Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: mike1986 on March 18, 2016, 07:55:17 am

Title: Headaches from wfp...
Post by: mike1986 on March 18, 2016, 07:55:17 am
Does anyone else get headaches from looking up all day cleaning windows? Ive been wfp for about 6 years now but for the last 6-9 months ive been getting mild headaches that last few hours after work some days along with some dizziness.

Ive tried using the NechProtech to take some of pressure of my neck but doesn't seem to make much difference.

Just wondering if anyone else has experienced similar as i'm worried i may have to jack it in if it continues.  :-\
Title: Re: Headaches from wfp...
Post by: SB Cleaning on March 18, 2016, 08:05:26 am
I've been poling for 6 years and not noticed any of those symptoms.
Title: Re: Headaches from wfp...
Post by: SeanK on March 18, 2016, 08:10:49 am
Yes I'm going over 8 years and the neck pain is getting worse which leads to headaches, standing as far from the window as
possible can help but your still looking up to a degree.
Doctors advice was to stop looking up.(http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/1458288634_grin[1].gif)
Title: Re: Headaches from wfp...
Post by: Dave Willis on March 18, 2016, 08:12:44 am
Drink!

I get them but it's dehydration - tend not to drink all day because what goes must come out.!
Title: Re: Headaches from wfp...
Post by: Spruce on March 18, 2016, 08:13:06 am
No I don't.

(I do suffer from the odd headache and occassionally megrane but I have never been able to pin point a cause. Some specialists believe that high blood pressure can cause headaches whilst others don't. I don't have high blood pressure as I've been on a 24 hours blood pressure monitor - when BP is checked in the surgery its always sky high.)

I would get yourself to a doctor and get your eyes tested. (Sometimes an eye test can pick up other hidden issues.)

Headaches every day aren't a normal issue associated with WFP. If it was there would be numerous threads about it.

Are you drinking enough water through the day? Dave Willis got there first.  :)

If you don't suffer headaches when you haven't worked (holiday, bad weather, etc) then it maybe is a WFP problem specific to you.

What about stress related issues?
Title: Re: Headaches from wfp...
Post by: Spruce on March 18, 2016, 08:13:40 am
Drink!

I get them but it's dehydration - tend not to drink all day because what goes must come out.!

 ;D  me too
Title: Re: Headaches from wfp...
Post by: SeanK on March 18, 2016, 08:39:21 am
Mike go and have a word with your doctor as yes it could be something else, but he will also be able to explain why we are
not designed to be looking up for long periods of time.

Title: Re: Headaches from wfp...
Post by: SeanK on March 18, 2016, 08:42:27 am
Drink!

I get them but it's dehydration - tend not to drink all day because what goes must come out.!

 ;D  me too

Guys porta loo in the back of the van, I couldn't survive without it.(http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/1458290529_grin[1].gif)
Title: Re: Headaches from wfp...
Post by: Tosh on March 18, 2016, 09:42:18 am
Try to extend your pole further, this way the angle to the upstairs windows is less, therefore less stress on the neck looking up.

I have a bad left shoulder and various other connected tissue ailments. Generally from over stressing when doing gutter and fascia cleans.
Title: Re: Headaches from wfp...
Post by: M & C Window Cleaning on March 18, 2016, 12:37:06 pm
Drink!

I get them but it's dehydration - tend not to drink all day because what goes must come out.!

 ;D  me too

And me.
Trouble is, in winter when I drink what I should I wanna go every 5 minutes it seems and in summer I can drink water like a goldfish and not go all day cause I'm sweating buckets
Title: Re: Headaches from wfp...
Post by: Smurf on March 18, 2016, 01:04:19 pm
I don't know what type of height glass etc you do but if a necprotech is not helping with shoulder, neck and head muscle fatigue/trapped nerves etc which can cause headaches then I suggest you go and see your doctor.

As suggested drink plenty of water, stand further back to reduce looking up so much or even try a pair of those silly looking climbers belay glasses and see if that helps http://www.belayglasseslp.com/english/buy-your-pair/ . Oh and while on the subject about eyes might be a good idea to get your eyes tested aswell.
 
