Left arm sore

[Sethsfirewood]

hey guys,

I wanted to know if any of you have ever experienced a soreness in your left arm from extensive chainsawing. I have been cutting up wood for about 3 days now and feel like I am stretching some tendons.

Any chainsaw tips you guys can provide to avoid this in the future would be helpful. I know I should take a break first and foremost, however I feel like my technique might be the primary reason.

Thanks in advance.

 

[john taliaferro]

What saw ,my 88 will make both sore in three days . Take 2 advils every four hr or so and back off just a little .

 

[hamish]

Lack of training in the off season leads to some sore arms once things get going in the bush!
Try drinking all summer using only your left arm!

As for you left arm soreness, and you mention it may be your technique.......what is your technique and how do you see it relating.

Myself I let the saw do the cutting, both my hands are only there as guides.

 

[Sethsfirewood]

I've got a Magnum Stihl with a 24" bar....

I would say that my arm isn't as sore as it feels strained. I suppose I have been doing a lot of stacking, sorting and loading by hand as well.

 

[bigbadbob]

Could be sign of a mild heart attack.
Best friend died at 35 same symptoms, he disregarded it.

 

[marti384]

Sounds like your talking about some tendinitis or tennis elbow. I cut firewood for 2 and half months straight at work last winter. Myself and two other guys I was cutting with day in and out all have had pain in our left elbow because of it. Usually a couple of weeks not cutting will make it better. I bought an elbow brace called a Band-it, and it compresses the tendons in the elbow and almost eliminates the pain when cutting now. It has been the best $20 pain relief I have ever bought. I don't think it has anything to do with technique, as I let the saw do the work.

 

[Sethsfirewood]

Thanks Marti...I know I should take a break...just trying to get ahead of the snow. Once the snow hits, I pretty much shut down.

 

[greendohn]

Tendonitis

There are stretches and sech that help. Anti-inflammatory meds,,before, during, after running the saw. Careful though, they can burn up your stomach. Try using both hands when picking up/handling fire wood, even the small pieces. Cold soak or ice packs when done for the day. There is a schedule out there some where that dictates the cycle/schedule for application of heat and cold for strains..Cold reduces the inflammation, allowing for better circulation later,,it'll make things feel stiffer at the time. Do some research and you should find a wealth of info. Been a long time since I studied up on this stuff. I still fight it myself.
If push comes to shove, yer doc can give ya a shot of steroids,,kind of a last resort, but they can help.

The arm bands mentioned earlier are a real help, just kind of hard to use over clothing as they won't wanna' stay in place. I use 'em with some good results.

 

[BlueRider]

listen to your body and give it a rest. By the time I backed off it took over a year for my tennis elbow to get better. The bands/braces help and they go under your clothing. It dosen't need to be very tight but if it is too loose it won't do much good.

Its surprising what will agrivate it some obvious things like lifting a car battery but some less obvious things like pulling the trigger on a pistol.

 

[BIG JAKE]

Sounds like over use. Consider cutting several times a year at a more relaxed pace instead of all at once. Cut in most comfortable stable position you can. Much harder to hold a saw out than close to your center of weight. Ergonomics they call it. I've had to pay more attention to these things with each passing year. Now I work out at the gym to help keep my bad shoulder stronger has helped tremendously. Taking a few breaks to relax will help too and aleve has the anti-inflam qualities of ibuprofen but easier on stomach and kidneys. As mentioned ice 'em down soon after a session for 15-20 minutes will help too. Sound like I've been there? :bang::hmm3grin2orange: Don't keep pushing it unless you have too or they'll get worse-good luck.

 

[Dave Boyt]

Using square filed chisel chains makes a huge difference because there is so much less vibration. I know several loggers who simply cannot use a standard chain for more than a few minutes, but can cut all day with a square filed chisel chain. Listen to what you'r body is telling you.

 

[hamish]

Using square filed chisel chains makes a huge difference because there is so much less vibration. I know several loggers who simply cannot use a standard chain for more than a few minutes, but can cut all day with a square filed chisel chain. Listen to what you'r body is telling you.

Dave,

Might you be able to get the loggers you know to elaborate on the theory of less vibration using square chisel? Oregon and Stihl have done a great job of negating the vibration from there chains, till such time as the operator decides to take the rakers beyond spec, then it become earthquake time.

Jeremy

 

[Dave Boyt]

Dave,

Oregon and Stihl have done a great job of negating the vibration from there chains, till such time as the operator decides to take the rakers beyond spec, then it become earthquake time.

Jeremy

That's what I thought until he let me try out his saw. Velvet smooth, just melted its way through the logs. He'd had Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, and the doc told him he would have to quit sawing or risk permanent damage. That was four or five years ago, and as far as I know, he still runs a chain saw. An hour or two with a standard chain, and he's back in serious pain. Again, this is square ground chisel, not round filed. I'd use it, but it takes a special grinder, and it wouldn't be practical to sharpen the chain out in the woods.

 

[Sethsfirewood]

Thanks Dave...i'll check those out...i'm assuming there's no file i could use? I have an angle grinder, but not sue what you mean about a "special grinder"?

 

[Dave Boyt]

There is a flat file you can use. No, an angle grinder won't do it. It is a special stone for a chain saw sharpener. Geometry is CRITICAL on flat filed full chisel chains. Even a few degrees off in any direction, and they don't cut well. They also dull more quickly when you get into dirt or grit. That's why I don't use 'em. But when they're cutting right, they're fantastic. You'd probably want to take several chains out with you and just change them when they get dull. Do a search for square ground chain on this site and you'll find several threads.