/construction stuff I can’t bear to sell off, amd my woodworking tools, I don’t have any more shelf space.

It seems every time a tool has been sold there was remorse later. Fortunately my financial situation is currently doing okay. Maybe if there is a need to raise some cash a few tools could be sold. My preference would be to give them to grandkids or even my nephews if they will use them.

jtk

[Curt Putnam]

I've been having a lot of pain in the arm that I use for sawing dovetails.

Doctor called it 'tennis elbow'. He said to put a brace on it, but didn't have much else to suggest.
Ask your doc about VOltaren Gel - it is an NSAID and has been reasonably effective for joint arthritis, for me at least.

[Clifford McGuire]

Ask your doc about VOltaren Gel - it is an NSAID and has been reasonably effective for joint arthritis, for me at least.

Thanks for the recommendation. I saw that in the store and was wondering if it was worth a try.

[Tony Zaffuto]

I would try it! I did, and pain was relieved, however I started noticing a marked stiffness in my hands, and suspended itself. I may try it again, however.

[Mark Rainey]

Save your money. No good treatment for tennis elbow, in time it will pass. Treated hundreds over the years. In a couple of months, or a year, your neck or back or knee or shoulder or foot will hurt, and you won't even remember the elbow.

[Bill Carey]

............................ . In a couple of months, or a year, your neck or back or knee or shoulder or foot will hurt, and you won't even remember the elbow.

Thanks Mark - now I have something to look forward to. LOL.

All great ideas folks. I would add adjustable saw horses so your assembly can be at the right height.

Those adjustable arm desk lamps are great, and they get better if you take a 2 foot piece of scrap, drill an !/2" hole in one end and glue a 3/4" dowel in the other. Then the light can be moved to any dog hole, and it raises it up out of the way. And the magnetic base battery lights are great - just glue fender washers where ever you need concentrated lighting.

My grand daughter is a paramedic and she turned me on to professional splinter removal kits. Wonderful tool. And bandaids. I don't have a lot of feeling in my hands so I get cut and don't realize it until I see blood spots on the (of course) finished surface. But I feel the arthritis just fine in my hands. Strange.

Bench top sawhorses that drop into dog holes. Raises the work up 6", allows clearance for clamping, and is great for panel glue ups.

A small tracking device for my cigar so I can find where I put it down. And of course a fire extinguisher or 2.

And here's my final tip: surfacing and flattening slabs of walnut with hand planes is not a sport to be taken up when you're 73. Did that last weekend and had to spend some quality time in the steam room.

[Rob Luter]

I have arthritis in the first (CMC) joint of my right thumb. Any time I use a plane, a saw, or a hammer for an extended period of time it hurts like hell. I've become proactive about taking Ibuprofen if I'm going to chop mortises or cut dovetails.

[Derek Cohen]

I've been having a lot of pain in the arm that I use for sawing dovetails.

Doctor called it 'tennis elbow'. He said to put a brace on it, but didn't have much else to suggest.

Clifford, he is correct. The pain comes from an inflamed extensor tendon. Lifting you arm (to saw) stretches the tendon.

The fix is to immobilise the tendon by putting pressure on the area. Pressure comes from a brace. Something like this ...

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0404/0395/9970/files/Tennis_elbow_strap_7_480x480.jpg?v=1610022388

A physio can also supply exercises to strengthen the area. It will go away with rest and strengthening exercises.

Regards from Perth

Derek

[Peter Mich]

Mark, that made me laugh. I’m feeling better already. Thank you.

Peter

[Mark Rainey]

Mark, that made me laugh. I’m feeling better already. Thank you.

Peter

You are welcome Peter.

[Mark Rainey]

Clifford, he is correct. The pain comes from an inflamed extensor tendon. Lifting you arm (to saw) stretches the tendon.

The fix is to immobilise the tendon by putting pressure on the area. Pressure comes from a brace. Something like this ...

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0404/0395/9970/files/Tennis_elbow_strap_7_480x480.jpg?v=1610022388

A physio can also supply exercises to strengthen the area. It will go away with rest and strengthening exercises.

