Pen Turner's Arm/Shoulder Problems

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wizard

wizard

Member
Joined
Aug 27, 2009
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Location
Houston, Texas
This is a post for help and is serious. Over the last few weeks of pen turning I have increased the number of pens that I have turned in a day to as many as two or three. I did seven over this past weekend. This may not be very many for most of you so don't laugh.
I started turning pens beginning less than a year ago and now have turned a little over a hundred pens. Over the past 2 to 3 months, the arm and shoulder I turn with has gotten sore and is now painful to reach behind me to pick stuff up. It doesn't hurt while I'm turning but I'm very focused while turning. At first I thought it was my computer bag (heavy with computer/ books/ medical stuff) over my right shoulder on the way to work so I switched sides. It didn't help.
It is painful enough that reaching behind me to put my arm in a sleeve or a lab jacket is tough. I have never had any injury to the arm or shoulder prior to this and never had a similar problem prior to this.
I had several questions I wanted to ask;
Has anyone else experienced anything similar?
Could posture while turning or the way I'm turning contribute to this?
I am a physician but my specialty is not orthopedic surgery. I have made an appointment with one and I know he will ask me about using my right arm.
I would appreciate any feedback.
Doc
 
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I have been doing slmost the same thing you have, but no problems. I am one of the few younger members here though. Let us know what you find out because that would be very unfortunate to have happen.
 
If it hurts when you do that then stop doing it and that will be $50 please:biggrin:

I think you have more going on than just turning a pen or 2. Not a doctor so will leave that to those who are or think they are.

Your height of the lathe needs to be looked at along with your technique of the tools. The tool and arm should be against your body. The height of the lathe should put the arm at a level 90 degree bend. If you have to raise the arm then the height is wrong. Remember move the body with the movement of the arm to keep the arm close to the body. Do not reach. The other thing is and you hear it over and over, SHARP TOOLS. The tool does the work and if you have to push the tool it is not sharp. One last thing get in better shape my friend. Do some exercising and build some arm stregth and flexibility.( OK that was my doctor voice:))
 
It could be a compounded injury from the computer bag and turning. If you're going to continue turning until you see the doctor then be sure and keep relaxed muscles in the shoulder, upper back and neck area and take frequent breaks. Don't forget to apply ice to the area as well to control the pain and swelling.
 
I have had that problem before. Don't know what caused it though. I did go to the Dr and he gave me a cortisone shot. It helped a lot but hurt like H@## when he gave it to me.
 
jttheclockman said:
Your height of the lathe needs to be looked at along with your technique of the tools. The tool and arm should be against your body. The height of the lathe should put the arm at a level 90 degree bend. If you have to raise the arm then the height is wrong. Remember move the body with the movement of the arm to keep the arm close to the body. Do not reach. ....One last thing get in better shape my friend. Do some exercising and build some arm stregth and flexibility.( OK that was my doctor voice:))
Click to expand...

I think this maybe the problem. My lathe is higher than my arm and requires my arm to be raised to turn. I don't always keep my tool and arm close to my body and reach at times. I work out every day including arms and keep in shape so my arm strength is good and made this harder to understand what was going on.

Thank you for the feedback from everyone.
 
for those of you who experience this kind of pain. it's your body mechanic and the way your using the tools and there is simple solution to it. I'll try to post the solution later when i can sit and type it. For now my back is giving me little grief.
 
I have had pain in my shoulders over the last year or two, but I don't know what to blame for it. I'm not very old, but can't say that matters or not. I think the culprit is bad sleeping habits. I do like to sleep on my side with my hand under my pillow, and my personal logic tells me that in that position my shoulder is kinda cocked in a weird way, but I am no doctor.

I have a lump on my left wrist that pains a little too. Strange thing is, right now the lump barely exists at all. It comes and it goes away. It seems to come back more often when I am driving for several hours and I tend to lay back and hold the steering wheel with my left hand the most and my middle finger must get a lot of side pressure against it because it is down and pressing against the side of the "spoke" in the steering wheel. On my middle finger, middle knuckle, there is also a lump that comes and goes and it can make bending my finger hurt a little. Feels hard like there is a sliver inside my knuckle. I change positions and try and focus on changing my driving habits and the problems go away for a little bit till I divert back to the old way.
 
I have just finished reading a book by Ellsworth(Ellswworth on Woodturning)and it has a section about lathe height. I changed my lathe height and now have no sore muscles. He also has a section with some easy exercises to help with muscle pain. They work very well also. When I turn bowls I stand on a small platform to put my body at the correct height. It also talks about moving your body with the motion of the tool changing the weight from foot to foot and it also helps.
 
Doc,

All the experts in the world can tell you EXACTLY where your lathe should be placed. I don't see well, my lathe is high--I find it VERY comfortable. So position the lathe where YOU feel comfortable--don't be afraid to move it up or down every week until you find YOUR "sweet spot". Remember eye protection as you get it closer to your face!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Sharp tools" does ring true with regard to your pain. If you are working at turning---it could cause the shoulder pain. FOR ME, my shoulders bear the brunt of horizontal movement of the lower arm. When I have the lathe higher, my elbow is bent and the shoulder is "happier".

Remember Doc, I am NOT a doc!!!! Please take care of yourself with the aid of a qualified professional--not a shlock like me!!!

