struggling...

[sue denim]

Is there anyone else out there who feels they need to give up working on heavy jobs due to a persistant back problem. A few weeks ago I aggravated my lower back and for the last five weeks I am experiencing a lot of discomfort. Due to the fact that my main bulk of work is oak staircases I feel that I will always have a problem for as long as I have to move pieces of oak that are 45mm thick by 4000mm by 400mm (very heavy).

Going to the docs on the 16th but I fear that there is no real long term solution. This is the third time in seven years I have had the problem but it seems to take longer to get better each time.

My main concern is my income, as self employed I could end up without an income.

Your thoughts please and some guidance on what to do....

regards

'Sue'

 

[devonwoody]

Get to the bottom of why your back has problems.

In my instance I found it was an infection, nothing to do with my back but the disease effects your muscle/nerve conditions of your body and in my situation it hit my back muscles.
So get the hospital to explore the entire state of your health and find the cause.

 

[JustBen]

Could you not make or buy something that can assist you in lifting/moving the oak around?

 

[Graham Orm]

My back went last October half way through a job, I ended up leaving the customer in a mess. It turned out to be a bulging disc. I lost sensation and 80% of the strength in my left leg and ended up very worried about my prospects. 2 Months of rest cured the problem completely. A scan showed the disc was still bulging and the doc said it could go again with provocation so I can no longer do the work I did (kitchens and bathrooms). However thanks to the Find a Trade type websites I am able to make a living doing smaller jobs.
Every time I visited the doc he would ask me if I had had any incontinence accidents as the loss of feeling and control can affect bowels and bladder! This I found very worrying and am determined not to risk doing damage again.
I'm no expert but once your back is damaged I don't believe it can ever be the same again. I suggest you insist on a scan via your GP. Stress to him that you are self employed and cannot afford permanent damage to your back, tell him you risk further injury every day and need to know what is wrong.

 

[bourbon]

Osteopath,Regular visits Keep me going. My one treats a lot of builders as well as sports people. Not cheap @£35 a visit but pays for itself with you being able to work sooner

 

[Spindle]

Hi

You need to think seriously about your working practice - man handling oak in those dimensions will cause irreparable damage in no time. A rough calculation shows your moving about 54 kg per board - can you cut it in situ to reduce it to individual components?

Regards Mick

 

[Random Orbital Bob]

+1. You're working in a way that's a ticking time bomb. It's inevitable you'll hurt yourself if you don't find an alternative method. A simple block and tackle using the principle of the lever and pulley can work wonders in lightening loads. Judicious use of dollys and sack trolleys. I use a sack trolley to move sheet goods round my workshop if still at the 8x4 size and over 1/2" thickness. Your back is pretty special, you need to treat it as such.

 

[nathandavies]

I work on my own in my workshop, mainly using panel products, including sheets of mfc 2080x2800, right from being delivered I put them where I can shunt, tilt and 1/2 lift and roll onto my panel saw. Depending on your set up, can you reduce your actual lifting to a minimum with machines being same height and in order of use. Rollers are available at very reasonable cost. I've put my back out in the past so have tried to reduce the number of super hero lifts I do every week, but sometimes it has to be done, but lifting in the most careful way I can.

Hope all works out ok for you

Nathan

 

[mailee]

I also suffer with my back for the past 20 years or so after a lifting accident. I use Nathan's method in my workshop to help with moving large panels around or enlist the help of friends/family with lifting large pieces on site. I find customers are pretty flexible with times and can wait until I have assistance. :wink:

 

[Chippygeoff]

I worked a lot with green oak doing barn conversions. I already had a back problem but then it got considerably worse. some years ago I was diagnosed with 5 prolapsed disc, 2 of them critical. I was told to give up work immediately and that within 2 to 6 months I would be dependant on a wheelchair. The wheelchair was duly delivered but thank God I still don't need it but I need my crutches. I then worked from home making small items in wood and it's probably one of the best things I ever did. I am very happy with the work I do and it still generates a decent income.

 

[tomatwark]

I have bad back too and work on my own, like Alan I enlist the help of friends and family.

This has worked fine until now but as things are getting busier by the day I am now having to look for help on a more permanent basis.

I did not really want to go back down the staff route again but have no real choice.

One thought is to see if you can link up with someone on a job to job basis when you need help.

Tom

 

[sue denim]

Some interesting advice...thank you all.

