Woodworking with Arthritis

Wed, Dec 24, 2003, 1:10am (EST+5) [email protected] (Specter) says:
<snip> I don't recall ever seeing mentioned, and it's becoming more
relevant to me, with each passing day - arthritis. <snip>

Yep, been done. Check the archives.

advice on how to manage this disease <snip>

Not how to manage it, but take a teaspoon of apple vinegar a day.
After maybe 6 weeks, I noticed a difference.

If the statistics are right, there are, perhaps, hundreds of people
reading this newsgroup, dealing with exactly the same problems I am.

Actually, I don't know what kind of arthritis I have. Diagnosed
with arthritis years ago, but they claim they don't know what kind.
They test for rheumitoid and osteo, and always negative. So, I ask them
to test for another kind. They test, and tell me I don't have
rheumitoid or osteo. Gets a bit tiring, getting told that all the time.

I'm surprised I haven't seen it come up before.

Check the archives.

I'm not one to moan and feel sorry for himself, and I, certainly,
wouldn't say I shy away from pain. <snip>

Yeah, well, I sure the Hell would if I could. Have pain every day,
some days better or worse than others.

I'm hoping some of you can share insights into how to be a woodworker,
contending with arthritis. What do you do to stay active in the shop?
<snip>

I go out and work. Some things can only do standing up, saw, drill
press, bandsaw. I take breaks, and sit, if need be. I can't stand
long. I can walk around, but can't stand in one place, either gotta
sit, or walk. Router table and scrollsaw, both low enough, I sit using
them.

I also don't mess with huge chunks of material. I have my plywood
cut wherever I buy it. I can handle smaller pieces, and make several
trips, but I can't handle a sheet of plywood by myself any more.

It's also a hardship picking up stuff off the floor. So, one of my
handiest tools is a strong radi speaker magnet on a string. I'm also
getting some of those grabber type thingies, so I can pick up stuff the
magnet won't fetch.

I have arthritis of the spine. They claim that's all they can
find; but, probably every joint I have aches at one time or another.
Bad knees. Sometimes I can't even hold a cup of coffee. I live with
it.

I've been on disability for arthritis & headache (24/7/365) since
'96. I don't use a cane, I don't have a handicapped parking sticker. I
don't take pain medication. When it gets bad, I meditate, if it gets
real bad, I go to bed and sleep. Works so far.


JOAT
My last name is not, "Damn It".
- God

Life just ain't life without good music. - JOAT
Web Page Update 23 Dec 2003.
Some tunes I like.
http://community-2.webtv.net/Jakofalltrades/SOMETUNESILIKE/

"Specter" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:VH5Gb.797140$6C4.468244@pd7tw1no...
> During the many years I've been active in this newsgroup, we've touched on
> just about every subject even remotely related to woodworking. There is
one
> subject, though, I don't recall ever seeing mentioned, and it's becoming
> more relevant to me, with each passing day - arthritis.
>
> About a year ago, I started feeling pain in my hands. That pain became
> steadily more acute until, one day, it was so bad, I had to take time off
> work and go see my doctor. Yesterday, I received the formal diagnosis that
> I've got osteoarthritis. It's funny - yesterday, I couldn't spell the
word;
> today, I'm one of the one in ten who contends with this most common form
of
> arthritis every day.
>
> It doesn't seem to be the end of the world. There are good days and bad.
On
> the good days, I have no pain, and no problems working in my shop. On the
> bad days, working in the shop is out of the question. Fortunately, the
good
> days far outnumber the bad days. My doctor gave me some good advice on how
> to manage this disease (I'm still not comfortable with the thought of
> actually having a disease), and you can be damned sure I'm going to do all
I
> can to minimize its impact on my life.
>
> That's why I'm telling all of you about this...
>
> If the statistics are right, there are, perhaps, hundreds of people
reading
> this newsgroup, dealing with exactly the same problems I am. I'm surprised
I
> haven't seen it come up before. I'm not one to moan and feel sorry for
> himself, and I, certainly, wouldn't say I shy away from pain. I was raised
> playing football and hockey at high levels. I played in pain - often!
> Frankly, I liked it : ) I'm hoping some of you can share insights into
how
> to be a woodworker, contending with arthritis. What do you do to stay
active
> in the shop? I want to continue being a woodworker - I just need to figure
> out how.
>
> Rob
>
>
Lots of people will tell you different things about osteoartritis. Mostly
folk tales. I know I think I've heard them all in the last 30+ years
including but you're too young to have arthritisis. I've been dealing
withit since I was twelve. I've got it in my spine. Two things kep me
going. One you keep moving sure it hurts but it gets worse/stiff and harder
to move when you take it easy. Second glucosomine. That what works for me.

