Had the same issues and put up with it on and off for years. I'm a contractor as my day job and so being active isn't the issue. Went to doc and he sent me to take physio. They were telling me to do things I do all day. Forget that foolishness. Talked to a neighbour and he said try acupuncture. Never tried that stuff before. Gave them a call and made an appointment for a consult. They listened to my problem, showed me what was going on and said probably one visit would fix it. Sceptic me thought ya right. Well I booked it and the app. was about an hour. They said it would take a couple days for the mussels to settle down. Amazingly everything cleared up within a couple days. Never had an issue since. I don't believe I put up with the pain so long when it was so easy to remedy. Some docs don't believe in this kind of treatment but it works and I'm a believer now. Give one a call and go for a consult. My consult was free and the treatment was $75. Well worth it believe you me.

Had the same issues and put up with it on and off for years. I'm a contractor as my day job and so being active isn't the issue. Went to doc and he sent me to take physio. They were telling me to do things I do all day. Forget that foolishness. Talked to a neighbour and he said try acupuncture. Never tried that stuff before. Gave them a call and made an appointment for a consult. They listened to my problem, showed me what was going on and said probably one visit would fix it. Sceptic me thought ya right. Well I booked it and the app. was about an hour. They said it would take a couple days for the mussels to settle down. Amazingly everything cleared up within a couple days. Never had an issue since. I don't believe I put up with the pain so long when it was so easy to remedy. Some docs don't believe in this kind of treatment but it works and I'm a believer now. Give one a call and go for a consult. My consult was free and the treatment was $75. Well worth it believe you me.

Neck Pain
 

When I was doing sheet metal work every night, I got a severe pain in my neck. I thought it was unrelated to building. My doc checked my neck and said it was not a nerve problem nor was it a blood/artery problem. He said it was a muscle problem and ask if I had changed my exercise activities. At that moment it occurred to me how hard I had been squeezing 1/8" rivets.

From then on, I gripped the squeezer at the end of the handles and adjusted the jaws to get the most mechanical advance. Shortly thereafter, the pain went away.

Ken Holcomb
N77KH
Ramona

I also acquired tendonitis in my right elbow. I'm certain that it was due to countless hours with the rivet squeezer early in construction. The Dr. injected me with cortizone directly into my elbow as I levitated off of the table!! Yes, it hurt. The cortizone masked the discomfort, but it came back with a vengeance a few months later. Following a few months of laying low, it went away-for good.

Jim

Quit the Job!! But dont quit building!!!
Nordo

For tendon injuries/inflammation...
 

REMEMBER R I C E (RICE). Rest, Ice, Compress, Elevate. This is a well known acronym in the medical world. It is simple and will absolutely work. No meds, no medical bills/chiropractic bills, no shots, no surgery, no copay. Just quit using the dang muscle, compress it with a brace for epicondylitis, ice it to reduce inflammation. Repeat this for a while (up to three months). It will go away. The REST is absolutely crucial. The RICE method is a KISS approved form of tendonitis treatment (KISS=Keep It Simple Stupid!!). ;)

While taking the alfalfa pills you might want to try one of these. You'll thank me later.


http://www.averytools.com/prodinfo.asp?number=20111

What Larry said...
 

I received mine yesterday and it works so well it made my elbow pain go away just looking at it. Seriously, it is an excellent tool I wish I spent the $ on earlier. Now, I suffer like many others. It does take 90 lbs or so and if you are combining it with a 30 psi rivet gun you need to be sure you have an adjustable air valve on the gun to step it down.

I just joined this club. I finished putting the rear spar on my wings and am working on the stands so I can start fitting skins. My elbow started hurting before I had all the ribs in place in the wings. I figured I had just twisted something wrong, but the pain got worse and was starting to hurt all the time. I went on a business trip to Europe and things didnt get worse, but they didn't get much better either. I have noticed within the last couple of days, though, that it isn't hurting all the time. I haven't picked up a cleco plier in two weeks and it now only hurts when I grip something and pick it up wrong.

I'm going to ease up on the build for a bit, get a strap for my arm and patiently await my pneumatic cleco tool. I'm also going to ask my left hand and arm to start sharing the load more. I'd like to fight through the pain and keep going, but logic simply says that is going to make it better.

Thanks for all the advice on this thread. My Dr. has better things to do than listen to me whine about my elbow.

Man, I sure hope there isn't "Flyers Elbow" or "Acro Elbow".

6 months later report....
 

two cortozone shots in the most tender part of my elbow 30 days apart and one in the shoulder. Religously tried to limit the isometric squeezes on the hand rivet tool, used the pneumatic cleco tool, and paid real close attention to when I was starting to stretch my luck. Back to 90 % but can locate and touch the sore spot still today. Should have used air pressure instead of muscle on these senior arms.....:)