Title: Re: Headaches from wfp...
Post by: NWH on March 18, 2016, 04:44:53 pm
Stand further back from the window and get a regular massage by a good therapist not one that sends you to sleep,you need to keep all the upper body muscles relaxed.I wear sunglasses even when the suns not out most days and if I don't have them on I wear a cap looking up at White paintwork is enough to make you squint which will give you a headache after a while,look at some of the old windys out there there crows feet round there eyes are so bad they need Botox some of em,day after day of squinting that's the result.
Title: Re: Headaches from wfp...
Post by: DeLuce on March 18, 2016, 05:19:09 pm

Doctors advice was to stop looking up.(http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/1458288634_grin[1].gif)

You could get some climbers glasses!! You wear like normal, but the vision is upward when your partner is scaling or abseiling a wall  ;D
Try extending your pole a bit more and so stand further back so you're not looking up at to much of an angle.
Do you drink plenty of water in the day?
Title: Re: Headaches from wfp...
Post by: Tosh on March 18, 2016, 05:21:19 pm
Stand further back from the window and get a regular massage by a good therapist not one that sends you to sleep,you need to keep all the upper body muscles relaxed.I wear sunglasses even when the suns not out most days and if I don't have them on I wear a cap looking up at White paintwork is enough to make you squint which will give you a headache after a while,look at some of the old windys out there there crows feet round there eyes are so bad they need Botox some of em,day after day of squinting that's the result.

So, your crows feet? Is that from your incontinence and continually having to look for it?
Title: Re: Headaches from wfp...
Post by: NWH on March 18, 2016, 05:23:57 pm
I rattle your cage don't I lol,you got bad crows feet then have you do you want me to pay for some Botox for you. 🕊🕊🕊🕊🕊
Title: Re: Headaches from wfp...
Post by: NWH on March 18, 2016, 05:25:57 pm
Did you know the eyes are the window to the soul,they also let people know how old and wrinkly you are lol.
Title: Re: Headaches from wfp...
Post by: Blackadder on March 18, 2016, 06:14:05 pm
Drink!

I get them but it's dehydration - tend not to drink all day because what goes must come out.!



Really Dave, I drink as many cuppa's as I can get plus bottles of water in the van, when the need arises, I just jump in the back of the van and use my 1ltr sample pot  ;D
Title: Re: Headaches from wfp...
Post by: 8weekly on March 18, 2016, 06:52:46 pm
I have the same issues. Dizziness & nausea at times. Get yourself to a sports massage therapist. I've had it twice and 2/3 deep tissue massages sort it out. They are quite worrying symptoms so get it sorted as it causes stress.
Title: Re: Headaches from wfp...
Post by: Jamie Thomas on March 18, 2016, 07:00:32 pm
What about the glasses rock climers wear look forward see up iv seen em on eBay I was thinking of a pair my self I do 3 blocks of flats which are all to gether so looking up all day more or less with no brakes it's only once a month but it is a real killer for a couple of days after.
Title: Re: Headaches from wfp...
Post by: NWH on March 18, 2016, 07:11:52 pm
I have the same issues. Dizziness & nausea at times. Get yourself to a sports massage therapist. I've had it twice and 2/3 deep tissue massages sort it out. They are quite worrying symptoms so get it sorted as it causes stress.
Every other week for me without fail now,it really keeps aches and pains to a minimum. £80 a month really well spent I going to see if it's taxable.
Title: Re: Headaches from wfp...
Post by: Clever Forum Name on March 18, 2016, 08:23:43 pm
Hi Mike.

Headaches,

Where about's do you get them in the head?

Front/back/side ?
Title: Re: Headaches from wfp...
Post by: Tony dunmall on March 18, 2016, 08:49:51 pm
Similar to some

Monthly with sports therapist, monthly with acupuncturist and 1/4 with chiropractor

No headaches in about a 18 months

Also lightest pole possible makes difference with shorter day
Title: Re: Headaches from wfp...
Post by: Tosh on March 18, 2016, 10:24:55 pm
I rattle your cage don't I lol

Where on earth did you get that idea from?
Title: Re: Headaches from wfp...
Post by: Phil J on March 18, 2016, 10:37:49 pm
I get them every day too. Locked gates, slow or non payers, snagged hoses, dog s**t, sick employee do I need to go on!
Title: Re: Headaches from wfp...
Post by: Clever Forum Name on March 18, 2016, 11:01:23 pm
I have deep tissue massage every 6 weeks but it's now every 4. Tempted to go every 3 weeks with how busy I am at the moment :)
Title: Re: Headaches from wfp...
Post by: Dave Willis on March 18, 2016, 11:04:10 pm
That stops when you've been married a few years :'(
Title: Re: Headaches from wfp...
Post by: g.brookes on March 21, 2016, 05:42:43 pm
Get a tennis ball and put it in your van. When your shoulders etc ache lean on the tennis ball against the seat where it hurts. Roll around like a bear scratching it's back on a tree. It feels brilliant and it's dead cheap. It's no different from someone massaging you with their hands.
Repetitive strain is easily the worst part of this job. Have to be very careful
Title: Re: Headaches from wfp...
Post by: Jacqueline Kerr on March 21, 2016, 08:32:08 pm
exercise  is the way forward  and proper use of the pole   :)
Title: Re: Headaches from wfp...
Post by: Frankybadboy on March 21, 2016, 08:44:49 pm
yep now get this for the last 4 months since returning to work  >:( >:(