D. Mo

"Specter" <[email protected]> wrote:

>There is one
>subject, though, I don't recall ever seeing mentioned, and it's becoming
>more relevant to me, with each passing day - arthritis.

Prevention is better than treatment, so what I'm about to say may be
too late for you, but...

...There is a fellow named Loren Cordain who found a strong link
between arthritis and diet, namely, people who eat no grain or grain
products simply don't get arthritis, period. If you would like some
interesting reading, you can google him and Ray Audette.

I've been off of all bread, corn, and any other grains, along with
sugar and potatoes for 4 years now. One of the *first* side effects
was that my hands quit hurting (I was having some of the beginning
signs of arthritis, and I think I may have postponed the problem for a
couple of decades).

Oh, and I lost a little over 100 lbs that way.
--
Howard "no sugar, no bread, no potatoes" Harkness

I have osteoarthritis in both hips. I need hip replacement and the
reason that wasn't done was I was 35 when diagnosed and the Drs. said
they didn't do hip replacements on those under 50. now I'm 53 and the
last several years have been pure hell. Because of my pain the mobility
has decreased. This has allowed the weight to increase and the Drs.
said I was a high risk candidate because of the obesity during any kind
of surgery. Sure, I was taking an arthritis pain drug to help relieve
the pain for many years. These drugs are NSAIDs and all do about the
same I fought the weight gain and tried diets with no help. I was even
suggested to have my stomach stapled but that operation carries the same
risk with obesity.

Now the only difference between me and someone who has their stomach
stapled is they eat less. I went on a portion control diet the
beginning of this year and lost 27 lbs in 4-1/2 months. Then in the
middle of May, I had a severe heart attack. I weighed 392. I had 7
stents placed in my heart. 3 weeks later I was back in the hospital
with congestive heart failure. When I got out this time I was not on a
high blood pressure medicine because my BP was fine and the Drs. found
out I am allergic to beta-blockers. In mid July I was back in the
hospital because I felt lousy. Come to find out that my kidney stone
blocked the urethra and caused an infection. I was given antibiotics
and made it through at the cost of both of my kidneys. The Drs. said
that the arthritis medicine isn't good for the kidneys and took me off
of it. Meanwhile it is dialysis three times a week now.

I can't walk until I get the hips replaced. I have been converting some
of my tools for sit-down operation as I do most in a wheelchair. The
dialysis has helped me loose more weight and currently I'm down to 300,
119 lbs less from the 419 I stared at at the beginning of the year.

Last friday my heart Dr. looked at my heart with catheterization and
found one of the stents closed some. He fixed that and I feel great.
In the future I am going to get the kidney stone removed along with the
stent that allowed the urine to drain. Also I will be getting a fistula
for a more permanent place for my dialysis. Hopefully in the future
there are two hip joints and a kidney too.

One thing I found out was it is not the medical profession that does not
put the hip joints in, it is clinic policy and in that case, get another
Dr. I should have when I was 35 years old.

You should be so lucky to have pain and work in your shop. I only have
4 days a week and they are controlled by weather, Dr. appointments and
relatives-friends needing my time. I'm lucky if I get 2 days a month.

--


Woodworking with Arthritis

Group: rec.woodworking Date: Wed, Dec 24, 2003, 1:10am (MST+7) From:
[email protected] (Specter)

During the many years I've been active in this newsgroup, we've touched
on just about every subject even remotely related to woodworking. There
is one subject, though, I don't recall ever seeing mentioned, and it's
becoming more relevant to me, with each passing day - arthritis.
About a year ago, I started feeling pain in my hands. That pain became
steadily more acute until, one day, it was so bad, I had to take time
off work and go see my doctor. Yesterday, I received the formal
diagnosis that I've got osteoarthritis. It's funny - yesterday, I
couldn't spell the word; today, I'm one of the one in ten who contends
with this most common form of arthritis every day.

