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Feels Like Neck Is Broke

W

W.C. Turner

Joined
May 27, 2004
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Hi all,

I'm up writing this now because I can't sleep. Or I should say, I could sleep, but, I can't find a position to lay that my neck don't hurt. Here's the story. My neck has been hurting the last couple of days for no apparent reason. But, at my age, a reasonalble explanation is not necessary. Anyway, today, SWMBO, says, maybe it's because you're doing more turning . I first said, No Way, but, the more I thought about it, I think maybe she's right, as bad as I hate to admit it. That's got to be what has caused this.

As I think about it, I believe I have seriously strained the ligaments in my neck. Very sore, from the base of the neck, all the way up into the skull. I was trying to finish a piece, & you know how you try to keep from tearing the end grain, or accidently hitting the piece with the tip of the gouge, or something else dumb, but, I surely wasn't aware that I had tensed up my neck muscles to this extent.

I can barely lift my head, can't turn head side to side, as in driving to look for traffic. Aside from having your lower back go out, this is the worse thing that can happen to you, I believe. When your back goes out you aren't able to do anything, and this falls pretty much into that category.

I was just wondering if anybody else has had their neck get sore like this from turning, and what did you do for it, short of suicide?

Thanks in advance!

W.C.
 
neck and back problems

Both are common with turners, I believe. I know I have had spells of both, and my Doctor is convinced of it.Not that I take any notice!

Certain kinds of turning are renound for it...deep hollowing (without a rig) is a great strain on the back, neck, and upper body, as can be large bowl turning. If you are suddenly doing a lot more of anything it will have a effect on your body, or more specifically, musculature. The only cure, if there is one, is to rest up properly, and then do a little less than you had been doing and build up slowly. And try to be as relaxed as possible whilst turning. Don't hold the tools as if your life depended on it because the tensions you cause in doing so are transferred to you upper body.

You can try a deep heat type muscle rub in the meantime. I hope it helps!

Maybe we should all take up Yoga? 🙂


Andy
 
Wives are always right, but they don't always get the big picture. There are a lot of things that can cause a pain in the neck, including household chores and her relatives. Fixed or strange positions at the lathe might contribute, so the "solution" could be to vary the type of work being performed enough to ensure that you stand upright for a while between leans. Or vary your tool selection or machine height so you're cutting a bit differently.

I don't get the leans because I don't lean, having chosen my tools and methods to cut at centerline with back straight and upright. Only when hollowing, where a captive bar would make things easier, do I find myself bending. Could use more bending exercise, of course, but it's easy on the back. Lay off a couple days, change to finishing instead of turning, read a good book with some heat on your neck, or any of many ways to take a rest. NSAIDs if permitted, and if you feel any tingling, numbness or shooting pain in the upper extremities, go to the doctor without delay. Osteoporosis is not just for women, and a tiny rough edge on a mini-fracture can do nasty things inside your spine.
 
Beware of mulch!

W.C. (= Water Closet?)

I have been having stabbing pains in the neck and possibly from turning, so there may be some validity in your wife's assertion. I've borrowed my wife's orthopedic pillow (no longer used by her) and it really helps.

We got a load of mulch in my pickup and I was removing it with a rake when I slipped on the tailgate and stepped off onto the pile of mulch and fell backwards, landing on my right elbow and right shoulder, and neck on the edge of the driveway. By all rights I'm dead or I have all sorts of broken parts -- but upon inspection only my foolish pride was injured. I felt stupid. I've had a little soreness and now that has almost gone away. So, beware of mulch! 😱 😀
 
No problems with neck pains, but I was noticing a very stiff and sore lower back. I lost a fight with a washing machine filled with wet clothes years ago, and have had to be careful of strain ever since. Anyway, my back was bothering me more and more... Also didn't want to believe it was from turning. But I realized I was hunching over and in, trying to get those precise finish cuts and thought that might be it. So I put a couple of pieces of 2x6 under the lathe and raised it a bit and wonder of wonders, pain is (almost) gone!

Brian
 
You should probably see a doctor if it is that bad. We can commiserate with you here but that won't resolve your pain.

The only time I had problems from woodturning was from bending over for deep hollowing. Now I get a tall stool and guide the tool while sitting. Also with all turning I try to move around to avoid a single position for a long time.
 