Regards from Perth

Derek


Derek, your theory of the etiology of lateral epicondylitis and treatment is very interesting and shared by many. Unfortunately the science does not support the inflammation theory - where is the redness and swelling? Oh, it must be on the inside? Oh, OK, maybe, maybe not. The braces are impressive, what are they doing - how do they take pressure off? Maybe, maybe not. Physical therapy for something perhaps caused by too much physical activity? No pain no gain? Counterintuitive. For thirty years I have tried these interventions and more. Maybe they worked, maybe not. Some of us have come to the conclusion that as we age, we will face more and more of these musculoskeletal challenges. For the majority, the best approach is coping skills - this will pass. They will challenge our coping skills and push us to seek out unproven remedies. Save your money and avoid medications with harmful side effects. Soldier on.

[Jim Matthews]

I've been having a lot of pain in the arm that I use for sawing dovetails.

Doctor called it 'tennis elbow'. He said to put a brace on it, but didn't have much else to suggest.

Two questions, before I make any suggestions...

How many dovetails do you cut, in a given session?

Relative to your waist, how high is the board - where you're cutting dovetails?

[Jim Matthews]

Unfortunately the science does not support the inflammation theory - where is the redness and swelling? Oh, it must be on the inside? Oh, OK, maybe, maybe not. The braces are impressive, what are they doing - how do they take pressure off? Maybe, maybe not. Physical therapy for something perhaps caused by too much physical activity? No pain no gain? Counterintuitive.

Say what now?

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/tennis-elbow/symptoms-causes/syc-20351987

[Clifford McGuire]

Two questions, before I make any suggestions...

How many dovetails do you cut, in a given session?

Relative to your waist, how high is the board - where you're cutting dovetails?

Often a box or two's worth. So, four joints each, usually two tails. (sometimes three). So, I guess 8-16 tails and 8-16 pins.

I did add a Moxon vise that sits on my bench. Not home right now, but I would say about 40" above the ground. (32in bench + 6" Moxon + 2" board sticking above vise). I'm not tall (5'7").

[Tony Zaffuto]

With regards to some joint work, such as Dovetails, etc., as the pain caused me to shy away from building items, earlier this year I decided to use a DT jig. Though I have a mortise machine, I started using Dominos several years ago. My making things has returned!

[Mark Rainey]

Say what now?

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/tennis-elbow/symptoms-causes/syc-20351987

Good to hear from you Jim, the issue of tennis elbow is just a side topic and not the main thrust of the OP's question. But it is related and important. I am glad you listed a reference. As an insider, I find those sites can be informative, but the sites are usually put up by public relations to draw in business. Most of us realize health care has turned into a business and revenue generation is the priority. Patient care suffers. Nortin Hadler, MD, a Professor of Rheumatology at the University of North Carolina, has written extensively on this area. He has published several peer reviewed papers and medical texts on this subject. He has also written books for lay people which I highly recommend. And he is a world renowned, brilliant and honest physician. In Occupational Musculoskeletal Disorders, (2005), Hadler states " Unfortunately, there is a contract between medicine and American Society that thwarts "patience and maturity" and predisposes one to choose unproved remedies despite incurring discomfort, risk, and expense. Progressive, structured exercising is often advised in America, whereas it is proscribed ( condemned ) in Britain. Zeal for antiimflammatory medications, intralesional injections, orthotics ( tennis elbow straps ), and the last resort of surgery all have primacy in the American mind. ...I no longer offer intralesional steroid injection as a therapeutic alternative. In fact science supports reassurance, biomechanics advice, and patience as optimal therapy"

Jim, this is an important discussion for me and if I can provide any more information, let me know. Mark

[Jim Matthews]

Often a box or two's worth. So, four joints each, usually two tails. (sometimes three). So, I guess 8-16 tails and 8-16 pins.

I did add a Moxon vise that sits on my bench. Not home right now, but I would say about 40" above the ground. (32in bench + 6" Moxon + 2" board sticking above vise). I'm not tall (5'7").

That's ambitious, but should be in your range on a given day (unless you're sawing something really hard).

We're about the same height, and when my elbow is bent at 90 degrees, my hand is 45" above the floor.
***Standing upright, with your elbow at your side - bent at 90 degrees - how high is your middle finger off the floor?***

If your saw is a little dull, or the board is thick, you might have a tight grip on the handle.
***Are you satisfied with the sharpness of your saw? Do you wax or oil the sawplate to avoid drag?***

The closer the cut is to your centerline, the more your wrist must flex to keep the saw square to the board face.***Do you shift over to the next cutting, or just move the saw?***

Back when I still played tennis, I was often coached to hold on with only the last three fingers to avoid a "death grip". ***Having not seen your technique, where is your index finger on the handle?***

The last bit involves some heresy - are you chopping out the waste at the bench, using a mallet?