It doesn't seem to be the end of the world. There are good days and bad.
On the good days, I have no pain, and no problems working in my shop. On
the bad days, working in the shop is out of the question. Fortunately,
the good days far outnumber the bad days. My doctor gave me some good
advice on how to manage this disease (I'm still not comfortable with the
thought of actually having a disease), and you can be damned sure I'm
going to do all I can to minimize its impact on my life.

That's why I'm telling all of you about this...
If the statistics are right, there are, perhaps, hundreds of people
reading this newsgroup, dealing with exactly the same problems I am. I'm
surprised I haven't seen it come up before.
I'm not one to moan and feel sorry for himself, and I, certainly,
wouldn't say I shy away from pain. I was raised playing football and
hockey at high levels. I played in pain - often! Frankly, I liked it : )
=A0 I'm hoping some of you can share insights into how to be a
woodworker, contending with arthritis. What do you do to stay active in
the shop? I want to continue being a woodworker - I just need to figure
out how.

Rob

--
Woody


Check out my Web Page at:

http://community-1.webtv.net/WoodworkerJoe/WoodworkerJoesInfo

Where you will find:

******** How My Shop Works ******** 5-21-03

* * * Build a $20 DC Separator Can Lid. 1-14-03
* * * DC Relay Box Building Plans. 1-14-03
* * * The Bad Air Your Breath Everyday.1-14-03
* * * What is a Real Woodworker? 2-8-03
* * * Murphy's Woodworking Definitions. 2-8-03
* * * Murphy's Woodworking Laws. 4-6-03
* * * What is the true meaning of life? 1-14-03
* * * Woodworker Shop Signs. 2-8-03

Tony <[email protected]> wrote:

>Thanks for the grain tip. I'm a "bit" on the heavy side too, and I'm
>gonna pay more attention to my intake - after the holidaze. Joints
>supporting less than 1/5 ton should fare better.

Once you've developed arthritis, it may be too late for a grain-free
diet to help. But it won't hurt. And cutting out the sugar, and
cutting back on bread and potatoes will help with the weight, even if
you don't do anything else.

BTW, Glucosamine sometimes helps, sometimes makes no difference, and
sometimes makes it worse. I took it for over a year, and when I
finally quit, the pain actually got a little better. But when I cut
out the bread, corn flakes & all other grains, sugar, and potatoes,
the pain went almost completely away. I'm guessing that my excess
insulin was causing inflammation (otherwise the relief would not have
been so quick), but I'm convinced by Cordain's research that the
primary cause of arthritis is gluten.

I occasionally miss bread, but I sure don't miss the pain in my hands
and knees... And I am not tempted to 'cheat' on the holidays. Hop
over to alt.support.diet.low-carb for more suggestions than you'll
have time to read on that subject.

--
Howard Lee Harkness
Texas Certified Concealed Handgun Instructor
www.CHL-TX.com
[email protected]
Low-cost Domain Registration and Hosting! www.Texas-Domains.com

http://enbrel.com/index.jsp

You could check into this.

Happy Holidays

"Howard" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> "Specter" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> >There is one
> >subject, though, I don't recall ever seeing mentioned, and it's becoming
> >more relevant to me, with each passing day - arthritis.
>
> Prevention is better than treatment, so what I'm about to say may be
> too late for you, but...
>
> ...There is a fellow named Loren Cordain who found a strong link
> between arthritis and diet, namely, people who eat no grain or grain
> products simply don't get arthritis, period. If you would like some
> interesting reading, you can google him and Ray Audette.
>
> I've been off of all bread, corn, and any other grains, along with
> sugar and potatoes for 4 years now. One of the *first* side effects
> was that my hands quit hurting (I was having some of the beginning
> signs of arthritis, and I think I may have postponed the problem for a
> couple of decades).
>
> Oh, and I lost a little over 100 lbs that way.
> --
> Howard "no sugar, no bread, no potatoes" Harkness

Makes your dog do Tie Chi too.

