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Upper back pain

2/28/19       
Jacob Member

Im only posting this here because I'm almost certain my issue is from finishing.

I have been experiencing decent amounts of upper back pain centered directly on my spine. Even sore to outside touch.

Now im wondering if it's from spraying. Holding a gun out over a piece, or many pieces, for extended amounts of time makes me feel stiff by the end of a day of spraying.

Im curious if anyone else out there has come across anything similar?

Thank you for your time.

2/28/19       #2: Upper back pain ...
mike j

Most likely. Especially if you are holding a full cup gun over a horizontal piece. A air-assisted airless gun and pump set up is designed for this type of work. You are not holding up a quart of material, the gun is light and fits your hand. The hoses are all that will drive you crazy. Even with this set up, too much repetitive spraying will give you aches.

2/28/19       #3: Upper back pain ...
rich c.

Spray sheet goods on an angled easel to limit the reach, maybe raise your spray bench so you aren't bent over so much, and if you are using a cup gun convert it to pressure pot as a minimum. Also stretching exercises before and after.

3/1/19       #4: Upper back pain ...
Arthur grudko

Try lying on an inversion board. They have one at the gym I go to and I use it for 15 minutes a day. Start at a low angle an gradually increase it.

Whatever you do, don't get an operation. They seldom work, and most often you're stuck with more pain than you started with.

3/2/19       #5: Upper back pain ...
Pete

I have dealt with back issues for some time. Lower back though. In 2015-16, after a bunch of "spasms", ER visits, and multiple physical therapist an MRI showed I have 2 blown out discs in my lower back. Dr would not call for an mri until I had a decent amount of documented issues... Anyway, after being maxed out on pain meds I had two shots. One was a nerve block that did wonders. ITs been a long road to say the least. The PTs told me it was from posture, the spine surgeon who I was referred to told me they were full of crap. I actually believe both. If I were you, I would have it looked at and try and change some things up to avoid it getting worse. Some simple exercises to strengthen other muscles may be all you need.

3/7/19       #6: Upper back pain ...
Joe Calhoon  Member

I started having lower back issues in my late forty’s. Spasms and I remember laying on a pad in my shop directing employees. All the heavy things we have to move as woodworkers...
And I can relate to spraying and upper back pain.
I went to a chiropractic for a couple years but that did not help much.

What fixed it for me was joining a Masters swim group for several miles of swimming per week. There is no substitute for strengthening the back muscles.

3/7/19       #7: Upper back pain ...
Jim Clark  Member

Arch supports helped my back pain a lot.
I got mine at the Good Feet Store.
Not cheap but they really helped.

3/7/19       #8: Upper back pain ...
Jacob Member

Thank you for the tips everyone. It's odd that my back pain is in my upper back because most of my life has only been lower back pain.

I do use a AAA sprayer so that does help.

I guess I'll try to adjust the height of my turntable.

Thanks again everyone.

3/8/19       #9: Upper back pain ...
JoeW Member

I found my pain was caused not by the AAA sprayer and reaching , but the bending down to reach under the sprayed item and lifting it up to carry it to the drying racks.

3/15/19       #10: Upper back pain ...
Mark Member

I went through a year or two of upper back pain centered right on the spine somewhere in the shoulder blade height. It was very painful. For some reason, it really didn't hurt when I was working, but afterwards it would make me sweat. I physical therapist told me to rotate my head forward as if to try to touch my chin to my chest and hold it there. You can even pull the back of your head down with your hand to help. She said do it as often as I could, and hold it for a couple of minutes at a time. I think she was right, because it really helped in time.

3/21/19       #11: Upper back pain ...
John Bishop  Member

Unfortunately I have tons of experience here after three major back operations. First make sure you are spraying with both hands not just your strong hand as well as sanding with both hands. Then for me the biggest change was accessing the working heights of items coming into the finishing area.

I went out and bought 100 high quality casters. Everything got staged properly at the proper spraying height. We immediately noticed a huge improvement in quality and production. It took a bit of time to stage the product but that time was made up in labor and quality in the finishing area.

Look at the staging process. Once you have a bunch of casters and fixtures they will be used over and over again.

Best of luck

D. John Bishop


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