Symptoms and ways to avoid vibration syndrome

["Bob Hackett" <kinfolk@zzzzzzz>]

Ernie and all interested others,

For me the most alarming symptom was pain and swelling of my hands
and forearms after use of the pneumatic tools. Physical therapy
brought the swelling in the left arm under control but failed to
cure all the problems with the right.

Let me backtrack here and say once again that I have made my living
for most of my adult life as a metal fabricator, the last 15+ of
that in the marine trades. The pneumatic tools I used most were
things like grinders large and small, needle scalers, chipping
hammers (like a small jackhammer) and various other tools that
closely mimic the tools I also used for stonework after hours. It
seems the tight grip required to control these tools with gloved
hands is just the conduit needed to transmit the vibration the tools
produce directly to your upper extremities and cause chronic
inflamation of things like tendons, ligaments, nerves etc. It also
leads to arthritis and degeneration of the bone.

Some of the things I've done that have been successful in dealing
with my disability are stretching both before and after the work
session. Padding the gripping surfaces of the tools with closed cell
foam like that found on exercise machine grips or the softer foam
water pipe insulation used in homes. Not only does the foam help
isolate you from the vibration it also increases the diameter of
whatever you're gripping and makes it easier to control it with less
grip. I also wear rubber coated cloth gloves like those found in
marine supply outlets and recently in garden supply stores. They're
meant to improve your grip on wet surfaces but do just as well on
dry too. I've fashioned oversize handles on all my hammers and use
the foam on the shanks of my chisels too.

One of the best things you can do to avoid injury is to vary the
type of work you do over the course of a day. Don't spend hours and
hours, day after day with only that pneumatic grinder or polisher in
your hands. Having a few pieces going at once and having them in
different stages of completion can help to vary the work, short of
that break it up by roughing for a bit followed by sketching or some
other low impact activity. Wood bankers or cribbing and properly
filled sandbags also help absorb vibration too.

Most importantly, LISTEN TO YOUR BODY! It will tell you when things
are veering off into too much far before your fingers turn white and
you can't feel them anymore. Avoid that urge to take a few Advil and
pick up the grinder again. Ignore those of your supposed  peers who
mutter things like "lightweight" and other less PC names. Part of my
problem is my own fault for allowing my pride and ego to win out
over common sense while working in a union shipyard.

BTW - I'm 52 years old and yes, I still swing a hammer but I can
only do it for a max of approx 1 1/2 hours every other day. I also
pay dearly for it that night and next morning despite the high power
meds. Some habits die hard, some refuse to die at all. I told you I
had a hard head. One of the other ways I stay connected to once
loved activities is to teach at local art centers and to give
lessons at my home. Those 1 1/2 hours go alot farther if someone
else (the student) is doing most of the grunt work and I'm fine
tuning the technique. Bob