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Anti-vibration

Post in 'The Gear' started by aansorge, Nov 5, 2012.

  1. aansorge Member

    joined: Aug 12, 2011
    211 posts
    Southern Minnesota
    I am 42, cut with a Stihl 250, and have been experiencing tingling in my hands and forearms for awhile now (3+ years) I am not sure cutting wood is the root cause, but it surely is not helping. The tingling isn't bad or particularily annoying, I just don't want it to become debilitating.

    Are certain saws better than others for lower vibration levels (a cause for carpal tunnel syndrome and a couple of other syndromes causing tingling)? All Stihls have anti-vibration, but are there certain models that are better than others? Do the pro-saws vibrate less?

    I do, by the way, wear arm braces at night to prevent hand curling and have seen a doctor.

    I cut once every two weeks or so.
    #1

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  2. aansorge Member

    joined: Aug 12, 2011
    211 posts
    Southern Minnesota
    Starting searching on the site....do anti-vibration gloves really help?
  3. Beer Belly Minister of Fire

    joined: Oct 26, 2011
    878 posts
    Connecticut
    Sounds like the Ulnar Nerve (Funny Bone Nerve) is getting trapped in the Elbow joint.....are you also feeling numbness in your Pinky and the finger next to it ???....if so, may get away with a Cortisone shot.....I needed surgery.....hope I'm wrong
  4. peakbagger Minister of Fire

    joined: Jul 11, 2008
    1,042 posts
    Northern NH
    Just in case, you wouldnt happen to be taking statins for colesterol would you?. Statins like Zocor, Lipotor and Crestor among others all can cause odd joint and muscle problems for a small protion of the population.
  5. HittinSteel Minister of Fire

    joined: Aug 11, 2008
    1,416 posts
    Northeastern Ohio
    You may want to try a Husqvarna. Their spring anti-vibe is superior to stihl's system (stihl was even nice enough to "borrow" the technology for the super smooth 441)
  6. aansorge Member

    joined: Aug 12, 2011
    211 posts
    Southern Minnesota
    No statin drugs. It is tough for me to say exactly what is all tingling; wrists, hands and fingers all seem to tingle. And all fingers not just the index/middle/1/2 of ring.

    Hoping its not MS!
  7. basod Minister of Fire

    joined: Sep 11, 2009
    765 posts
    Mount Cheaha Alabama
    It's not just half of your hand?
    I had this many years ago diagnosed in laymans terms of truck driver hand. Did alot of commuting for while working through college.
    Is that your roadracer in your avatar? Hand positioning on a steering wheel can cause this
  8. aansorge Member

    joined: Aug 12, 2011
    211 posts
    Southern Minnesota
    I autocross. That is what the car is for...no roadracing.

    I do commute 75 miles a day (total). I do type some for my job (teacher). I don't do anything in excessive quantities though so I wonder what the root cause is. I am thinking of sleeping with elbow braces and see what that does. I have been using wrist braces for 4 months and while this seems to have helped, I still have tingling.
  9. basod Minister of Fire

    joined: Sep 11, 2009
    765 posts
    Mount Cheaha Alabama
    Yeah I meant some form of sanctioned competition(not the illegal stuff)
    The repetive positioning of driving that far daily could be to blame coupled with competing
    Try a new hand position it worked for me, or atleast make your doctor aware, if you haven't already, of your recreational and daily habits
  10. TreePointer Minister of Fire

    joined: Sep 22, 2010
    1,280 posts
    Western PA
    Yes, some models (usually pro) have better antivibration technology than others. Springs are better than rubber discs. Antivibration gloves (like those from Stihl) really help me. I use them with a lot of power tools.

    Read up on Raynaud's Syndrome (aka "white finger disease"). Take this seriously.
    Thistle likes this.
  11. blujacket Feeling the Heat

    joined: Oct 2, 2008
    471 posts
    Dayton,Ohio
    Sounds like you have carpal tunnel

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