"Mark" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
>
> Dan Parrell wrote:
>
> > ask your doctor for celebrex i've tried it and it works for me
>
>
> Be warned: There are over the counter medications that can't be taken
> with celebrex.
>
>
>
>
>
>
> --
>
> Mark
>
> N.E. Ohio
>
>
> Never argue with a fool, a bystander can't tell you apart. (S. Clemens,
> A.K.A. Mark Twain)
>
> When in doubt hit the throttle. It may not help but it sure ends the
> suspense. (Gaz, r.moto)
>

Thanks Tony.

That's exactly the sort of idea I was hoping to hear about. Medication and
exercise will do their bit, but I also have to adapt my shop to my changing
needs. Fortunately my shop has better than average design flexibility, built
in.

Rob

---------------------------

"Tony" wrote ...
> One thing I found to be wonderful was an
> electric-driven motorcycle repair lift. I put a 4x8 sheet of MDF on
> the top of it with some counter-sunk screws, and voila, my workbench
> now lowers from 5" off the ground to about 30" high with the flip of a
> switch. Available in air or electric versions, it's made by (I think)
> an outfit called Hardy. A Yahoo search will turn it up. That, and an
> office chair with replaced casters, shortened (slightly) legs on my
> tools, and about the only time I have to stand up is when I'm on the
> unisaw. I can work all day and not have a bad evening.

I put up with it from time to time and know as I age more it'll get
worse but at 55 its not bad yet. Runs in the family too. I've a
compressed disk in my neck that plays hell with my right arm & hand too.
When it really bugs me, or the torn meniscus in my right knee becomes
a real bother, I take an Aleve (generic crud is Naproxin). Works like a
champ. Dr recommended and he hit the nail on the head.

I've too many things to build to let a little pain stop me - famous last
words!

Specter wrote:

> During the many years I've been active in this newsgroup, we've touched on
> just about every subject even remotely related to woodworking. There is one
> subject, though, I don't recall ever seeing mentioned, and it's becoming
> more relevant to me, with each passing day - arthritis.

I have the problem in both knees, hips, and ankles, as well as a
little in my back and arms. One thing I found to be wonderful was an
electric-driven motorcycle repair lift. I put a 4x8 sheet of MDF on
the top of it with some counter-sunk screws, and voila, my workbench
now lowers from 5" off the ground to about 30" high with the flip of a
switch. Available in air or electric versions, it's made by (I think)
an outfit called Hardy. A Yahoo search will turn it up. That, and an
office chair with replaced casters, shortened (slightly) legs on my
tools, and about the only time I have to stand up is when I'm on the
unisaw. I can work all day and not have a bad evening.

Oh, the glucosadroitinamine whatever stuff others have mentioned were
also a BIG help to me. SWMBO fills up my little pill drawers once a
week, and every morning like a good boy I dump a drawer of this stuff
down the hatch. It either helped me, or my body has one heckuva
imagination.

Thanks for the grain tip. I'm a "bit" on the heavy side too, and I'm
gonna pay more attention to my intake - after the holidaze. Joints
supporting less than 1/5 ton should fare better.

Happy holidays to all,

Tony Dowden


On Wed, 24 Dec 2003 01:10:13 GMT, "Specter" <[email protected]> wrote:

>During the many years I've been active in this newsgroup, we've touched on
>just about every subject even remotely related to woodworking. There is one
>subject, though, I don't recall ever seeing mentioned, and it's becoming
>more relevant to me, with each passing day - arthritis.
>
>About a year ago, I started feeling pain in my hands. That pain became
>steadily more acute until, one day, it was so bad, I had to take time off
>work and go see my doctor. Yesterday, I received the formal diagnosis that
>I've got osteoarthritis. It's funny - yesterday, I couldn't spell the word;
>today, I'm one of the one in ten who contends with this most common form of
>arthritis every day.
>
>It doesn't seem to be the end of the world. There are good days and bad. On
>the good days, I have no pain, and no problems working in my shop. On the
>bad days, working in the shop is out of the question. Fortunately, the good
>days far outnumber the bad days. My doctor gave me some good advice on how
>to manage this disease (I'm still not comfortable with the thought of
>actually having a disease), and you can be damned sure I'm going to do all I
>can to minimize its impact on my life.
>
>That's why I'm telling all of you about this...
>
>If the statistics are right, there are, perhaps, hundreds of people reading
>this newsgroup, dealing with exactly the same problems I am. I'm surprised I
>haven't seen it come up before. I'm not one to moan and feel sorry for
>himself, and I, certainly, wouldn't say I shy away from pain. I was raised
>playing football and hockey at high levels. I played in pain - often!
>Frankly, I liked it : ) I'm hoping some of you can share insights into how
>to be a woodworker, contending with arthritis. What do you do to stay active
>in the shop? I want to continue being a woodworker - I just need to figure
>out how.
>
>Rob
>