Mortising by hand absolutely wrecks my elbow.
I can do it - but it takes days to recover. If you're already sore by the time you pick up a mallet, you're subjecting an inflamed joint to a sharp shock.

I use a small coping saw to get close to the baseline, and a trim router to cleanup. Recently I heard a suggestion to cut a third sawcut in the waste down to the baseline and pare the waste without coping. This has promise, but I haven't tried it.

***
A small trim router allows depth control while removing waste while maintaining the visual appeal of handsawn dovetails. After cutting both sides of the pin or tail - cope the waste as before.

Keep the board upright, and clamp a support cleat even with the endgrain of the dovetail. It should look like a shelf. Derek's furniture building section has a modified Moxon rear chop that would be ideal.

A fine straight bit set to the depth of the baseline is used to remove the same part you would otherwise chop out. (It shouldn't be much.) Pare to clear the tight corners a round bit can't reach.

It's a lot to take in, but I would start with setting the top of the board you intend to cut to the height of your elbow with your arm at your side. If your arms are the sale length as mine, a little higher might help.

[Jim Matthews]

Good to hear from you Jim, this is an important discussion for me and if I can provide any more information, let me know. Mark

I have sent a lengthy, sympathetic yet challenging PM.

[Mark Rainey]

I have sent a lengthy, sympathetic yet challenging PM.

Thanks Jim, I will read it! Mark

[Bobb Babcock]

I'm in the process of outfitting a retirement shop this summer in the face of multiple 68 year old problems. I'm going to utilize magnetic guides for dovetails and joinery to counteract hand tremors and drop-itis. I recently bought a soft-faced Vaughn mallet and found it too heavy at a weight
i would have consider a toy once. Also poorly balanced hammers put significant strain on arthritic wrists and tendons, choke up a lot or give to a younger woodworker with three kids. I'm converting to the poly surfaced round carver mallet for shock reduction and the way the handle sits up rather than lays down.

I use the common tweezers that you squeeze to open. The kind that often come in sets with wooden pads around about 5" long with some bent tips. Also I added reacher grabbers (my name for the wands with jaws and a trigger grip) to my home and shop. The one in the shop is heavy duty and really comes in handy.

An arm chair that is strong to get out of the darn thing when a mortise calls. I added a suspended wood top to a discounted red metal rolling mechanics toolbox as a place to use bench top tools. It was suspended to allow edge clamping. The tools were too noisy and messy so now it contains all my prized hand tools and the top is a mobile workstation or a parts cart at my side. It follows me around like a good dog!

The last item is a step stool. I'm going to knock one out of 2x12 for the new shop and add a removable support arm to test it out. I think the idea is called a library stool. Bending over to pickup a stool is barely worth it. This eliminates high shelves and hooks of any real utility.

There is the personal challenges as well. Never give up using hand tools. My grandmother baked bread her whole life even when store bought bread was a norm. She said if she didn't knead warm bread her hands would stop working. She was right and her cinnamon rolls would have graced Buckingham Palace. So much for store bought bread!

Acceptance of reality is another factor. I could pick up a VW too now I can't change the tire!

[Curt Putnam]

Just do not forget that the older you get, the better you were. :D

[Mike Allen1010]

Great idea – I’m finding this thread really helpful.

Biggest accommodation to aging for me is focusing on lighter, hand tool friendly, soft woods!! Hardwoods are heavier, tougher for me to move around and perhaps most challenging, a ton of work to hand plane. Recently completed fairly large project in Beech and surfacing panels was a real effort. I don’t mind an effort, but this wasn’t very fun. Lots of huffing and puffing, sweating and sharpening – UGG!

Conversely working with mahogany, walnut, pine etc. is still a real joy. With these woods, I feel like technique and tools can still provide an advantage versus physical strength. I don’t know how people like Derek who work in super hard/tropical lumber do it - my hats off to you. That’s my story and I’m sticking with it.

Cheers, Mike

[Bill Carey]

Regarding cutting out the waste with a trim router: I saw the value in one of Derek's suggestions and came up with this:
451219 451220
it allows the round bit to cut all the way to the back.

