wear and tear on your body?

[OutOnaLimb]

Ok, a bit off topic, but now that I am no longer a "junior member" how do I post a cool pic next to my name? I know that I will never be as xexy as Murphy, but we cant all be as stunningly hansome as he is.

Kenn

 

[MasterBlaster]

Second to the last in the first block.

http://www.arboristsite.com/misc.php?action=faq&s=<?=?>

 

[treeslayer]

Murphy cut his hair, and lost all that sex appeal!

 

[NeTree]

I take the time to stretch out a bit in the morning, nothing crazy, just enough to limber up. I find it makes a difference in how I feet by 4 or 5 o'clock.

 

[Jumper]

I can relate well to Out on A Limb, less the rodeo part. All I wanted to was jump out of airplanes as well, and about 800 times later I have degernative disc disorder disease, two crushed discs and a left arm that is held together by a steel plate and six screws to show for my efforts. Did not seem to slow me down too much as I decided I was going to be a goaltender one month after surgery. At 44 I ache a lot more than I used to, but have found Celebrex to be the answer, along with Allopurinol to keep my gouty feet in check. When things get too sore, I see a physiotherapist and a Registered Massage Therapist . I also have had accupuncture in the past and it worked wonders though it may not be everyone's cup of tea. Staying physically active is the key to physical health. That's a b*tch breaking your leg out of your first chopper jump, and probably bare *ss at that

 

[jmchristopher]

I'm a salesman now, but they let me climb more during the winter. I'm 47 now but because of clean living feel no older than 45 most days. The nearest thing to wisdom I can pass along:
get to know a chiropractor. If you can build a relationship with him or her, they can work wonders in a preventative mode. Then, if something starts to feel a wee bit off, you can have it straightened out before it blows up on you. Also, the time you invest in a stretching/excercise regimen will pay off in the long run better than nearly anything else. Make it part of your safety and mental sanitation habits.

 

[topnotchtree]

At 31, I know I could do a lot more for my body. More excercise, better eating,etc. But I do agree with the stretching in the morning theory. I few years back, I met up with an older guy that stretched out before every tree he went up.Nothing real time consuming, just a few simple stretches to loosen up. He scolded me for not stretching, and me, always being one to listen to my elders, started stretching. I do find it makes a difference at the end of the day. I can tell the days I forgot, or did not take the time to stretch.

 

[Gypo Logger]

Pain, injury, health, or the lack there of is also related to constitutional strengths and weaknesses.
Just as to rest is to rust, use is not abuse unless it is overdone.
But what is the definition of overdoing it? Once again, it depends on ones constitutional strengths and weaknesses.
Just as the lack of Hemlock is caused by the lack of proper nutrients, pain isn't caused by the lack of aspirin.
Winter time can increase past and present injuries due to the lack of UV rays, as we are relatively pain free during the summer months.
Most problems are self inflicted, however the body is self repairing and self regulating, given the proper requirements. It is funny how we take better care of our vehicles and chainsaws then we do ourselves. At fifty one, I have hammered the living snot out of my body, but have learned how to put myself on natures operating table. The forces within a Pine tree are the same forces within ourselves, but you don't see pine trees consuming gallons of coffee and all the other poisons that humans do. No they only take what is required to make them a Pine tree. Of course Pine trees don't know any better, but we do.
Remember, Health is Wealth.
John

 

[Lumberjack]

What is a all this gettin "stove up" and all this old sounding stuff.

 

[MasterBlaster]

"Youth is wasted on the young."

 

[Ax-man]

This thread would make for excellent reading in the trade pubs, for any of you would be authors, wanting to publish worhwhile articles that have some thing important to say to the industry.

I would find an article on this subject much more informative than any article that deals with the ho - hum subject that deals with maintaining a chipper or stump grinder.

Larry

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

Originally posted by OutOnaLimb
Bring it on!!! Im like a bottle of fine wine. I just get better with age.

Kenn

Kenn, you're in your prime right now. there is nowhere to go but downhill

Just do everything you can to make th ride slow and easy.

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

Originally posted by Lumberjack
What is a all this gettin "stove up" and all this old sounding stuff.

Just trying to get you whipper-snappers to learn from our mistakes.

One of our problems is that we do things with our bodies because someone else taught us.

