How many of you old geezards

That have been cleaning since bell bottoms were in style suffer from repetitive motion injuries, Day in day out swinging that wand has got have taken its toll.

Is it your elbow, shoulder, wrist, back, knee etc?

I've tried wanding with the other hand but I just can do it. What do you do to reduce the stress on the joints. Do you take vitamins, prescription medicine, medicinal or recreational MJ? Have you had any surgeries that have extended your cleaning career? Hip or knee replacement

Throwing a wand since '88.  For me, the rotary extractors have been a big help...let the machine do the work.

The other thing I've noticed is movement reduces pain.  Most long-term use injuries don't actually become an issue until you stop moving.  If I don't run a few times per week, my knees hurt so bad I end up limping around like Kirk Gibson facing Eck, but no pain if I run.

Oh, and a sauna is a must....makes you 10 years younger.

I haven't been cleaning as long as some of you here, just about 12+ years, recently I've been feeling aches on my right shoulder, more when I use my 2" pmf titanium wand, partly is because of the big blower in my machine, the solution is get a good quality sleep, eat right and avoid sugars and caffeine after 6 pm to achieve that.

I'm not old, so I won't respond. LOL But........

I've had my share of back pain from this stuff.......inversion table helps the most, for me.

You absolutely must learn to use both hands equally. Just use your less dominant hand for as long as you can then switch when you can't stand it any more. Within a month you'll be so fluid with both hands you'll forget which hand was/is your wand dominant had.

The greatest relief for me came in the form of deep tissue massage. I am 53 been swinging a wand for 25 years and a few years before that a squeegee. I have zero chronic pains, Praise God.

^Sounds like a good plan, now it's just implementing it.

Davey Cracker wrote:I'm not old, so I won't respond. LOL But........

I've had my share of back pain from this stuff.......inversion table helps the most, for me.

Dave I want to tell you something, my whole life a had a dad with a terrible back. He worked through it his whole working carrier, and he bought a inversion table and it did bring him relief.
But I want you to know this and maybe have a check up. One of my dads eye doctors ( my Dad lost vision in one eye due to work) He had sight for many years but the doctor said that some of it may have been due to the InTable. The problem from what this doctor said is when you hang upside down it can cause pressure in your head...and thus in your eyes, the pressure causes nerve damage and can cause eye problems latter.
How accurate this is I do not know but it maybe a good idea to have a eye check up. Eye nerve damage IS NOT SOMETHING YOU FEEL!!! it painlessly happens over time....my dad thought it was just him getting older, he would still have vision if he would have check eye pressure.
So next time just maybe mention it to your doc and have them do a pressure test on your eyes.

It doesn't have to be. Reduce inflammation through diet and supplementation. A few weeks ago my ankle swelled up, couldn't figure it out. Gout! too much protein. Instead of taking the toxic cocktail of pharmaceticals that the doc recommended I asked the local health food store owner. He gave me Tart Cherry juice. Pain and swelling gone in 4 days- no after effects at all. Here is a principal all carpet cleaners can understand. ALKALIZE your body! An acidic body is caused by to much meat, soda, coffee and many other modern eating habits, This causes swelling which causes joint and arthritis pain. It all begins with you, you really are what you eat, everything that you eat and drink effects the way you feel. Unless you are going to invest the time, energy and discipline to reduce inflammation you will suffer needlesly. I drink unsweetened Green tea all day long- saves me about $200-$300 in drink expenditures every year. It alkalizes and reduces swelling. Just one small thing that can help.

SCCC wrote:

Davey Cracker wrote:I'm not old, so I won't respond. LOL But........

I've had my share of back pain from this stuff.......inversion table helps the most, for me.

Dave I want to tell you something, my whole life a had a dad with a terrible back. He worked through it his whole working carrier, and he bought a inversion table and it did bring him relief.
But I want you to know this and maybe have a check up. One of my dads eye doctors ( my Dad lost vision in one eye due to work) He had sight for many years but the doctor said that some of it may have been due to the InTable. The problem from what this doctor said is when you hang upside down it can cause pressure in your head...and thus in your eyes, the pressure causes nerve damage and can cause eye problems latter.
How accurate this is I do not know but it maybe a good idea to have a eye check up. Eye nerve damage IS NOT SOMETHING YOU FEEL!!! it painlessly happens over time....my dad thought it was just him getting older, he would still have vision if he would have check eye pressure.
So next time just maybe mention it to your doc and have them do a pressure test on your eyes.

First, sounds like your Dad is one of the great men that busted their ass for his family...great man.

Second, I think the point about optical nerve damage is a very valid one.  My eyesight used to be 20/15 until about a year ago when things became a little blurry.  A month later, I was sneaking a pair of reading glasses to work...figured just getting older.  A few months later, a check up diagnosed me with glaucoma and despite aggressive eye drops, my prescription has already changed in less than 6 months.

Eye pressures can cause optic damage, no doubt about it.  You also don't realize the damage is happening until it manifests itself in blurred vision.  I don't know if an inversion table would cause damage unless used daily, but I would be cautious.