I also found that, for me, having the cut several inches above my elbow was optimum. Got a new Bontz saw with a hang angle (32 degrees) that is less than the Bad Axe, and I find it more comfortable to use. After cutting these in a long, long day, I had only minimal wrist discomfort. Completely routing out the waste is a big time saver as well as minimizing the pain experienced by failing, out of warranty, parts.
451222

[Jim Koepke]

The saw is beautiful.

jtk

[Mike Allen1010]

Thanks Curt for the thread – great idea. I've learned a lot.

At the risk of oversimplifying, the single best thing I've done to accommodate my physical limitations due to aging is focused on using hand tool friendly, soft woods! I recently completed a fairly large project in beech. Surfacing large panels was not very fun! In fact, it was a ton of work that required lots of huffing and puffing, multiple sharpening breaks, and frankly at some point "I'll just try and come back tomorrow". For me, dense, heavy hardwoods are difficult to move around the shop and to plane large services. Sawing and joinery is still fairly doable.

Conversely, working with hand tool friendly species like mahogany, Walnut, pine etc. is still a true joy! In these circumstances IMHO experience, technique and sharp tools can more than compensate for lack of physical strength. That's my story and I'm sticking with it!

Cheers, Mike

[Clifford McGuire]

I've been having a lot of pain in the arm that I use for sawing dovetails.

Doctor called it 'tennis elbow'. He said to put a brace on it, but didn't have much else to suggest.


Clifford, he is correct. The pain comes from an inflamed extensor tendon. Lifting you arm (to saw) stretches the tendon.

The fix is to immobilise the tendon by putting pressure on the area. Pressure comes from a brace. Something like this ...

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0404/0395/9970/files/Tennis_elbow_strap_7_480x480.jpg?v=1610022388

A physio can also supply exercises to strengthen the area. It will go away with rest and strengthening exercises.

Regards from Perth

Derek

Since this thread has come back around, I want to report that I did pick up a band for my tennis elbow and it has made a huge difference.

I still need to make an appointment for physical therapy. But in the 4-6 months it will take to get an appointment, the band has me back in the woodshop!

[Jim Matthews]

Since this thread has come back around, I want to report that I did pick up a band for my tennis elbow and it has made a huge difference.

I still need to make an appointment for physical therapy. But in the 4-6 months it will take to get an appointment, the band has me back in the woodshop!
Results matter. Congrats on getting some relief.

When I have a flare up, I drape a bag of frozen peas over my elbow and drink my beer left handed.

This Voltaren stuff has worked, too. Check with your doctor first - it interacts with blood pressure medication.

https://www.voltarengel.com/what-is-voltaren/

I did a stretch with what looks like a glorified marital aid, Theraband (red) with great effect.

https://youtu.be/PEvcYqyuI-0

[Rob Luter]

... When I have a flare up, I drape a bag of frozen peas over my elbow and drink my beer left handed.

I knew I liked you.

[Tom Vanzant]

In the 1960s, 100 candlepower lighting was required at the work surface in drafting rooms. I doubt that many workbenches have that. I recently had cataract surgery. That took me from 20/40-20/50 corrected vision to 20/25-20/30, uncorrected. I’ll find out next week what if any correction I’ll need. I have gone from seeing “60w incandescent” to “LED white”. FWIW, I have two 5000 lumen 4ft LED fixtures above my workbench and a 3400 lumen LED fixture above my table-saw (oops!). I can’t wait to get back to my shop, still slightly hybrid.

[Will Blick]

Mark interesting input, agreed on the Mayo sites main purpose, get more patients...

As for tennis elbow, I had it so bad for years, from actually playing tennis. Treating the elbow is important at times, but often, alter what u are doing which is causing the problem. An odd approach in these modern times of - treat the symptom mindset. Just changing strings and a few lbs loosened tension and problem resolved itself. Other problems like plantar fasciatus and achillies tendonitis, can take years to go away... cortisone injections made it worse.

I marvel how some recover so fast from injuries, while on the other end of the spectrum, seems some of us never heal, the injury is just lessened, but always ready to rear its ugly head..

years of severe back pain, lived at Mayo clinic, finally they just randomly start injecting me with cortisone, it worked... but had to get them constantly for 8 yrs, not safe... then, I went Gluten Free, and the back pain was gone for good, 6 yrs now... and I do more hard work now than ever. Its not in the medical books, and I thought it was a quirk till I ate gluten again! Then I advised some friends with serious back issues, and nearly all of them also rid their decades long pain. So never think its over for good, as u never know where your solution might come from. Often medical workers don't have all the answers, not their fault, science is not there. And, always remember, u go to a surgeon, he wants to operate, u go to a yoga healer, he wants to meditate the pain way... only u know the bigger picture...