Butch, how often do you onehand your chainsaw with that sore right arm? With improper posture and body mechanics the tendon to the biceps can roll over the clavical join causing tendonitis. There are times when a "shoulder forward" position is good, such as bucking or working a handsaw, but not in an overhead work position, especially repetitive lifting.

The best thing that happend to me (allong these lines that is) was to get a very good PT who has done some bit of rock climbing.

 

[Gypo Logger]

Since I am in the preaching mode, it is important to understand that life is neither malevolent nor benevolent. There is only a balance. Chaotic yes, but the sun rises and sets on the just and the unjust alike, however what reigns supreme is natural law.
If there is a Big Boss Above then I will catch the last bus to Heaven.
John

 

[ROLLACOSTA]

what takes it out of an arbo is not the climbing [unless long periods of spiking poles] its the clean up operation ..like we had today 3foot rings of oak too move about and too behonest thats where most of us guys over strain our bodies ......if we could cut out the cheaper unprofesional,or should i say lesser profesional crew, also the one man band crew that we see everywhere,the crews that always under bid the pro ,the ones with no insurance and guys working and claiming welfare ,then we all would be able too aford equipment that not only saves time but saves our bodies! in 2004 we should all be using mini loaders .buckets when nessacery,truck cranes etc,weve all seen the kit out there that we know would save alot of time and a lot of STRAIN....................

PS..i had a bad day....lugging logs from back yard

 

[geofore]

wear/tear

I have to agree with start your day with streching exercise, warm up before you start. It makes a difference. The antivibe and the PPE will let a lot of the younger guys last (live) longer. I remember the old timers telling me to slow down when I was young and wondered why they would say that. I'll be 51 at the end of the month and I'll be the first to tell you to pace your work, your body will tell you that as the years roll by or tonight if you over do it today. Listen to what it is telling you.
My body is pretty much shot from years of repetitive injuries, a lot of which wouldn't be there if I had the equipment that is out there today, 30 years ago. It is still very physical work but learning to finnesse your moves will save a lot of wear and tear. Don't ever give in to not asking a question because you think it is or will make you sound stupid, If you don't ask you'll not find the answer. There is a better way of doing this work and someone out there knows how to do it smarter not harder.

 

[Chainsaw_Maniac]

Not doing the same axact thing for more than a half hour can be a good way to avaiod over working certain muscle groups. For example take a break from bucking up trees and load up some wood. Or take a break from any strenous work by driving a load home or skidding a tree to the landing site.

 

[blue]

i find it's my head that aches the most during the day,probably from trying to work out what the boss was thinking of when he priced it!

 

[Guy Meilleur]

31? 41? Wait til 51, it gets even more interesting.

Great advice about a.m. stretching, knowing a chiro and PT, varying activities to ease strain, and learning new techniques to make the ride last nice and long.

I'd add positive attitude and breath control as ways to stay sharp and healthy. When stressed, nothing levels my head like long deep breathing while I look around. And feeling right about what I'm doing keeps the attitude good and the confidence up.

If you can attack your work confident that everything's gong to turn out well, it usually does.

Re meds, I just say NO and work through or around aches and pains. Good food is the best medicine.

Yes Ax-Man, this would be a great article. Why not write up these responses as if you're doing a survey, and send it in to TCI for their "From the Field"? Last ish FtF had some story about a dog that died...

 

[Hemlock]

My doctor educated me on a new concept a few years back. He said I needed to manage my pain. Pain management?. He wasn't talking about tuffing it out either. Like alot af other guys past their prime the wear and tear was taking it's toll and impacting my quality of life. It's no fun when you can't get away from pain or ignore it anymore and compounded with sleep deprivation life can get rather uuummm, .

If any of you guys out there are bunged up to the point where stretching, yoga, ibuprophin, health food, acupuncture, glucosamine condroiten, kava kava leaves, soy protien, blah blah blah (stuff that works pretty good for folks that don't really hurt that bad) start getting , go see a doctor who knows something about pain management and find out everything you can on the internet. You may find that you can avoid alot of needless suffering.

Science is starting to get a handle on how pain works on a persons body and mind and there's alot of different ways to deal with or live more comfortably with the wear and tear problems. It may be a simple outpatient surgery, some new technology or therapy, a certain type of pain killer or anti-inflammatory drug that is alot easier on your body in the long run than eating handfulls of over the counter crap or the latest "herbal" supplement. No offense to all the low level pain remedies that have been mentioned so far, they're all good, up to a point.