Preventing Injuries

[Richard Huntrods]

Originally Posted by Barb Sanderson

...
My question now is that I am starting to have range of motion issues in my right (dominant) shoulder. Any ideas what this could be? Great thread btw Mark!
Barb

Caveat in that such things should always be properly diagnosed by a medical pro, I would suggest rotator cuff. I say diagnosed as there are several ligaments in the shoulder and any one of them can be 'rotator cuff'.

Mine's the inner one, both shoulders. Almost destroyed the right one with years of very heavy swimming. It took 3 years of physio but it came back to 95%. Now the left one's gone bad (lifting scuba tanks & weights teaching), but I'm just repeating the physio exercises and it's come back about 60% so far. Occasional naprocen (Aleve - without additives) to control inflamation.

Weird thing - blowing glass actually makes it feel better. Maybe it's all the heat.

I also concur with icing the injury.

[Eben Horton]

I injured my shoulder a few years ago from doing something stupid non glass related. It killed me in the hotshop for about 7 months. What helped me heal was triglosamine ( I think that's how you spell it). It's made from crab and shrimp shells and helps cartilage and tendons heal fast.

[Pringle Teetor]

I'm a distance swimmer in the warmer months, walk a few miles daily (outside of the studio) and stay in reasonable shape but am rapidly losing upper body strength due to spine/back/neck injuries from a 1988 head on collision with a drunk driver. Raynaud's is causing major numbness and circulation in my hands and feet. Had lots of tendonitis in years past but have since learned to stretch and ice. The upper arm strength is a big issue - I'm almost 5'3 and can hardly do a 12 block piece. 10 block is awkward now. I find that if a piece is too heavy I tend to feel like I'm going to fall over - no balance. The fact that I am 58 has nothing to do with it I'm sure! In my right hand I have arthritis, trigger finger, and old tendon injury that causes my finger to hyper extend and the reynauds.
I just went to my 40th high school reunion and compared to a few others (it was a small class) I have nothing to complain about! so I'll keep stretching, blow smaller pieces and hope that things don't get much worse. Or that surgery/medicine gets better. Or maybe someone will come along and be my assistant during the week that will handle the large pieces I want to make AND drag the 50lbs bags of cullet to the shop for charging! That's the ticket!~
or maybe I'll sell the studio and move to the beach

[Pringle Teetor]

PS - to Barb - I have a fabulous acupuncturist. When I first went to China in 1981 I was amazed at some of the things I saw in acupuncture clinics and have been a fan every since. I also have a TENS unit for back problems. It's another life saver.

[Barb Sanderson]

Thanks Richard, Eben and Pringle for your experience and advise. I do need to see a doctor and I will shortly but in the meantime I'm trying to find out what may be going on with my right (dominant) shoulder.
I have regular ongoing throbbing pain all day all night but I also have more severe pain and am unable to lift my arm straight above my head without severe pain at this time. I am icing and trying to not use it unless I'm blowing but you know how that goes.
And Pringle don't discount selling!
Barb

[Pete VanderLaan]

Pringle, have you considered stationary blocks where they're lined with paper and you bring the gather to the block while standing? I blow into crucibles lined with paper.

[Jordan Kube]

I had a movement guy come in and watch us work. He made a couple of videos for us. Some of you might find this useful.

3 minute intro
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dz6xevVjTtc
4 minutes with a bit of info about how and why it works
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKAiI6P62Rc
3 minutes about ergonomics
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQQMxnAZGdc
spine section: front, side, rotation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMH97Phh32Y
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLIib32VKz8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ydIp2WUcXo
Forearm section: muscle reset and strength and flexibility
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXDltSJo9U4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWisA4wYsoY
3 minute video showing how the above can be done as a warmup/cooldown/refresh at lunchbreak kind of routine
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAji8XQi7pU
2 minute lecture about how to get up from sitting (will likely redo this one)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JH6P9MHEHlc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmLr...ature=youtu.be


https://youtu.be/KFI6I0mDqy8
https://youtu.be/5SebBVsBQ4I
https://youtu.be/2MXXTbBlDRA

[Jordan Kube]

Watch the ones on the bottom first

[Eben Horton]

thanks for sharing that Jordan!

[Pringle Teetor]

Thanks Jordan! great stuff!

[Pete VanderLaan]

Can anyone start a thread on causing injuries and how to get it over with quickly?

[Pringle Teetor]

Pete - never grab the hot end of a punty

[Mark Rosenbaum]

Originally Posted by Pringle Teetor

Pete - never grab the hot end of a punty

Ouch....been there, done that!

[Pete VanderLaan]

It would seem to be unnecessary advice but I too have done it. Take the advice. Just don't do it, not even once.

[Eben Horton]

never shape a hot cookie of glass on the marver with the handles of diamond shears and leave them unattended.

(I can see Pete planting his face into his palms now....)

[Pete VanderLaan]

long memory there.

It should read, never trust anyone to do the sane thing.

[Pringle Teetor]

Ditto :-). I have pics. And there is a great burn center here in Chapel Hill!

[David Hopman]

Never utter the words "Did you shut off the breaker?" because a YES answer does not necessarily mean a YES result.

[Pete VanderLaan]

Originally Posted by david hopman

never utter the words "did you shut off the breaker?" because a yes answer does not necessarily mean a yes result.

******
diy .

When someone is trusting enough to bench blow for you, don't pop them inthe face with your pipe. This happened to friend of mine and he had to get a steel plate to fix his cheek bone

[Pete VanderLaan]

There's lots of Italians with no front teeth.

[John Riepma]

And always remember, if you're gonna be dumb you'd better be tough.

[Trevor Pierce]

I got one for you guys. Never try to drain a boiling 50 gallon ladle cooling bucket(was used to empty a furnace in this instance) and drop the wheel into the floor drain sloshing gallons of boiling water all over yourself. I lost a lot of skin that day…. on the plus side I found out in a pinch I can get naked and be screaming for a hose in about 5 seconds flat.

[David Patchen]

If a tool falls, don't lean on the tool bench to get it putting your hand right on the jack blade you just necked with....

[Pete VanderLaan]

This is sort of becoming a glassworker's "Jackass".

Kind of "Hold my beer I want to try something.."