Sylvia See on sat 22 mar 97
Hi All;
Thought I'd respond to the messages on carpel tunnel, bicept tendonitis
and add hip and lower back pain.
Last summer I hurt my back getting ready for a 2 day session workshop with
2 Greek Potters. It was a wonderful workshop, but in the process of setting
up and cleanup afterwards, I had hurt my back from the heavy lifting and it
went into full spasms for several days. I have a problem with drugs and so
spent most of 2 weeks in tub of epsom salts and hot water. Time handled the
healing but I had a very touchy back problem for several months and decided
to be very careful not too re-injure it. I stopped working with clay
completely for several months, as I have a tendency to forget and lift
heavy boxes of clay and 5 gallon buckets and then pay for it later. This
injury scared me enough to really get out of clay completely for 6 months.
What to do without my clay obsession was filled with working on my
computer, and finally doing alot of things I never took time with before.
Then we upgraded my husbands computer to voice recognition system and we
had alot of setup and learning to do. I spent hours and hours of continuous
working on the computer. I gradually started working my way back into clay,
standing throwing, small pieces, being very careful. I started getting
carpel tunnel and bicept tendonitis, lower back and hip pain. I felt like I
was really starting to fall apart and blamed overworking the poor ol bod
with too much yard work and clay. It seemed every time I had a chiropractor
treatment, I had a new complaint. Finally I asked him what the heck was
happening to my body. I replaced my computer chair, and he advised me to
get the heck off my computer and back into clay. I was getting to the point
where i was getting a jumping twitch in my left hand when trying to set the
rim on pots, and a twitch in my right arm trying to use the mouse. He had
me throw away my mouse pad with the raised ridge, it was aggravating the
mouscles (haa haa this should be correct spelling) in my forearm. I now
only go on computer for short sprints, and am throwing again. Hips, back,
arms, wrists all much better but no 100% yet.
I find it easy to plunk my butt on a computer chair and suddenly realize I
have been there for hours. The ashtray is overflowing, can hardly stand up,
and shoulders and forearm muscles aching. At least when I am throwing clay
I am changing, positions, moving around, walking, lifting, stretching etc.
I am back to work full time in clay, and feeling lots better. It was so
easy to assume that the heavy work was causing the problems, who would have
thought sitting at my computer was the culprit.
Sylvia See Claresholm, Alberta
sylviac@telusplanet.net
I really like my bifocals
My dentures fit me fine
My hearing aid works perfect
But Lord I miss my mind!!!!
tmaddux on sun 23 mar 97
Hello fellow clayworks,
The subject heading say it all, we are aging. All the posting of carpel
tunnel, tendonitis, backpain, hips pain and the like makes me believe that
we are in need of two clay lists, one ClayArt and a ClayAche. ClayArt for
question and conversation about ceramic. The other forum would be reserved
for serious discussion about our aches and pain. Also included in this forum
would be all the postings for health related issues. Life is a dangerous
occupation; you never can tell what is going to kill you! Is the life of a
potter more dangerous than that of a truck driver? One thing is for sure,
life is termanal.
George Maddux
"All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost."
J.R.R. Tolkien
Gail Nichols on tue 25 mar 97
Sylvia has a definite point here....sometimes our various aches and pains
respond better to movement than to sitting still.
I acquired a kickwheel last year, despite doubts that it might aggravate the
arthritic condition I've had in my hips and knees for some time now. In
fact, I found that my left leg--the one that operated the foot
pedal--improved greatly after a couple weeks on the kickwheel. The right
leg, which did nothing during the throwing process, actually got worse. I
have since installed a sort of "fake pedal" for the right leg--a nylon sling
hanging down from the right side of the frame--which allows my right leg to
move freely during the throwing process. Lo and behold, the right leg is
now improving too!
I had toyed with the idea of having an additional right-footed pedal
installed on the wheel, but the current solution is quicker, easier, and
definitely cheaper. I love working on the kickwheel...my throwing has
definitely improved with more freedom, more expression. My electric Shimpo
is used only for larger pots now.
..............................................................
Gail Nichols URL: www.artoz.com/sodaglaze/
SODA GLAZE CERAMICS
Sydney, Australia email: sodaglaze@artoz.com
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