Just to let you know that I do use lifting methods that ease the burden and occasionally enlist the help of the family when it comes to moving big lumps. The oak I buy is big and I buy a whole tree planked at one time. This are invariably 4 metres long for the strings of stairs. Special lifting techniques and equipment can only do so much.

I had an x ray last time it went and it showed a problem between L4 and L5. I am no expert but I can't see that carrying on will be practical as any work done by medical experts could be undone very quickly with a sudden bad move.

I am thinking along the lines of smaller, lighter items to ease the stress.

I would be interested in what items the above postee mentioned... furniture ?

Keep your posts coming as it is a great comfort to know that there are those out there dealing with the same frustrating problem

Regards

'Sue'

 

[Baldhead]

Some interesting advice...thank you all.

Just to let you know that I do use lifting methods that ease the burden and occasionally enlist the help of the family when it comes to moving big lumps. The oak I buy is big and I buy a whole tree planked at one time. This are invariably 4 metres long for the strings of stairs. Special lifting techniques and equipment can only do so much.

I had an x ray last time it went and it showed a problem between L4 and L5. I am no expert but I can't see that carrying on will be practical as any work done by medical experts could be undone very quickly with a sudden bad move.

I am thinking along the lines of smaller, lighter items to ease the stress.

I would be interested in what items the above postee mentioned... furniture ?

Keep your posts coming as it is a great comfort to know that there are those out there dealing with the same frustrating problem

Regards

'Sue'

Sue I had to retire early in 2010 (I was a fireman for 24 years) due to several problems with my lower back, I've had one operation and been offered another one, I take up to 27 tablets/day, I never have a day free from back pain, so although I'm not medically qualified, I do feel qualified to offer advice.

Ask for an MRI scan, this will show up soft tissue damage, something an X-ray doesn't, make sure doctors know you have 'real' pain, don't be fobbed off with pain killers, try mild exercise to keep everything moving, if possible change your work practices, if you can think about wearing a weight lifters belt, ask to be referred to a physio who specialises in back problems, don't do as I did and think it will go away, it probably won't.

If I can be any further help send me a PM so we can exchange email addresses.

Good luck

Baldhead

 

[tomatwark]

Baldhead makes a good point with regard the weight lifters belt.

I have one in the workshop and when I am having a bad spell of lower back pain it makes a huge difference.

Tom

 

[sue denim]

I have a belt and used it for a while but it made my neck and shoulder muscles go into a spasm. As painful as the original problem.

I have some ideas about what to do next but I want to hear from this forum first..

Regards

 

[Harbo]

I think you are doing the right thing by seeking medical advice but depending on what they say don't stay in an occupation that could leave you permanently disabled.
I've just undergone surgery and have been told not to lift anything heavier than a cup of coffee for 6 to 8 weeks ( and not drive). Although only temporary it's very frustrating having to relay on other folks all the time - I would dread to think if that was permanent?

Rod

 

[Cheshirechappie]

'Sue', I'm sure you've probably heard all this before, but it might help someone. How you go about lifting makes a big difference. Keep your back straight all the time, and use your legs for the effort. As soon as you start leaning over and lifting, you put dangerous stresses on your back, and sooner or later, it'll catch up with you. If you can't lift something without leaning over it, change your body position until you can.

Having to recruit help may be darned nuisance at times, but it may be the pragmatic approach, and doing lifts in stages (one end of a board onto the machine table, then the other end onto a roller support - not trying to lift the whole board onto table and roller in one go).

I've managed to put my back out once, lifting brake gear components for a steam locomotive whilst underneath it in a pit, so couldn't stand up straight. I should have knealt down and kept my back straight, but didn't. Didn't feel it at the time, but did about two days later. Agony for a week, followed by about a month very restricted, then a bout of sciatica (don't want that again!) which acupuncture cured in the end. It's OK now (touch wood), but I'm always far more careful than I used to be in my young and stupid days.

Good luck with the doc - and I hope it can be cleared up without too many problems.

 

[No skills]

Perhaps its time to take on a young helper for this work??

 

[Bod]

Material Handling Equipment and technique, can be used to solve all lifting tasks.
It's just a case of finding the best one for you.
If you employed some one, would you have to provide lifting equipment? (H&S at Work etc.)


Bod

 

[sue denim]

I will not be employing anyone...I have enough trouble sorting myself out let alone someone else.

Decision time.

Moving into picture framing to compliment my wife's work as a gallery owner and artist.

Small pieces such as routed signage.

Turning things

Finally, build a few canoes.

This could be goodbye to the building industry after 30+ years...

let's see what happens......