My achin' back.......

All great advice!!

I put my buckets of water up high on a makeshift bench so I dont have to bend down to reach in the water for my sponges . It has also saved my back and knees.:dblthumb2:
 
I'm going on 42 years old and my mind says I'm OK to do this work as a second full time job. Thankfully the towels need laundered, the pads need washed, the bottles need filled and the books need kept. Otherwise I'd be bending and rolling around cars all night and every weekend. I am always doing something while mumbling something to myself about one day hiring a helper or 2.

I try to employ all the tips and suggestions that the other forum members have listed in this thread. Sometimes I also have to say "no" when my mind and bank account wants me to keep booking more work.
 
You'll find that age here spans a lot of years. I'm 59 years young and started my detailing at about the same time you did. :props:

Bending is the worst and sometimes I'll plop my ass right on the ground or sit on a bucket or small seat. I like the roll-around ones I've seen here and should pull the trigger on one because I know I'll like it...

Aches and pains are part of aging and old age ain't for sissies.....but there are worse alternatives....:laughing:
 
WOW............Makes me feel better to know that Im not the only one who has some years and mileage on these bones on mine...........Thanks for all the great replies and ideas. I have a rolling stool, but its just not the same as getting down on your knees to do wheels/tires and lower body panels. I guess I will just have to get used to using the stool and get some knee pads too. Stretching before starting is a great idea and keeping the buckets off the ground is too. Hopefully all these simple ideas will add up to less pain and soreness.........Thanks for all the encouragement and ideas.......



Steve:props:
 
Spiney said:
Hi I'm 51 and I do it as a hobbyist and a car crazy guy as Mr Maguiar calls us. I've had 3 lower back surgeries my lowest 4 lumbar are fused with bone, plates, and screws. I also have 2 levels fused in my neck and have extreme pain in my right shoulder blade that they can't find the cause of. On top of all that I developed real bad tennis elbow in my left arm and I'm a lefty. This caused me to curtail drumming for a few months. When I do detail I wear a fitted back brace. It's similar to the OTC ones but has a rigid plastic piece confirmed to my back. I also were a arm band for the tennis elbow. To polish the low parts I use a small rolling garden card that holds supplies. I also stretch often. After a job I apply an iced hell pack wrapped in a small towel to the aching parts. Sit in my la-z-boy recliner with massage and before the job I take naproxen which is an anti inflammatory. The best cure I've found for my chronic pain is a massage from a medical massage therapist. He has been a great help. Also I have a handheld Homedco percussion massager that my wife uses on my back and shoulder. It's a God send. I've been on 24x7 narcotics and other meds since 2000 after a failed surgery increased my pain. Been everywhere and they can't fix it. But after 10 years the narcotics are like a Tylanol to me. I would love to make detailing a business and not just a hobby but at this stage im glad to be able to do my own. I would also be playing out every weeked also if not dor pain and insomnia. And now you see why I go by Spiney.
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I feel for you. I've been through 2 lower back surgeries that just seemed to increase my pain. And as most Dr.s they threw pills at me. They ended up putting me on Metadone. At the time I did not know it but it is a nightmare of a drug. Although it helped my pain it's physical dependance is off the charts. I right now in the process of weaning myself off of it and I'll tell you no matter how slow you go it is still no fun at all, it's miserable, and it can take months and months sometimes more than a year. I hope your DR. hasn't prescribed this to do and if he tries to you should seriously consider to decline. Before my Dr. prescribed it I ask him about when it came time that I would want to stop taking it how hard would it be? He told it would be no problem that I wouldn't even feel it. That was BS. One thing I use for short term relief is a TENS device. It electrically stimulates your back with controlled shock waves and pulses, it's adjustable, it helps me to be able to stay on my feet longer and to walk longer distances. You might want to check em out. I've tried almost everything because they still want to fuse several of my vertabrae and I'm refusing to let them cut me anymore after the 2 previous fiascos. Anyway good luck, you are not alone.
 
63 next month so aches, pains, and groans a'plenty. I no longer detail for a living, just try to keep our two cars decent. The inexpensive roller seat available at any auto parts store is a must. Now standing up from using it after an hour or two is a brave new world..........:help:
 
I also use a creeper sometimes. Like the kind you can use to get under your car to change your oil, etc. That gets you even lower than a stool. You're basically sitting on the ground that way though, but you can roll around without standing up.
Note: Put it OUT of the way when you are done with it so you don't step on it or trip on it later on. Don't ask me how I know this.
 
I'm 65 and frankly, getting down on my knees is still as easy as it was when I was 30. Getting back up is a whole different story!
 
ssnobrakes said:
WOW............Makes me feel better to know that Im not the only one who has some years and mileage on these bones on mine...........Thanks for all the great replies and ideas. I have a rolling stool, but its just not the same as getting down on your knees to do wheels/tires and lower body panels. I guess I will just have to get used to using the stool and get some knee pads too. Stretching before starting is a great idea and keeping the buckets off the ground is too. Hopefully all these simple ideas will add up to less pain and soreness.........Thanks for all the encouragement and ideas......
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Maybe you could use a shorter rolling stool. Or maybe consider raising your car up a little bit. Drive it onto some ramps or put it on jackstands. Your rolling stool will give you a whole new perspective and you probably won't want to get down on your knees anymore.


BobbyG said:
You'll find that age here spans a lot of years. I'm 59 years young and started my detailing at about the same time you did. :props:

Bending is the worst and sometimes I'll plop my ass right on the ground or sit on a bucket or small seat. I like the roll-around ones I've seen here and should pull the trigger on one because I know I'll like it...

Aches and pains are part of aging and old age ain't for sissies.....but there are worse alternatives....:laughing:
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That Kreepstool that John and Old Tiger have sure is looking pretty darn good to me right now!
 
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Paul Mitchell said:
I'm 65 and frankly, getting down on my knees is still as easy as it was when I was 30. Getting back up is a whole different story!
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:laughing:
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oShTJ90fC34&feature=related]Rimshot - YouTube[/video]
 
Rix6 said:
Maybe you could use a shorter rolling stool. Your rolling stool will give you a whole new perspective and you probably won't want to get down on your knees anymore.
Click to expand...

I have a rolling chair that I got from Sears that has adjustable height like an office chair (gas cylinder). It was kind of expensive but I think it goes lower than a fixed-height chair (at least I hope it does, because I keep it at the lowest 99% of the time).
 
my job was killin' my back so one night my wife was watching QVC shop at home and this came on the air:

Teeter Hang Ups FitSpine System Full Inversion Table - QVC.com

I got the "easy monthly installment" payment plan, it took 20 minutes to assemble, and after using it the very first time my back felt 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000% better.

Now I just use it whenever I feel my back tighten up.

The rolling chair will help while you are detailing, the inversion table will help afterwards!

:xyxthumbs:
 
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