I really commend the ww who get serious arthritis in their hands and hang in there. I keep saying if that sets in for me really good, I am done with ww. truly amazing how much we use our fingers in ww. I had one knuckle that become arthritic from an injection I used to take for migraines... and my gosh, just ONE knuckle can make my ww experience miserable at times. Cant fathom if it was all my knuckles like this. It doesn't matter, if hand tools or power tools, u are holding either the tool or the material, all fingers.

As for vision... light is the key..the eye is only sharp when the pupil is dilated down to about 3mm or smaller, its just the physics of the eye. The eye is an optical camera, and all lenses have an MTF curve (Modular Transfer Function), and this curve dictates what aperture diam, or f stop will yield the sharpest vision. With the human eye, the fall off of acuity is remarkable as your pupil is wider than the optimal 3mm range. Brighter light, dilates the pupil smaller. And what is really sad is, as we age, our eyes eventually will NOT dilate down to 3mm in bright light. Just like our accommodation (focus distance range) reduces every few years after 40 till about 80-85, where we have no accommodation left, i.e. our eye settles on ONE focus distance and everything outside that distance requires correction. Yes, we go from 40 diopters of accommodation at age 16 down to zero at age 80+. Our pupils age similarly, with young people can range from 2-8mm pupil diam, as we get to 80+, we can be reduced to very small pupil diam. range, such as 4-5mm, which is why night driving is so hard, as our retinal gets 75-95% less light than a 20 yr old.

Seems as if there is never ending hurdles u must overcome that age, or body breakdowns can come at any age. Thankfully, we have tremendous aids, when applied right, (can take a lot of trial error) can help overcome many of these hurdles.

[Jim Koepke]

So never think its over for good, as u never know where your solution might come from. Often medical workers don't have all the answers, not their fault, science is not there.

One of the problems with the medical world is for ages it has been controlled as much by those seeking to profit from it more than the people who merely want to help patients heal and recover.

My curiosity about herbs has led me to different ways to treat pain. One in particular is for indigestion or heart burn. An odd plant, that taste strongly of celery, called lovage. It is an almost instantaneous relief. One of my favorite dishes is chili verde chicken or pork. Cooking it with celery usually gave me a little indigestion. One time when celery wasn't available lovage was used instead, it is also a culinary herb. There was no indigestion. Since then lovage is used for my chili verde and many other dishes.

Mentioning this to a doctor often gets a strange look.

Not long ago (if it isn't still) as much as half of the American pharmacopeia was derived from plant sources.

There is evidence of being able to treat rheumatoid arthritis with a change in diet from > https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326554


“A plant based diet comprised of fruits, vegetables, grains, and legumes may be tremendously helpful for those with rheumatoid arthritis. This study offers hope that with a simple menu change, joint pain, swelling, and other painful symptoms may improve or even disappear.”


Anyone have a doctor recommend this before writing a prescription?

jtk

[Will Blick]

I will have to look into this lovage herb, I suffer from indigestion horribly...

not to sound like a quack.... but since this is the thread subject...

my body can turn very arthtritic, every joint and tendon hurts...
after years of research, I learned that some people can not breakdown oxalates...
which are in many plant foods...
going on an very low oxalate diet, and my body feels 40 years younger...
no doc would ever come up with that...
now the hard part, sticking to it... I have a great month, and then fall of the wagon...but always get back on, as I hate that achy feeling specially in the shop... a sure motivation destroyer...

[James Pallas]

There is a lot of good info here. I’ve been doing more machine work of late so haven’t been posting much. I have dealt with arthritis issues for half of my lifetime. 74 years old now. I love my time in the shop and not going to give it up. My take is this, you have to have a multi-faceted approach. Diet, medication, appliances and activities. A good doctor that knows you and your situation. If you get passed off to a pain clinic you have been put into the money generation mill. Here is what my routine is. Try to break up the work. Don’t be too repetitive. If your are doing dovetails cut one corner of tails than make a few straight cuts than chop a bit. In other words mix it up. In my case I’ve found that repetition irritates the same areas. Practice using that other hand, that’s why you have two. Stop worrying about how you look or whether your using the “right” tool. If it’s comfortable to use a hacksaw, cold chisel, ball peen hammer and your rubber ducky ball cap for dovetails it’s okay. Good shoes are important. Gloves are good for hand work but never machine work. Read a lot about your medical conditions so you are well informed. That pain clinic doctor doesn’t know one thing about you, I know this from experience. Above all keep moving. Any parts that don’t get used just get worse. Even just a little movement is better than zero. Make plans for your next day in the shop.

