Wrist & Back Pain

StealthXJ

StealthXJ

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How do you guys save your wrists and back while detailing? I am 6' 3" and my back really gets to me while detailing. Even more than my back, my right wrist takes an awful beating!! It's already not quite right, as I injured it years ago, so that doesn't help. So, what do you guys use to help?
 
I went through an original PC before it died and then a couple of years through a PCXP without any pain at all. Then all of a sudden, I started experiencing wrist pain and hand numbness. When I upgraded to a 3401, all of that went away. Guess it was just my body getting older and telling me to get a less fatiguing machine. At 5'8", never experienced back pain, though.
 
I too suffer from back pain. (back problems)

You may want to look into a small lift. Instead of bending over to get to the car, you can bring the car up to working height.
 
For my wrist, I am talking about scrubbing carpets and upholstery and doing pretty much everything else, as I am still a bit new to paint correction.

Yes, a small lift would be nice, but I usually work out of my Jeep. I know that they make small ramps, though.

I am planning to look into a wrist support or wrap, just to give me something.
 
Mike@DedicatedPerfection said:
I too suffer from back pain. (back problems)

You may want to look into a small lift. Instead of bending over to get to the car, you can bring the car up to working height.
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Agreed.

After my back surgery I got a four post lift. Now I can not only get under my cars to change parts, oil, brakes, etc. But when washing and polishing I can easily raise it to where it is comfortable to do each panel.
 
I feel ya! Mine seems to be more in my knees and elbows, and a little in the wrists. Wrist and elbows definitely take a beating from interior scrubbing, and claying and wheel cleaning on the outside. Knees kill me on anything down low if I have to squat.

On of those rolling work stools would be nice for wheels and tires, I just use a bucket for now. I also have/use several 2" thick mats. One 1'x3' to kneel on for low cars while I'm doing the footwells, and larger 3'x4' I'll use to sit on while I work on lower sections.

If you have a DA polisher you can get brush attachments for it that may save some wear on your wrist. You can mechanically scrub carpets, upholstery, tires and big plastic trim pieces with them.

For wheels a pressure washer may help and proper use of an acid wheel cleaner. I have also heard of people chucking up a wheel bush in a battery powered drill to take some of the physical work.

Oh, and again, if you have a DA you can get one of the clay disk/pads to speed up the claying process.
 
I was crippled with back pain for about a year - 15 years ago. I was in chronic pain and couldn't sit or lay down to become comfortable. Lotsa pain meds, muscle relaxers, anti-inflammatories ...etc...

Finally I had back surgery (laminectomy L5-S1) and have been 100% pain free since. It really was a miracle surgery.

But, of course I can still get uncomfortable from stooping all day with a polisher. Since I'm only detailing my own cars - I'm never going to be uncomfortable.

First thing, get a rolling stool and a Werner Work platform. With these two tools, you will never need to kneel on the ground, sit on the ground, or stoop to work on the side of a car. These are really two essential detailing tools you can get for under $100.

I see dudes sitting on THE GROUND detailing wheels and polishing the sides of a car - and I'm like WHY???? Besides getting your butt dirty - it's just uncomfortable, when you can get a rolling stool for like $30.

Second, if you are detailing your own cars, just take breaks. I'm guessing not everyone has the luxury of owning multiple cars and having a garage - but I would never wash, decon, clay, polish, and LSP a car in a single day. Too much work - I usually take 3 days.

Next, especially for your wrist - get a Rupes. 8mm polishers will vibrate your wrists numb. The difference between those and Rupes smoothness is like night and day.


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Had back pains when I was kind of chubby. Lost weight and no back pain at all while detailing now. For wrist pains from scrubbing carpets, use a pc with a carpet brush to do the work for you. Also, a lit while doing exterior work can work wonders.
 
As a gym owner, I would work on mobility (yoga) and strengthening your back. I have trained hundreds of 30-50 year olds that have told me they have "back problems" make great progress stretching and strengthening. If you haven't done much in the last year or so, mobility (stretching) is much more effective than weight training. once you get the mobility back in your hamstrings, hips and shoulders, then you can move on to strengthening. I would bet your back pain could be gone in 12 weeks or so with a proper trainer.
 
This is a great discussion! Thank you all.

