What ails ya...

rick in Alaska

I've got the typical bad back (scoliosis),loss of hearing at higher frequencies, and the bad knees. Right now both knees are cut up from laying tubing down on a floor that has "random" screws up through floor from ductwork hangers from the basement. One of these days I'll remember to bring my knee pads.
My main reason for posting though, is to tell people to pay more attention to the chemicals around us. After spending two years doing chemo and finally a stem cell transport, along with about 300,000 dollars of the insurance companies money, I have finally beat my Hodgkins Lymphoma cancer. The doctors can't say exactly the cause for it, but they believe it is highly likely that it is from chemical exposure. I spent six years working as a mechanic with solvents, six years putting in plastic fire sprinkler piping with glues, seven years spraying solvent based asphalt roofing ( we washed up numerous times during the day with gasoline), and ten years playing with oil burners.Too many chemicals in my system.

When I see the posts about the guys looking for hand cleaner to get the soot and diesel off, I just want to let them know that diesel does absorb into your system through your skin. I currently go through about 200 pair of nytrile gloves a month. It sure is nice to peel the gloves off and have clean non-contaminated hands. Would also highly recommend using a good respirator. If you really want to do it right, a full respirator hood would be the best. Just don't know how far to go with all of this!?
Main long winded point is to use all of the safety precautions you can along with common sense. Your body has to last a long time.
Rick in Alaska

[Deleted User]

In as much as we're getting to know each other better...

What ails ya. I don't mean swollen prostate glands (got one of them myself...) I'm talking torn rotator cuffs, blown knee cartiledges, crushed discs. You know, WORK related stuff. Is there anything you'd have done differently? Maybe we can keep some of these young pups from wrecking themselves like we did.

Personally, I have strained shoulder ligaments from falling down on the job, weak knees from crawling around without knee pads, and a tender back fom doing the vertical lift of 40 gallon water heaters by myself.

I'm sure I have a plethora of hidden ailments that haven't bubbled to the surface yet that will probably be caused by my exposure to chemicals over the years. WIll have to hide and watch.

You're only given one body to live with. Make sure you take care of it, Get help when lifting heavy items and follow the manufactures instructions.

So brother, what ails ya?

ME

Rocky

Back finally blew morning of December 1st

Lost two discs down low. The "crabmeat" as the doctor called it, in the middle of your discs, decided it did not WANT to stay inside the disc anymore. Emergency room doc asked if I had ever hurt my back before. Told him I could not really remember one particular incident that I thought to myself, "Hmmm, I just hurt my back." Told him that much like other 40 year old men who work for a living, that my back pretty much ached all the time, but, could not really remember any one incident. He took x-rays and came back and said, "Are you SURE you've never hurt your back? Because this x-ray shows 4 old fractured vertebrae, 5 compressed discs and the two discs that just blew." I said,"Hmmmmmmm...no wonder the 34" inseam pants I used to wear in high school now drag on the ground. By the way, got any Demerol handy?" Hell of it was, I blew my back putting my OWN boiler in late at night after working on other peoples stuff all day. Go figure.


Rocky

Mike T., Swampeast MO

Knees

Don't be stubborn like me--WEAR KNEE PADS--ALWAYS!!! It only takes a short while to cause lots of damage that takes many years (if ever) to heal! First sign is often "washmaids' knee". Knee swells to the point you can't put on trousers. Generally painless, but it's a SERIOUS wake-up call!

Watch hyperextending when on a ladder. Once you get tennis elbow (tendonitis) it's REALLY hard to get rid of and recurrs quite easily. Move the ladder and move any clutter! It came back big-time when relocating an old rad while balancing on a paint can in a basement even more cluttered than mine.

Dad's had so many hernia surgeries that he probably has a built-in bullet-proof vest by now. I learned from his mistakes. Lift with your legs!

Chiropractors and neurosurgeons both have their strong points--the best recognize the usefullness (and limitations) of the other. For those like me who seem naturally tense, a good masseur is a very welcome relief (look for big arms with small hands).

Remember that our bodies naturally seek homeostasis (keeping things the same). Lifestyle changes are ALWAYS preferable to frequent, habitual use of chemicals--both prescribed and otherwise.

Listen to your body. Most all of us know the difference between the "normal" pain of an intense workout and "bad" pain from other sources if only we pay attention and take appropriate action.

Alan(CaliforniaRadiant)Forbes

Lower Back

The pain never stops; it's my constant companion. Too many cast iron bathtubs.

Stretching my hamstrings is the only relief. Yoga and Pilates will be the long term remedy.

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Steve Minnich_1

Missed all of 2002

Because of serious medical problems directlty related to the field. I actually had to shut the business down, which was very hard to do since its been going since 1987. I've always kept it small because I have a nice little niche in the market and have always been very profitable.

But I wasn't sure I'd be able to make a comeback after 5 major surgeries in one year-including two on my neck.