First, sounds like your Dad is one of the great men that busted their ass for his family...great man.

Second, I think the point about optical nerve damage is a very valid one.  My eyesight used to be 20/15 until about a year ago when things became a little blurry.  A month later, I was sneaking a pair of reading glasses to work...figured just getting older.  A few months later, a check up diagnosed me with glaucoma and despite aggressive eye drops, my prescription has already changed in less than 6 months.


My Dad is awesome!! my HERO really!!
I am sorry to hear this but GUYS it is VERY important, if your vision is at ALL changing it may NOT be due to age, it really could be something much worse.... GO GET EYE CHECK UP
My Dad puts drops every day, they also made the flap on his good eye bigger to release the pressure and it has worked but he gets check up every month or so.
Thanks Milspec,
  Do NOT mess around with this if you suspect anything go get a second opinion my dad was very lucky as he did go to someone else, and it turned into a emergency type deal not that crazy! but the next day they had him in the doctors office to fix his GOOD EYE...thank goodness. He is down to 65%  in good eye but it is holding there for the last 2 years it has stayed the same.

I guess I qualify as one of the old geezers. Been cleaning for almost thirty years. I've used RX-20's since they came out. Saves greatly on the back but hard on the shoulders. Adding green glides to my wands was a real back saver. Learning to stand up straight makes a big difference. Use your legs to move things around instead of your back. Another thing that I know has helped is all those years pumping iron. I'm 5' 11" and 195 lbs. I'll be sixty-four in a couple of weeks. After last years check up, doc told me I have over ninety lbs of lean muscle and 17% body fat. He told me I should brag about it. Working hard and sweating cleaning carpet won't do it. You have to get cardio and resistance (weights) exercise. I ride a recumbent bicycle at least a hundred miles a week and use a Bowflex magnum for the upper body. If your back hurts work on the abs. I hate crunches so I sit on the edge of a bench with my hands behind me and do leg extensions. Pull your knees up to your chest and extend them straight out and repeat. Do it till your abs start to burn and then keep going until they start to scream. They're the ones that count.

Rainbow Rider wrote:I guess I qualify as one of the old geezers. Been cleaning for almost thirty years. I've used RX-20's since they came out. Saves greatly on the back but hard on the shoulders. Adding  green glides to my wands was a real back saver. Learning to stand up straight makes a big difference. Use your legs to move things around instead of your back. Another thing that I know has helped is all those years pumping iron. I'm 5' 11" and 195 lbs. I'll be sixty-four in a couple of weeks. After last years check up, doc told me I have over ninety lbs of lean muscle and 17% body fat. He told me I should brag about it. Working hard and sweating cleaning carpet won't do it. You have to get cardio and resistance (weights) exercise. I ride a recumbent bicycle at least a hundred miles a week and use a Bowflex magnum for the upper body.  If your back hurts work on the abs. I hate crunches so I sit on the edge of a bench with my hands behind me and do leg extensions. Pull your knees up to your chest and extend them straight out and repeat. Do it till your abs start to burn and then keep going until they start to scream. They're the ones that count.

You should brag....17% is outstanding!

Staying fit takes work, it takes deciation, and it takes a life-long effort. The results are probably more important to the 40+ crowd than to a person in their 20's.

Ken Raddon wrote:You absolutely must learn to use both hands equally.  Just use your less dominant hand for as long as you can then switch when you can't stand it any more.  Within a month you'll be so fluid with both hands you'll forget which hand was/is your wand dominant had.

The greatest relief for me came in the form of deep tissue massage.  I am 53 been swinging a wand for 25 years and a few years before that a squeegee.  I have zero chronic pains, Praise God.

Ill give it more of an effort Ken. I tried a couple of times but didnt stick with it

eldiabloz wrote:It doesn't have to be. Reduce inflammation through diet and supplementation. A few weeks ago my ankle swelled up, couldn't figure it out. Gout! too much protein. Instead of taking the toxic cocktail of pharmaceticals that the doc recommended I asked the local health food store owner. He gave me Tart Cherry juice. Pain and swelling gone in 4 days- no after effects at all. Here is a principal all carpet cleaners can understand. ALKALIZE your body! An acidic body is caused by to much meat, soda, coffee and many other modern eating habits, This causes swelling which causes joint and arthritis pain. It all begins with you, you really are what you eat, everything that you eat and drink effects the way you feel. Unless you are going to invest the time, energy and discipline to reduce inflammation you will suffer needlesly. I drink unsweetened Green tea all day long- saves me about $200-$300 in drink expenditures every year. It alkalizes and reduces swelling. Just one small thing that can help.