and yes i exercise a little and use a pole properly
Title: Re: Headaches from wfp...
Post by: Jacqueline Kerr on March 21, 2016, 08:58:30 pm
prevention is better than cure, maybe look at your exercise routine and seek advice both concerning exercise and your condition.  inevitably some of us will suffer more than others.  Hope you get things sorted out. :)
Title: Re: Headaches from wfp...
Post by: ChrisR on November 23, 2016, 08:13:46 am
I agree with trying a pair of climbing glasses (https://www.climbing-high.co.uk/belay-glasses).  They're designed to reduce neck pain for rock climbers who sometimes need to look up for hours on end to monitor their climbing partner. Similar really to washing windows on taller buildings  for hours.
Title: Re: Headaches from wfp...
Post by: G Griffin on November 23, 2016, 08:56:38 am
I don't get headaches (that's my missus's privilege) but I do start to see spots in front of my eyes when cleaning windows.
But funnily enough all my customers see them too.
Title: Re: Headaches from wfp...
Post by: Richard Stevenson on November 23, 2016, 03:15:59 pm
I had same problem  phisio told me to rest chin on chest. It worked for me.
Title: Re: Headaches from wfp...
Post by: Stoots on November 23, 2016, 06:11:52 pm
Iv had neck, shoulder pain etc from it in the past, comes and goes.

The best thing i ever did when i once had a cronic neck pain was go to the gym and do shoulder exercises, it really worked, problem was i stopped going to gym lol
Title: Re: Headaches from wfp...
Post by: JandS on November 23, 2016, 08:40:17 pm
When I started  WFP in June I never realised what looking up all day can do till I came home with a face like a well smacked farmers arse.......sun cream on even in winter now.
Title: Re: Headaches from wfp...
Post by: Dave66 on November 23, 2016, 09:38:31 pm
I had same problem  phisio told me to rest chin on chest. It worked for me.
How can you see the windows?  ;D
Title: Re: Headaches from wfp...
Post by: AuRavelling79 on November 24, 2016, 12:21:24 am
Anyone get tinnitus from wfp?

Serious question - I sometimes get a whistling in my ears after a long day on the pole. (No jokes please!  :))
Title: Re: Headaches from wfp...
Post by: M & C Window Cleaning on November 24, 2016, 03:51:49 pm
Anyone get tinnitus from wfp?

Serious question - I sometimes get a whistling in my ears after a long day on the pole. (No jokes please!  :))

Turn them headphones down!  ;D ;D

No, seriously I do. I pull up outside my home sometimes and switch off the engine and then it becomes really noticeable. We don't realise how much noise we're subjected to during the day. Traffic etc, and recently the wind even. It does settle after a while however. Thankfully.
Title: Re: Headaches from wfp...
Post by: NWH on November 24, 2016, 04:04:37 pm
You need to have a regular massage if your WFP I have 1 every couple of weeks to keep supple,I also stretch most evenings while watching TV. Everything you use for work needs to be the lightest and easiest to use,if
You use a light pole it's easier to manage and as said you can stand further back,if you have hot water you don't need to scrub he glass anywhere near as much. Sunglasses are a must even this time of year if the suns out I'm wearing them looking up alday into the sun is enough to give you headaches,it could be something as simple as a trapped nerve.
Title: Re: Headaches from wfp...
Post by: Dave Willis on November 24, 2016, 04:17:59 pm
I get fluid on the knees.



A tap on the head (Gardiners) cured it.
Title: Re: Headaches from wfp...
Post by: simon w on November 24, 2016, 08:02:26 pm
Anyone get tinnitus from wfp?

Serious question - I sometimes get a whistling in my ears after a long day on the pole. (No jokes please!  :))

Probably the Bristol hum
Title: Re: Headaches from wfp...
Post by: dazmond on November 25, 2016, 07:41:02 am
You need to have a regular massage if your WFP I have 1 every couple of weeks to keep supple,I also stretch most evenings while watching TV. Everything you use for work needs to be the lightest and easiest to use,if
You use a light pole it's easier to manage and as said you can stand further back,if you have hot water you don't need to scrub he glass anywhere near as much. Sunglasses are a must even this time of year if the suns out I'm wearing them looking up alday into the sun is enough to give you headaches,it could be something as simple as a trapped nerve.

no you dont.

ive never had a massage ever(a paid for one!) and im fine.(nearly 7 years wfp) and im 45. ;D

i do agree on the lightest poles,sunglasses,hot water and standing further back from the windows(if possible)though.

stretching,strength training,cardio(swimming,cycling,etc)and eating well all help and not working more than 6-7 hours a day "on the glass"