Pointers Elbow

[londoneye]

This is a serious post, and although it may also go under health I assumed more people reading this section may have had the same problem.

I have now been pointing (although some people may debate that seeing the outcome) outside of out barn for a few days, and my right elbow is really painful now.   Tried to start working with left arm, but results were even more horrible (hard to imagine!) than those with right arm.

Is this normal, or am I just missing some technique that would help does anyone know.    For info I am a very slight female if this helps.

Currently I am mixing by hand, and then using a trowel or pointy thing to squeeze the 'mortar' between the gaps.    I have tried the flicking method, and sometimes that seems to work, but then you still have to push it in the holes after with something dont you?

Has anyone found a solution or tried a stretchy support bandage or something similar?

[cooperlola]

I've had a similar complaint although not the result of pointing.  A tubi-grip bandage is a real boon, but make sure you get the right size, and you should always wear it doubled over.  The chemists here are really helpful in supplying the right thing, I find.

[Chancer]

Are you pointing stone or brick?

Around here most masons repoint brickwork using a heavy duty sort of icing bag containing chaux mortar which I think is much more fluid.

At least it would (over) exercise some other muscles!

How slow is this forum getting!!!!!!

[suein56]

[quote user="londoneye"]

I have been pointing and my right elbow is really painful now.  Is this normal, or am I just missing some technique that would help does anyone know.   For info I am a very slight female if this helps. [/quote]

I know absolutely nothing about pointing so can only commiserate with you about your painful elbow and say how much I admire your determination to do the job. I am filled with awe ... I wouldn't know where or how to start to do what you are doing.

Sue

[londoneye]

Ah well spg that makes two of us then !

Actually last night, after half a bottle of wine, in the dusk, from 30 feet, it didn't actually look THAT bad.    I shall be proficient by the end.     I am pointing stone.    I think I will try the bandage, as it may work.     

Actually before we came we did get something from Screwfix which is like an icing gun, but neither myself nor OH (who is instructing !!) can get on with it.

[Andyphilpott]

Not sure if this will help, but I have suffered from tennis elbow on and off for some years and have had some (expensive!) treatment in Harley Street which fixed it for a time. However the handyman who works for my employer has had the same problem and he has had great success with a support which wraps around the arm just below the elbow and this has the effect of avoiding strain on the elbow tendons. They can be bought at chemists in the UK and presumably France. I got one with the trade name Pro Sport from my local chemist for around £8 and now always wear it when doing heavy jobs and it certainly seems to have done the trick. It is stronger than the tube bandage supports and adjustable according to the work you are doing.

I have found that you have to persevere with it. The first couple of weeks seemed to make no difference although it was certainly easier to do heavy work with it on, but then, as the tendons had time to rest, I experienced gradual improvement to the extent that I no longer wear it each day.

All our aches and pains are likely to have different causes so maybe best advice is to seek medical advice!

Hope you recover soon.

Andy

[Frogslegs]

Sound like tennis elbow[:(] the best result for me was a steroid injection (feels like being kicked by a horse when the injection goes in) but you do finally get relief.....I have had two over the last 10 years but I think they only allow three in total...hence no more renovating for me![:D]

[londoneye]

Not overly keen on doctors myself, so will definitely try the support thing.   Trip to pharmacy in order tomorrow; at least it's raining now so I don't have to do any more today.

For any other women out there who might have the (not so) bright idea that pointing might be a bit of a hoot, trust me (even apart from the elbow) its the most deadly boring job on this earth.   Do not offer, and stage a fainting fit if there is even so much as a suggestion that you might like to 'point the barn'.

[George]

Have had some success with a Vulkan EPI Brace, admittedly the injury was caused by golf and has occured twice now over a period of 5 years, but both times after a couple of weeks wearing, not constantly, more on than off to start with, it seems to be successful.  So much so that my wife is currently trying it for the same reason. 

