10 replies to this topic

[maxpower_04928]

Now that we are off season, I had my first wrist fixed. Both of my hands would go numb all the time, not good when you reach the top of a tower. So, I just had the first one fixed last Wed. Was a little nervous at first, but the surgery was a piece of cake. Worst part was getting the IV started. Nurse had to hunt for a vein as I was dehydrated from not eating or drinking before surgery. Right hand is all bandaged up. Back to work on Mon. At least I can drive a mule w/one hand and push buttons for a while, when the guys need to move for line work, ect. The other one will be done in three weeks. Anyone else had to have this done? I would be working on something and all of the sudden I could not feel what I was doing. Maybe all these years of tower climbing had built up extra tight ligiments in my wrists. Or does riding sno-mo with the vibration add to the problem? I am not sure, but I have time on my hands and was just thinking about our unique job skill set. Hey, not bad typing for being right handed. Maybe cuz I hunt and peck the keys anyway.

[Emax]

First time I've heard of this being a lift tech-related condition.
I do recall this happening to me while racing small 2-stroke vehicles. I needed help getting my hands off the steering wheel after long events. Maybe the snowmobiles are a factor. Frequent frostbite might also aggravate your mechanicals.

You seem to be doing fine as a "hunting pecker".

[LiftTech]

mjturley34, on Jun 13 2008, 11:51 AM, said:

I know a guy who had to leave the industry cause using air tools had made the circulation in his hands so bad that he couldn't work in the cold ? What exactly is carpel tunnel anyways ?

A hole in your wrist

[Emax]

mjturley34, on Jun 16 2008, 03:44 PM, said:

I have a hole in my ankle does that mean I have carpal tunnel also ?

Yes, you do have a carpal tunnel - two in fact - one in each wrist. The "syndrome" happens when it becomes inflamed.

The hole in your ankle is the gateway to defeet.

[CH3skier]

Isn’t this the cause of Princess Di’s death? Car Pool Tunnel Syndrome.

Okay, just a bad joke!!

[Emax]

CH3skier, on Jun 16 2008, 05:18 PM, said:

Isn't this the cause of Princess Di's death? Car Pool Tunnel Syndrome.

Okay, just a bad joke!!

Nope - that was male chauffeurism.

Still a bad joke.

[vt3pinandy]

I had the right hand done in early April and the left hand done in early May. I have been on the lift manuf./supplier side of business for 13 years now and every fall when it started to get cold and I started to work to many hours my hands would go to s?{). By that I mean they would start hurting about midnight and the pain would not go away until about 10 the next morning when I would take advantage of that and then the pain would be worse the next night. I am an electrical type and cutting in tower boots seemed to be the worse for them and one of my all time favorite things so torn I was. Pain shooting up my arms,numbness when sleeping on my side, a left thumb that had felt dead for several years and come morning I could barely tie my boots. Then mid morning they would start to feel a little better. Wet cold seemed to make them worse. I had my first ER visit in 1998 in Steamboat and my first electrical testing done on them in 1999 but they said I had a minor case so I put up with it until last fall when it took a turn for the worse and finally the electrical tests showed I had a serious case of CTS and hopefully hadn't damaged the nerves beyond repair. Quick(6 minutes for the first one and 10 for the second) procedure that left me in pain for a while and now my right hand feels better then ever and another 4 weeks or so and hopefully my left will to. Here's to happy healing up in Bethel. AP

[Mtnopsparky]

Tommorrow makes a week since the surgery. Not much pain, although I still havent used it yet, other than scrolling the mouse wheel. A 2 inch insicion with 6 stitches. Seems to be seeping a little. God, Does any one realize what they can do for anasthesia nowadays? I was told that I was not being "knocked" out, But I would not remember the proceedure. I would have sworn that I was asleep, but the doc told me I was awake through the whole thing. Now thats scary. Stitches come out next Monday, Then July 2nd I have the left one done. Still hunt and peck typing. I think I've been an hour typing this!