ask your doctor for celebrex i've tried it and it works for me
"Specter" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:VH5Gb.797140$6C4.468244@pd7tw1no...
> During the many years I've been active in this newsgroup, we've touched on
> just about every subject even remotely related to woodworking. There is
one
> subject, though, I don't recall ever seeing mentioned, and it's becoming
> more relevant to me, with each passing day - arthritis.
>
> About a year ago, I started feeling pain in my hands. That pain became
> steadily more acute until, one day, it was so bad, I had to take time off
> work and go see my doctor. Yesterday, I received the formal diagnosis that
> I've got osteoarthritis. It's funny - yesterday, I couldn't spell the
word;
> today, I'm one of the one in ten who contends with this most common form
of
> arthritis every day.
>
> It doesn't seem to be the end of the world. There are good days and bad.
On
> the good days, I have no pain, and no problems working in my shop. On the
> bad days, working in the shop is out of the question. Fortunately, the
good
> days far outnumber the bad days. My doctor gave me some good advice on how
> to manage this disease (I'm still not comfortable with the thought of
> actually having a disease), and you can be damned sure I'm going to do all
I
> can to minimize its impact on my life.
>
> That's why I'm telling all of you about this...
>
> If the statistics are right, there are, perhaps, hundreds of people
reading
> this newsgroup, dealing with exactly the same problems I am. I'm surprised
I
> haven't seen it come up before. I'm not one to moan and feel sorry for
> himself, and I, certainly, wouldn't say I shy away from pain. I was raised
> playing football and hockey at high levels. I played in pain - often!
> Frankly, I liked it : ) I'm hoping some of you can share insights into
how
> to be a woodworker, contending with arthritis. What do you do to stay
active
> in the shop? I want to continue being a woodworker - I just need to figure
> out how.
>
> Rob
>
>

My doctor gave much the same advice. I think I have the medical and remedy
aspects of this covered. I was more wondering what tricks people used to
adapt their tools to their new requirements. As an example of what I've
done: I've added second handles to some of my hand-held tools, so I can get
a two-handed grip on them. On other tools, I've enlarged the handles, so I
don't have to squeeze them as tightly. Has anybody had to try anything
similar?

Thanks for the replies so far.

Rob

---------------------

"D.Mo" wrote...
> >
> Lots of people will tell you different things about osteoartritis. Mostly
> folk tales. I know I think I've heard them all in the last 30+ years
> including but you're too young to have arthritisis. I've been dealing
> withit since I was twelve. I've got it in my spine. Two things kep me
> going. One you keep moving sure it hurts but it gets worse/stiff and
harder
> to move when you take it easy. Second glucosomine. That what works for
me.

Excellent suggestion Jeff. I can keep my mind busy with woodworking, even
when my joints need a break.

Rob

---------------------

"Jeff Considine" wrote ...

> That being said there were some days when getting out to the garage was
just
> not feasible and on those days I found it helpful to catch up on journals,
> do plans and such, stuff that didn't require my stressing the joints too
> much. It was a way to stay involved with the wood, without putting myself
in
> jeapordy with bad joints.