Well I'm back up and running and have two crews working for me. All my contractors and architects have taken me back and I'm very grateful for their patience and loyalty. But the work is a lttle slow now because I always had a backlog before and working in high-end new construction, you have to wait a long time for your turn. I'm doing my best to pick up work in the replacement market hoping that will stem the tide.

ADVICE for all you youngstsers out there. Work hard, but work smart. Wear knee pads NOW, wear protective eyewear NOW, wear some of those great workgloves like Ironclad NOW.
Wear back support NOW. WORK IN A NEAT AND ORGANIZED MANNER SO YOU'RE NOT RUNNING AROUND LIKE A CHICKEN WITH IT'S HEAD CUT OFF.

Be smart. Back in 1981 and 1982, if my boss told me to run through a brick wall, I'd do it in heartbeat. And I'm paying for it dearly now. I was always the kind of guy who if somebody told me I couldn't do it, I would do it just to spite him. Like stacking one furnace on top of another by myself. Don't do it. Be smart.

Steve

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Steve Minnich_1

Another word to the wise

If you do get seriously hurt. My advice is to reject any class 2 narcotics as pain killers. I was on high doses of morphine and vicoden 10/325 for over a year because of the intense pain I was in.

But the problem is, and its a serious one, is that you become extremely addicted to any opiate type drug after only one week-coming off that stuff was as hard as the two neck surgeries put together. There are alternatives-ask your doctor.

JMO

Steve

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BillW@honeywell

All you young guys please LISTEN...everyone else, too!

Steve and the others are right! GET and USE protective gear! Kneepads & back braces! Use proper lifting techniques! Safety glasses! Ear plugs or muffs for noisy work. Hearing loss is irreversible, no hearing aid can give you back the quality of the real thing. Be aware of the chemicals you are using...use barrier cream, gloves, respirators for dust, organic vapors from solvents & cleaners etc. If you have any questions about what is useful, please email me & I'll help you find what you need.

Dana

Have been through 5 major lumbar surgeries. I now have 7 srews in my lumbar, L-1 thru L-5 so I can walk and talk. Feeling great though. I am constantly on the mechanics here not to be a hero. Cronic pain is something you learn to live with. I agree with the gentleman above about narcotic pain relievers, they are just to addictive. Every time I have to come off of them its a month of absolute hell. All take care of your health.

PS I have lost 3 very close freinds to cancer so, when I feel down, I think of them and their families and it cures my self pitty real quick.

Mark J Strawcutter

knee pads and respirator

Messed my knees up over a short 6 mos crawling around the unfloored attic of our first home doing rehab/remodeling.

Now when I mow the lawn I get a rhythmic pop out of the left knee with each left step. Depending on their exact position, my knees will often rebel if I just kneel on a carpeted floor.

Breathing coal dust and fiberglass insulation fibers in that same house (without respirator) contributed to my now needing a respirator just to cut a 2x4 or else spend several days in sinus agony.

Mark

tombig

Knees

44 yrs old w/ 27 construction and Thank God the knees are ok. Ankles not so but I consider myself blessed. Achey painey is bound to hit us sooner or later. I feel for you guys. P.S. Pain killers suck....especially for the back! False sense of security, et al.

tombig

To Rick

And I thought I had it bad because I "handled" asbestos back in the day. So you've won a few battles already. Makes my aches and pains extremely trivial thank you very much.
Love,Prayers,I know you ain't gonna die,
Tombig

Jim Walls_2

Ouch

I'am sure I will someday pay for lugging 40 gallon water heaters up 3 flights of steps to apartment units, or hoisting 8" NHCI pipe onto my shoulder, no one every accused me of being the sharpest tack in the box! Knees have been a problem , began drinking more water,taking cod liver pills & working out, this has all but corrected or at least delayed the deterioration. Why is it we always say work smarter not harder , but associate this with production & not our longevity ? Even knowing what we know, about what this trade does to backs & knees , do you find yourself thinking less of the younger guys when they are not willing to do things alone or complain about how hard the work is ? Experience is not a good teacher unless we spend the time to reflect.

Jim Walls_2

the written word

I think I need to clarify the part of my post where I wrote, why do we always associate working smarter not harder with production & not longevity. This was not directed at anyone, except some of my former employers & even myself at times, so I hope no one took offense. From all the previous posts it is clear you care very much about the the younger generation not making the same mistakes we have made.

billygoat22

LOwer back and neck problem. Chiro calls it early 2nd stage, went from 1st stage in one year. Now see chiro on regular maintenance schedule. clean and check for backs?
Seems these things catch up as you get older. I'd recommend,as well as protective gear, less hostile materials and putting equipment where it can be accessed by normal humans. No air handlers packed in 3' hole in knee walls, these just kill your back! 4 sq foot closet in 10000 sq foot house isn't too much to ask, is it? Now I dismantle airhandlers to put in place to lighten them.
I'm trying to get boss to use other material besides fiberglas on duct. I have got a roll of "bubblewrap" insulation for new duct connection on furnace, airhandler changeouts.
Can't get in attic and dig in fiberglas without mask on, start to gag, not too fun in 130 deg attic, sweat soaks mask in 20 minutes.