Turning is fun---but NOT when it's painful!!!

Till your appointment----go sharpen your tools--see if it helps!!
 
I am only about 5'7" tall but have my lathe a bit higher than what my taller friends use. I am also 71 years old. With the lathe higher I do not need to bend to use it. This is easier on my back. And, I have bad shoulders also. Waiting for surgery on the left but right is what I'll live with for the rest of my life, painful. Just using it seems to be the best therapy. Sometimes at night ibuprofen is my best friend.
Good luck with yours. Doc, see your doc ASAP.
 
wizard said:
This is a post for help and is serious. Over the last few weeks of pen turning I have increased the number of pens that I have turned in a day to as many as two or three. I did seven over this past weekend. This may not be very many for most of you so don't laugh.
I started turning pens beginning less than a year ago and now have turned a little over a hundred pens. Over the past 2 to 3 months, the arm and shoulder I turn with has gotten sore and is now painful to reach behind me to pick stuff up. It doesn't hurt while I'm turning but I'm very focused while turning. At first I thought it was my computer bag (heavy with computer/ books/ medical stuff) over my right shoulder on the way to work so I switched sides. It didn't help.
It is painful enough that reaching behind me to put my arm in a sleeve or a lab jacket is tough. I have never had any injury to the arm or shoulder prior to this and never had a similar problem prior to this.
I had several questions I wanted to ask;
Has anyone else experienced anything similar?
Could posture while turning or the way I'm turning contribute to this?
I am a physician but my specialty is not orthopedic surgery. I have made an appointment with one and I know he will ask me about using my right arm.
I would appreciate any feedback.
Doc
Click to expand...
YES, YES, YES!! I noticed a little pain in my right shoulder while turning. I read a post about how "high" a lathe is suppose to be. I raised my lathe 2 inches, so the work is at elbow height. This seemed to help,,, UNTIL I helped my wife move her classroom stuff to another room down the hall @ her school. I've hurt ever since. One of these days I will go see the Doc.
 
I've been blaming the fall I took last winter for the impinged tendon in my shoulder, I've noticed it a lot more since I've been turning handles 5 or 6 hours a day, my 16/42 is about the right height, and using Woodchucks I don't get much beating in my joints, BUT my arm and elbow stay pretty much in the same position. And Jeff I know a few Drivers that have a problem as you do, just about the same as you describe, and I also sleep with my right arm unde my pillow, I had a PT tell me once that that's not good for some sack or sac under your arm pit, My wrists are so whacked out from playing Hockey and so is my right hip, I have two 6 inch tall blocks under my lathe that I can change feet and stand on to keep my legs fro going to sleep. You hear the homily that if I'd known I'd live this long, I would have taken better care of my self, at 65 years old, I need 45 milligrams of Vicoden just to get a reasonably pain free day, plus a muscle relaxer. the bad part is standing in one spot turning my legs go numb and then start to burn. Nothing helps that. I wish I'd never seen a pair of Ice skates , Motorcycles or Horses.
 
bitshird said:
I've been blaming the fall I took last winter for the impinged tendon in my shoulder, I've noticed it a lot more since I've been turning handles 5 or 6 hours a day, my 16/42 is about the right height, and using Woodchucks I don't get much beating in my joints, BUT my arm and elbow stay pretty much in the same position. And Jeff I know a few Drivers that have a problem as you do, just about the same as you describe, and I also sleep with my right arm unde my pillow, I had a PT tell me once that that's not good for some sack or sac under your arm pit, My wrists are so whacked out from playing Hockey and so is my right hip, I have two 6 inch tall blocks under my lathe that I can change feet and stand on to keep my legs fro going to sleep. You hear the homily that if I'd known I'd live this long, I would have taken better care of my self, at 65 years old, I need 45 milligrams of Vicoden just to get a reasonably pain free day, plus a muscle relaxer. the bad part is standing in one spot turning my legs go numb and then start to burn. Nothing helps that. I wish I'd never seen a pair of Ice skates , Motorcycles or Horses.
Click to expand...

I have a bad knee and fibromyalgia and a friend, who is a chef and stands on concrete a lot recommended a gel floor mat. It makes a real difference. I found mine online. Here are the two sites that used to reference and buy one. www.gelpro.com and
www.improvementscatalog.com/product...-AA35-DF11-9DA0-002219319097&mr:referralID=NA
Maybe it would make a difference for you and your leg pain. I have decided that spending money for comfort and safety while turning are good investments.
 
workinforwood said:
I figured out the problem Doc. Like the rest of us..you're getting old! I bet we could start a thread on what pains you and it would go over 500 posts long. :biggrin:
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That is actually where I thought this thread was heading. I bet everyone here can say they have some aches and pains. Be glad you can still feel them.:biggrin: Exercise and move on. All together now one two, one two, one two. Now switch.
 
I'm like Frank... I keep my lathe high enough so I don't bend... more problems with the back than the shoulders, but I also have pains in my shoulder and have trouble reaching back to put on a shirt some times.... some years back, I had a small sports car that I backed out of the garage to clean, then it wouldn't start when I was to put it back in... I reached down and picked up the back end and pushing it up the driveway back into the garage... next morning my coffee cup weighed 40 lbs....
I'm thinking I have arthritis...
 
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