Rob

Thank you for this very personal and frank note on this widespread malady.
The other replies were equally was also very direct and honest. We actually
do see indirect commentary about this subject now and then on the wreck in
the form of "selling my tools which I can't use any more due to my
arthritis". I have osteoarthritis myself, chiefly in the hands and back.
In my case it began about age 57 and seemed to increase steadily until I
accepted the fact that I would have to take regular treatment - not an easy
reality to face when you have had the very great fortune of good health. I
retired from my career as a gynecologic surgeon at 59, not because of the
arthritis, but because I wanted to build my own house. I think the
increased physical labor associated with the building accelerated the
arthritis, but perhaps it only served to accentuate it. In any case, for
myself, the use of a daily anti-inflammatory and a hefty dose of glucosamine
and chondroitin sulfate makes (currently anyway) the symptoms essentially
disappear. It is not easy to "get on with it" beset by aches. These go away
when treated, although the condition is, for all intents and purposes,
permanent and often progressive. I still practice medicine and I find that
this works for many of my patients as well. The over-the counter NSAIDS can
be rough on the stomach for some people but the three COX-2 inhibitors on
the market, Vioxx, Celebrex, and Bextra, have less risk, but at a higher
price. The glucosamine/chondroitin sulfate combination is fairly well
established as effective but only in large doses, minimally 1500 and 1200mg
a day respectively. There is a lot of research going into a "cure", but
until then, these medications make a big difference in many lives.

Bill

We start comparing aches and pains, this thread could get outta hand. On a
particularly bad day recently I asked a friend of mine, 77 and still a world
class, active musician, if it got any better as you get older ... he just
looked at me in that wise old way and said "You ain't felt nothing yet!" ...
not exactly what I wanted to hear.

--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 12/23/03

"Grandpa" wrote in message

> I've too many things to build to let a little pain stop me - famous last
> words!

Rob,

Excellent post and I'm sure that there are many others that share this
issue. I had dealt with it since I was a young(er) man, although my problem
was in my hip. I had the option of having a replacement at 35 or waiting as
long as possible to allow technology to progress and possibly extend the
useful life of a prosthetic implant. I elected to wait.

In the interim there were some fairly effective drugs available in the
non-steroidal anti-inflammatory family (aka "nsaid" ) which did a decent job
keeping the pain and lack of mobility to a passable level. I'm sure your
doctor can tell you about these and whether they are an appropriate choice
for you, and I'm guessing there are some new choices on the market that were
not available to me. I changed my diet as well, but frankly I didn't see a
significant difference as a result of diet changes. This probably differs
for others.

I was raised in the old school where you weren't really hurting unless you
could produce a bucket of blood to prove you were injured, so the
prescription drug thing was not something I warmed up to very fast. SWMBO,
in a characteristically common sense moment, pointed out that I was a giant
'pita' when I was in pain and that if I didn't do something about it she was
gonna tie to me to a tree in my sleep and let the coyotes clean up the mess.
In comparison, the drug thing seemed like a decent trade off. I can tell you
that there is no sense living with that kind of pain if something can be
done to alleviate it, and the drug thing worked well for me.

That being said there were some days when getting out to the garage was just
not feasible and on those days I found it helpful to catch up on journals,
do plans and such, stuff that didn't require my stressing the joints too
much. It was a way to stay involved with the wood, without putting myself in
jeapordy with bad joints.

There are some pretty amazing surgical breakthroughs these days with hand
and small joint repair/replacement, the guy that did my surgery has had some
great success with hands, wrists and shoulders. His advice to me was to
delay a surgical solution for as long as I possibly could.

I wish you the best, there are some amazing things being done in this area
that can help.

Jeff


> haven't seen it come up before. I'm not one to moan and feel sorry for
> himself, and I, certainly, wouldn't say I shy away from pain. I was raised
> playing football and hockey at high levels. I played in pain - often!
> Frankly, I liked it : ) I'm hoping some of you can share insights into
how
> to be a woodworker, contending with arthritis. What do you do to stay
active
> in the shop? I want to continue being a woodworker - I just need to figure
> out how.
>
> Rob
>
>

Dan Parrell wrote:

> ask your doctor for celebrex i've tried it and it works for me


Be warned: There are over the counter medications that can't be taken
with celebrex.






--

Mark

N.E. Ohio


Never argue with a fool, a bystander can't tell you apart. (S. Clemens,
A.K.A. Mark Twain)

When in doubt hit the throttle. It may not help but it sure ends the
suspense. (Gaz, r.moto)