Tennis Elbow... from splitting wood.

CenterTree said:

Was yours from splitting wood or something else?? Wow.

So, this is a negative side effect of wood burning that I had never thought of. CRAP!

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Not sure what caused mine.....maybe turning wrenches for 20+ years. I can tell you that it has had a profound effect on my grip strength......right hand (master) 55 lbs.......left hand 60 lbs......have hard time grabbing and holding anything heavy.

Many have disagreed with me but when splitting by hand, I do not like to set a log on top of another. I much prefer having that log right on the ground. Naturally the best time to do this is in the winter with the ground frozen but it works well if it isn't frozen too. The main reason is that you have a longer stroke if the log is down rather than up. It is just like the stroke, say, on a crossbow. Most times the longer stroke will give more power else they have to depend upon the strength of the limbs or the design of a cam if used. In addition, my wrists, elbows and shoulders never bothered when splitting like this but they did if I tried splitting with one sitting on top of another. That stroke just is not natural and therefore can cause the tendon problems.

When you get a bit older and more beat up, you'll welcome hydraulics.

Axe arm is what I called mine, it lasted 6-8 months, chronic pain in the right elbow, I ended up getting a Huskee 22. It no longer bothers me but I tell you, picking u
Splits with the right palm down really made it worse, I didn't see a doctor so my advice is stop chopping wood and picking it up with the single hand till the pain disappears

You might think I'm crazy but the spice turmeric is a very powerfull antiinflamitory you can find it in the spice section and just sprinkle it on your food.They naturally also have pills it really works.
Guy
Splitter might help also

Boiler74 said:

Tennis elbow can also develop from picking things up straight arm and palm down. Something I'm sure all wood cutters do. I have altered how I pick up splits when splitting, stacking, etc. Think of how we all pick up splits from the ground.... Straight arm and palm down. So now I either two hand one split (slow) or pick up two at a time by more scooping them from the side. You really have to alter how you pick anything up. I found myself doing the exact wrong thing when getting things out of the back of my pickup.

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yep, mine was aggrivated by picking up splits. i use a hydraulic. lots of motrin and rest. it still flares up though.

I hurt my elbow because I was over extending my arm on the down swing. It took a good year to get it back to normal. Daily it was fine, throwing a ball or swing ax inflammed the joint. I opted to take 2012 off from wood splitting a bought a few pre-split cords.

CenterTree said:

Many have disagreed with me but when splitting by hand, I do not like to set a log on top of another. I much prefer having that log right on the ground.

What do you do to stop the axe blade form striking the ground (therefore dulling the blade)???

When you get a bit older and more beat up, you'll welcome hydraulics.

Yes I need to get a splitter for sure. Although, even with a hydraulic I would imagine the desire to still split the smaller stuff via axe. Sigh.

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Sorry, the quote did not work so I just copied the message.

I never have worried about the axe or maul striking the ground. It rarely happens but does a bit more with the maul. That I don't want sharp anyway.

You might be surprised about the desire to split the smaller stuff. One good example is making kindling. It is just plain fun making kindling with the hydraulics. Not only that but it is downright amazing how much kindling one can make in a short period of time. If it is possible, come spring I may make a video showing how we make kindling and I think you'll enjoy it.