[windowswashed]

i have only been a tradcleaner 2 years but i have definitely got it , the tingling arms,wrist and pain in my shoulders. So far im just working through it   but whats your experience ? im using the lightest squeegee i can find and swop hands as much as i can


 all my life i have worked with my hands in physical jobs , so it must just be one of those unlucky things .

I've suffered from this in both wrists for about 18 years. Finally went to docs & got officially diagnosed & got date for the op'. The problem was, I couldn't get an answer to how long the recovery period would be & to be honest it is different for each person & their circumstances. Given this, I decided to cancel the op' & cope with it as I have always done. It's worse in my right hand. I've been wfp for 6.5 years & for me it's WORSE when i use WFP! It's always there but sometimes worse than others. Usually, if it is carpal tunnel syndrome it doesn't affect your little finger. Next time your hand goes numb, check to see if your little finger is not affected, there's a good chance you may have never even noticed that.

However, I found that the wagtail flipper made it easier than rigid mop/squeegee.

I've come across several people who have had the op' with varying degrees of success, from totally cured to even worse!

I was diagnosed with carpel tunnel syndrome in both my wrists as a trad cleaner. I was told I would need an operation for it. I turned down the operation and resolved the problem myself.

I found it was because I was twisting my ligaments around my tenons by things like wringing wet cloths dry, typing, putting unnecessary pressure on my wrists by using hand tools like screwdrivers and various other similar things. I stopped typing, wringing out wet cloths, using screwdrivers and all the other things that caused the problem. Within 6 months my wrists cleared up and my carpel tunnel syndrome disappeared completely. I still type nowadays but not so frequently, but I'll never wring another cloth out or use a hand screwdriver ever again to prevent it ever coming back.  My wrists have returned to normal and I'll never need the operation as I resolved the problem and went wfp. Would never go back to trad cleaning full time simply for this very reason alone.

If you have the painful CTS please try my suggestions above and let me know in 6 months if it's cured your CTS because it certainly did for me

[A & J Owen Window Cleaning]

the lad talks sense mates stop wringing those cloths by and use a washer drier to do them for you wear elbow and wrist supportes neoprene ones 

[bobby p]

im going to look into these wrist supports and  thanks for all these helpful advice ,all has been taken on board

 Currently i place the top of my ladder on the sill and then stretch up to reach the top openers . im thinking i could place top of ladder ABOVE the window and so reach down when working which would take the strain off my shoulders etc

 im also thinking that much of my prob has been caused by the fact i have a very full round so im forced to rush and although 2 years in ,probably havent yet got a good technique . i fan/swirl all the big glass but have not been able to do this on the small windows such as on council houses or  top openers .

[Paul Coleman]

im going to look into these wrist supports and  thanks for all these helpful advice ,all has been taken on board

 Currently i place the top of my ladder on the sill and then stretch up to reach the top openers . im thinking i could place top of ladder ABOVE the window and so reach down when working which would take the strain off my shoulders etc

 im also thinking that much of my prob has been caused by the fact i have a very full round so im forced to rush and although 2 years in ,probably havent yet got a good technique . i fan/swirl all the big glass but have not been able to do this on the small windows such as on council houses or  top openers .

Maybe drop down a squeeqee size or two for domestics to make fanning easier?  Maybe a smaller applicator too?
I've not tried either but it may be worthwhile you experimenting.

[lee_dewing]

Hi Bobby, sorry to hear about cts.

I've been wfp 5 yrs and just become as sufferer month ago, i'm glad to see you got a good result from your post.

Most people took the pi55 out of me when i posted last month

I've been trying different things.

1/ Conquering Carpal tunnel syndrome and other repetitive strain injuries (book of Amazon)
by Sharon J. Butler £14

been doing strecthing exercices daily morn and eve (most of the time ), helped a lot,
there sections in book, listed exercises one for window washers (americanese).

I think this book is a must for any windie it's only what a physio would get you doing and only takes minutes.

2/ been trying a mixture of vitamins and minerals, read  bit on B6 meant to help numb pain as works on nervous system and connective tissue need to take with B vitamin complex.
  There is B6 in B complex but not enough.

3/ Just bought Litozin joint health (100% natural rose hip)
Rose hip is natural anti-inflammatory
read alot of good things on this on amazon, read reviews, although comments are all  directed at arthiritis, i thought i would give a go as anti-inflammatory.
Buy from holland and barratt cheaper.

All vitamin minerals bought from holland and barrett.

Litozin will take about a month to kick in (if at all ) read directions as need to take 6 a day then cut back.

The jury is out on vitamin and mineral suppements but i am willing to give a try;  got pain killers from doc's made me fill sick (diclifenic? spelling )

I don't like the idea of spending my life on painkillers long term, imo can't be good.

B vitamins will take 3 months to kick in (if works), complex b on half price at holland and barret, don't like their website for the fact it doesn't describe benefits or supposed.
So google supplements first.

Hope some of this info is of use bobby and to others
thanks Lee.

[G Griffin]

im going to look into these wrist supports and  thanks for all these helpful advice ,all has been taken on board

 Currently i place the top of my ladder on the sill and then stretch up to reach the top openers . im thinking i could place top of ladder ABOVE the window and so reach down when working which would take the strain off my shoulders etc

 im also thinking that much of my prob has been caused by the fact i have a very full round so im forced to rush and although 2 years in ,probably havent yet got a good technique . i fan/swirl all the big glass but have not been able to do this on the small windows such as on council houses or  top openers .

Maybe drop down a squeeqee size or two for domestics to make fanning easier?  Maybe a smaller applicator too?
I've not tried either but it may be worthwhile you experimenting.

 Good points. I use a 10" applicator quite a lot. They are much lighter and easier to get  wet enough without having it soaking,that`s where the weight is. If that makes sense.

[lee_dewing]

Maximuscle Wrist Supports, amazon just bought em, will try out monday,

review on amazon is fro JD , who posts on here.

Proper wrists splints would be better but wonder if it would be hard to work in these?

Here is a link for reading on B6 vitamin study
http://www.mothernature.com/Library/Bookshelf/Books/10/43.cfm

all the best lee.

[lee_dewing]

When you squeegee have your thumb pointing upwards, alot of squuegee's have a thumb indent at top of handle; by having thumb straight and not curled round handle like rest of your fingers; the strain on your wrist is less.

lee

[awcs]

I've been a sufferer for a year now. gp gave me a jab which stopped all the symptoms apart from loss of feeling in the fingers. But even that has its good points. Going to hospital tomorow to see what they say