A pulled muscle in neck, back or elsewhere can result from swinging the golf club. For lathes I have found working on the end of the lathe reduces a neck ache. It takes the right kind of machine for this. I will get more aches from the spindle center being high. Yes I know this argumentative, but I like my height same as the end of my elbow. I will get a muscle ache in the right arm when I have to keep the tools above my belly buttom. GT
 
Glasses?

First see a doctor.

Do you ware bifocal glasses? I experienced neck problems while working at my computer which I resolved by getting a second pair of glasses that are for reading only. Bi-focal or trifocal glasses my cause you to bend your neck in order to see out of the lower portion of the lenses.
 
Check you lathe height!

WC -

I have an inherited joint disease that loosens the tendons in my joints including my neck. I have had to rasie my lathe to where I don't have to stand with my neck bent down to be able to turn comfortably. After a lot of experimentation and wood spacers I have found that 46.5 - 47" spindle height allows me to turn for a couple or 3 hours without pain - I'm 6'2" tall. Over a period of about 90 days years ago my lathe height went as high as 52" before I finally found that the 47" height worked the best. Most people walk in my shop and can't believe the lathes are that high but it is what is comfortable for me. When I have worked on someone else's lathe helping them or demonstrating for a get together I have actually had to have my wife drive me home afterwards due to the neck and shoulder pain.

Go see a doctor if it does not clear up quickly with rest. Try alternating hot pad and cold packs. The doctors can do a lot with anti inflammitory meds, cortisone by injection and mouth to get it calmed down. Then cut some spacers and try to adjust your lathe height. In addition ask the doctor or a physical therapist if there are any exercises you can stop and do to help the tendons loosen back up. People wonder what the bucket with weights in it on the end of the rope with a pulley and handle is for in my shop - it is for me to stop and work my shoulders gently to loosen and strengthen them.

Good luck.
 
WC,

The first time I hollowed a vessel I had neck and shoulder pain. After that I sat down with Ellsworths video and listened to his discussion of body position and rotation. That helped alot. Then as I did more I trusted myself more and wasn't so tempted to peer into the opening and I eliminated the need to lean over and could standupright comfortably. Then just a few weekends ago Mr Ellsworth did a workshop for us in Hawaii and showed us another trick when hollowing that made a huge difference. When hollowing, he had us angle our tool rest 30 to 45 degrees away from us at the opening to the bowl. That changed the position and angle of the hand on the toolrest, which affected how your shoulder was angled, and ultimately the set of your hips and shoulders. It was a small change but had this huge cascading effect on your body position.

He also was roughing the log differently. Again, angling the tool rest at a 30 to 45 degree away from your body so your hand position changes against the rest. Then he does his roughing cut, but instead of drawing it across the log, he does it as a series of pivoting moves. Again, the amount of stress as you rough is reduced by an amazing amount.

In short, I don't think you need to suffer when turning, but you do need to have someone look at your body position, and then personally develop the confidence in your tool work to help you relax as you work. (part of that was what I like to think of as "how I learned to relax and love the bomb"....in other words, accept the fact that logs may fly and it is not a big deal....other than smarting when they catch your toes! <grin>)

If Mr. Ellsworth is at the symposium see if he will show this to you.

Hope this helps.
 
The aching body

Ain't it fun to get old?????? My body is falling apart, esp my shoulders (3 surg for biceps in 2 years) and feet, and the last few years the lower back (esp picking green/yellow beans for 6-8 weeks-coming up soon), and the last 6 months my neck.-in a different spot that the old cervical disc nerve that causes pain in the scapula sometime. While twisting during turning I know that that maneuver hurts the lower back. My Daughter (DO) gave me exercizes to do, which helped alot, but do you think I take the time to do that when the pain is less???? I told my orthopod and friend ( who has an forest, and an xmas tree farm and gives me wood) 10 years ago that upon his recommendation of stretching a sore muscle for 15 minutes daily that I wouldn't have time to go to work!!!.5 years of antiinflammtory drugs for feet problems so that I could do aerobics led to peracute stomach ulceration at 5 am while on my way to a national meeting and had to have emergency surgery after being dragged by ambulence to the nearest hospital to the airport. NO SYMPTOMS WHATSOEVER prior to the rupture.
I live with my pain and don't/can't take anything .I really should relax more at the lathe -I am tense even with familiar maneuvers-just the way I am. Maybe Yoga is a way, but I don't want to take the time.
WC-you're pain doesn't sound like nagging chronic stuff-see a Dr. or DO. 🙂 Gretch
 
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