Diablo,

Can we test the alkalinity of our our with saliva on ph paper? Or is it a blood thing

Now that I think about it our saliva is on the acidic side to help digest food right?

milspec6 wrote:

Rainbow Rider wrote:I guess I qualify as one of the old geezers. Been cleaning for almost thirty years. I've used RX-20's since they came out. Saves greatly on the back but hard on the shoulders. Adding  green glides to my wands was a real back saver. Learning to stand up straight makes a big difference. Use your legs to move things around instead of your back. Another thing that I know has helped is all those years pumping iron. I'm 5' 11" and 195 lbs. I'll be sixty-four in a couple of weeks. After last years check up, doc told me I have over ninety lbs of lean muscle and 17% body fat. He told me I should brag about it. Working hard and sweating cleaning carpet won't do it. You have to get cardio and resistance (weights) exercise. I ride a recumbent bicycle at least a hundred miles a week and use a Bowflex magnum for the upper body.  If your back hurts work on the abs. I hate crunches so I sit on the edge of a bench with my hands behind me and do leg extensions. Pull your knees up to your chest and extend them straight out and repeat. Do it till your abs start to burn and then keep going until they start to scream. They're the ones that count.

You should brag....17% is outstanding!

Staying fit takes work, it takes deciation, and it takes a life-long effort.  The results are probably more important to the 40+ crowd than to a person in their 20's.

I have 17% muscle  I think that's my biggest problem

SCCC wrote:

Davey Cracker wrote:I'm not old, so I won't respond. LOL But........

I've had my share of back pain from this stuff.......inversion table helps the most, for me.

Dave I want to tell you something, my whole life a had a dad with a terrible back. He worked through it his whole working carrier, and he bought a inversion table and it did bring him relief.
But I want you to know this and maybe have a check up. One of my dads eye doctors ( my Dad lost vision in one eye due to work) He had sight for many years but the doctor said that some of it may have been due to the InTable. The problem from what this doctor said is when you hang upside down it can cause pressure in your head...and thus in your eyes, the pressure causes nerve damage and can cause eye problems latter.
How accurate this is I do not know but it maybe a good idea to have a eye check up. Eye nerve damage IS NOT SOMETHING YOU FEEL!!! it painlessly happens over time....my dad thought it was just him getting older, he would still have vision if he would have check eye pressure.
So next time just maybe mention it to your doc and have them do a pressure test on your eyes.

you're scaring the crap out of me.

I love my inversion table.

Can I just do until I need glasses?

But you know what, believe it or not a simple foam roller has worked miracles on my back, hips and legs. All my friends have been commenting about my posture being better, etc.

I swear by the foam roller. Use it everyday before getting in bed and before getting dressed in the morning.

Cost about $20 from Big 5.

I am 50. Been scrubbing for 18 years. Younger days worked for a United moving company, unloaded garage doors from semis, hung drywall, painted for 5 years and many other physically related jobs. Not kind on my body. It has caught up. I am going through spinal decompression for c3, c5 and L5 bulging discs. Slow process but helping.
Good deep tissue massages monthly, chiropractic adjustments on a reg basis. Minor physical activities to keep joints lubed up. Suppliments also help. Lots of water. A bitch getting old.

eldiabloz wrote:It doesn't have to be. Reduce inflammation through diet and supplementation. A few weeks ago my ankle swelled up, couldn't figure it out. Gout! too much protein. Instead of taking the toxic cocktail of pharmaceticals that the doc recommended I asked the local health food store owner. He gave me Tart Cherry juice. Pain and swelling gone in 4 days- no after effects at all. Here is a principal all carpet cleaners can understand. ALKALIZE your body! An acidic body is caused by to much meat, soda, coffee and many other modern eating habits, This causes swelling which causes joint and arthritis pain. It all begins with you, you really are what you eat, everything that you eat and drink effects the way you feel. Unless you are going to invest the time, energy and discipline to reduce inflammation you will suffer needlesly. I drink unsweetened Green tea all day long- saves me about $200-$300 in drink expenditures every year. It alkalizes and reduces swelling. Just one small thing that can help.

I lift weights and eat meat and sometimes drink whey protein. I do all this to build and or retain muscle. Sounds like you're saying  protein is bad?

Ive been curious about the alkaline thing for a little while now, so green tea alkalizes you? I'll give it a try.

Get yourself a good hot tub. Works wonders.

dont move your arms hardly at all.    

Step into the forward stroke and step out on the back stroke.      

I teach our guys to rock back and forth from one foot to the other,   really really saves the shoulder, back, arms everything.     It is actually a really good workout a lot like some of the exercises in the p90x program  

If you were lifting weights or any gym training you wouldnt reach way out and put your body in funny positions.  

If I am standing like a right handed batter,   then my right should is hardly moving at all and you step in and step out.

With that method^ I can't imagine your wand strokes are longer than 2'??
Too short for me.

Like AC, I rock back and forth and walk into each stroke. Range from 4' path to 8'. Paths size depends. Has saved my shoulders. Been teaching this to my new techs.

You can test body ph with saliva. You can buy strips at pretty much any nutrition store.

Generally, that whole alkaline craze gets a bit exaggerated. The only folks who have a problem are diet soda drinkers. It's a combination of the addiction to the diet soda and it's replacement of drinking water.

I have pretty bad arthritic hips from a case of Lyme Disease in 2006. I find a great deal of relief by taking Hyaluronic Acid, Sam-e, and Barleans Ultra omega. All natural.

Davey Cracker wrote:With that method^ I can't imagine your wand strokes are longer than 2'??
Too short for me.

actually 4-6ft