[Gary Focht]

“A plant based diet comprised of fruits, vegetables, grains, and legumes may be tremendously helpful for those with rheumatoid arthritis. This study offers hope that with a simple menu change, joint pain, swelling, and other painful symptoms may improve or even disappear.”

I have a cousin who did just this and her recovery is nothing short of amazing. Changed her diet, drinks ginger/turmeric/black pepper tea and has gone from almost immobile to completely healthy.

[Jim Matthews]

There is evidence of being able to treat rheumatoid arthritis with a change in diet from > https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326554
Anyone have a doctor recommend this before writing a prescription?

jtk

Yes.

Unfortunately the Dunkin Donuts drive through omits this choice. I've lived places where easy access to safe food is reserved for elite society members.

We are among the (historically) few that have greater health complications from excess rather than starvation.

You're absolutely right in this regard, as we get older, the list of the things we should eat is shorter than the list of what we can eat.

When coffee, Rum and bacon are off my "can eat" list, I'm ready for the long nap.

[Curt Putnam]

There is considerable anecdotal evidence for non-standard treatments.

Acupuncture works.
Essential oils work
CBD Oils work
Eliminating grain works

The problem is what they work for and whether they work for any one person is an unknown. Depending on them for anything more than the occasional ache or pain is probably dangerous.

[William Fretwell]

Reading through this sounds all too familiar, thin skin that cuts easily, aching joints after using a mallett for an hour, a
500 lb cabinet I built refusing to move!

A knee problem preventing me from walking very far. The chiropractor hooked it up to an untrasonic machine that “beats it up so bad” your body wants to fix it. Pretty sure that added a year to my recovery.

Good things: Custom insoles are amazing. The worlds best hernia repair surgeon. Really good tweezers. 2% saline for removing blood stains. Fifty pressups every morning.

[Scott Winners]

Since diets have come up, I have personal experience of two diet choices that have worked for multiple patients of mine.

Not saying either one is right for "you" but I know of folks who were able to get off their prescriptions with these two:

gluten, if you drop gluten and feel better but there is still "something wrong" read up on glyphosate. It is a pesticide. When the triticalines are about to be harvested (wheat, barley, etc) the fields are sprayed with enormous amounts of glyphosate to dry out the grains while they are still on the plant. When someone cuts gluten, they are also cutting out a bunch of glysphosate residue. The annual "dirty dozen" of foods with the highest glyphosate content is a thing, if cutting gluten 'helped', try cutting the rest of the dirty dozen from your diet to see if that doesn't finish the job.

bloating. If you got bloating, read up on the FODMAP diet, pioneered in New Zealand I think. It is a hard diet to follow and not healthy long term, but it is only 6-8 weeks and then you can start reintroducing regular foods to get our nutrition back on track.

[Scott Winners]

And I just found it this morning, as of 02-14-21 Voltaren gel (diclofenac, 1%) the FDA moved this drug from the Rx list to the OTC list, so now we can buy it over the counter. $9.99 per tube at my local Walgreens, and they just texted me it's ready for pick up. My observation from working with patients mostly over the age of 65 is this drug as a topical is the best of the NSAIDs for joint pain - not for everyone but for most of mine.

[Curt Putnam]

And I just found it this morning, as of 02-14-21 Voltaren gel (diclofenac, 1%) the FDA moved this drug from the Rx list to the OTC list, so now we can buy it over the counter. $9.99 per tube at my local Walgreens, and they just texted me it's ready for pick up. My observation from working with patients mostly over the age of 65 is this drug as a topical is the best of the NSAIDs for joint pain - not for everyone but for most of mine.

That is good news! It really helps on my thumbs and neck. It does not seem to penetrate deeply but the penetration can be increased by using a menthol based cream after the Voltaren has dried.

[Jim Matthews]

If I win the lottery I'm installing one of those "endless lap pools" full of Voltaren. Nothing else works so well on my aching hands and ginchy ankle.

A little goes a long way.