It cost around £20 + delivery, fit's just below the elbow, and is a plastic U shape with connecting elastic velcro.  I think available in 3 sizes and applies gentle pressure and support to those muscles at the side.  You should be able to find it with a Google search

 Hope this is of some help, very painfull.[Www]

 

 

[suein56]

[quote user="londoneye"]

For any other women out there who might have the (not so) bright idea that pointing might be a bit of a hoot, trust me (even apart from the elbow) its the most deadly boring job on this earth.   Do not offer, and stage a fainting fit if there is even so much as a suggestion that you might like to 'point the barn'. [/quote]

LOL. [:)] Point taken.

Though, in reality, there is not a hope in hell of me ever agreeing to do anything like that.

I am still in awe of your multifarious abilities. Crikey the most adventurous I get is learning to kayak. (Is that a verb, it sounds a tad odd.)

Sue

 

 

 

 

[Anton Redman]

Save that it begins with K and therefore cannot be a French word I think Kayak is a verb in French. In English Kayak seems to be a subset of canoe. I was once part of the back half of a pair that Eskimo Rolled a canoe both of us thought we would never get the expleative deleated  thing back up but there was a large bet rolling on it and neither of us would quit. Same front idiot once got a lugger plaining fast enough in the Med to get French Naval Courvette asking if we were in difficulties or simply mad.

[suein56]

[quote user="Anton Redman"]Save that it begins with K and therefore cannot be a French word ...[/quote]

But what about kilo, kilomètre, kif-kif, kérosène, kilowatt, képi, kiosque, klaxon and kraft as in papier-kraft - are they not French words? You have me puzzled now.

Sue

[La Roche]

why dont you try mixing the mortar wetter than nornal and putting in any old silicone tube and using a silicone gun its much easier and less messy . let it dry for a few hours or so depending on the weather ( heat ) and then just brush off ....... hope this helps

[Nick Trollope]

[quote user="Frogslegs"]Sound like tennis elbow[:(] the best result for me was a steroid injection (feels like being kicked by a horse when the injection goes in) but you do finally get relief.....I have had two over the last 10 years but I think they only allow three in total...hence no more renovating for me![:D][/quote]

I too suffer with Tennis Elbow (for that is indeed what the OP has). I always blamed it on sports motorcycles. I use a bandage. Avoid steroid injections - they will spoil your Olympic aspirations....

[Pierre ZFP]

Could be tennis elbow or what used to be called Housemaid's elbow.  They are actually different.  Tennis elbow is on the outside of the joint and Housemaid's is on the inside.  I got Housemaid's from playing squash which shows how bad my style was.  The only way I can play now (or use a hammer or a trowel) is, as above, use an elasticated strap about 2 inches wide wrapped tightly around my forearm just below the elbow and fastened with velcro.  The strap I have also has a pad which places extra pressure on the muscle in the forearm.  As it was explained to me, this stops the muscle expanding too much and pulling on the tendons attached to the bonewhich causes inflamation and pain.  Got my strap from a sports shop for around 8 euros.  Worth its weight in gold.

[Andyphilpott]

Frogslegs wrote the following post at 30/05/2007 14:32:

Sound like tennis elbow the best result for me was a steroid injection (feels like being kicked by a horse when the injection goes in) but you do finally get relief.....I have had two over the last 10 years but I think they only allow three in total...hence no more renovating for me!
Good point F

My first steroid injection was done by my GP and left me battered and bruised and in great pain. To top it all it did not work anyway! Then I was introduced to a consultant near Harley Street who specialises in this and he spent ages finding the exact spot for the injection and I hardly felt him actuially injecting the steroid. Within a week it was virtually fixed. He pointed out that it will always be a weakness so I could probably expect it to recur - which it did 5 years later and he fixed it again. Interestingly, I has always believed that there was a maximum of 3 tries but the specialist says that is not actually true. As long as they are spread over a long enough period it is no problem.

 

I later damaged my shoulder, which is a lot harder to deal with, but he fixed that enetually too.

 

Greatest pain was in my wallet but you cannot put a price on health matters.

 

Andy

[Grumpy]

Most uncomfortable! I suffered a similar complaint after some heavy repetitive physical exercise some years ago. I had some physiotherapy on my elbow. The physio located the exact spot that was causing the pain and worked on it with heat and manipulaton for a few visits and I have never had the problem recur! Perhaps this is something to consider?