I do have a rolling pneumatic seat, which is nice to use sometimes. However, sometimes sitting on the ground is just needed to get as low as possible and to see things better. I am 23 now, but when I was 15 I use to do some landscape maintenance in Tampa, picking weeds for a few hours a day. Doing that I believe was the start of my back being really sore doing certain activities. I definitely need to stretch and work on mobility more! I also need to get into a chiropractor more often, as it really does make a difference. As far as my wrist goes, I'd honestly really like to get it scanned to see if anything looks really abnormal, because it is kind of a mess. I pop it all the time! I have played tennis since I was five, so who knows what that does to a wrist. I'll start trying to strengthen my wrist more.
 
For your wrist, does it hurt when its at rest? If yes, I would try to stop any activity that irritates it until you can roll your wrists in the sockets without any pain. Once the inflammation is out, you can start to stretch them. Look on youtube for "Gymnastic wrist warm ups". They will be your best bet to help lengthen and loosen your wrists. There really isn't any wrist strengthening that I would do. Just get them loose and that should help you out.

Good luck!
 
I had back pain when I first started. I got a mechanic's seat so I could sit down doing sides of vehicles and also while doing wheels. That pretty much resolved it for me.

As for wrists, I have arthritis like symptoms, that precede my detailing career, doctors don't know what I have, it's not arthritis but symptoms are the same. That being said, detailing has not made it any worse for me. I do low volume, about 2 clients per week and I have a part time job as well so I work on average 5-6 days a week. My advice would be to get a brush attachment for either a drill or a DA so you can scrub carpets and seats without having to use a hand brush. Other than that, maybe go to medical forums and ask advice there. I don't know if wrist support bands or any other device could help but it's worth looking into it.

On very bad days I use Ibuprofen to cut the inflammation and pain down. Any NSAID should help with that but I feel Ibuprofen works best for me.
 
Calendyr said:
I had back pain when I first started. I got a mechanic's seat so I could sit down doing sides of vehicles and also while doing wheels. That pretty much resolved it for me.

As for wrists, I have arthritis like symptoms, that precede my detailing career, doctors don't know what I have, it's not arthritis but symptoms are the same. That being said, detailing has not made it any worse for me. I do low volume, about 2 clients per week and I have a part time job as well so I work on average 5-6 days a week. My advice would be to get a brush attachment for either a drill or a DA so you can scrub carpets and seats without having to use a hand brush. Other than that, maybe go to medical forums and ask advice there. I don't know if wrist support bands or any other device could help but it's worth looking into it.

On very bad days I use Ibuprofen to cut the inflammation and pain down. Any NSAID should help with that but I feel Ibuprofen works best for me.
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Sounds like fibromyalgia.

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Re: Wrist & Back Pain

wn1998 said:
As a gym owner, I would work on mobility (yoga) and strengthening your back. I have trained hundreds of 30-50 year olds that have told me they have "back problems" make great progress stretching and strengthening. If you haven't done much in the last year or so, mobility (stretching) is much more effective than weight training. once you get the mobility back in your hamstrings, hips and shoulders, then you can move on to strengthening. I would bet your back pain could be gone in 12 weeks or so with a proper trainer.
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Agreed. Stretching and core strengthening exercises! I have been in the fitness industry for 17 years. I regularly find issues regarding muscle instability with clients. I'm a Master Trainer.

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I am a thin but very fit guy, and my core is one of my strong points. However, my lower back feels like it may be a weak point.

Oh, and I have a GG 6" and a Cyclo, so I may have to look into a scrub brush head
 
StealthXJ said:
I am a thin but very fit guy, and my core is one of my strong points. However, my lower back feels like it may be a weak point.

Oh, and I have a GG 6" and a Cyclo, so I may have to look into a scrub brush head
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Your lower lumbar is part of your core. Do some back extensions, planks, or deadlifts to strengthen it.

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A lot of great points being offered here.

The brushes for your DA's are a great option to avoid the crazy scrubbing and stress put on your wrists. That should help a ton.

As for your lower back, I totally understand what you're going through. I'm 6'4 and have had issues with my lower back since high school (I have a herniated & bulging disc stacked on top of eachother in my lumbar spine). Although your core might seem strong, doing some additional core work or even yoga as others have mentioned would do wonders for you. I never had my back issues surgically corrected so physical therapy when it was first found and plenty of core work have made almost all of my pain subside and full range of motion to restore. I often find myself bending with my back instead of doing it from my hips. This "hunched" over posture will also cause pain to flare up... just be aware of how you're bending.

Another thing to keep in mind is making sure you're well hydrated throughout the day. This will ensure that the bursa's designed to lubricate and cushion your joints and junctions between tendons and ligaments have enough liquid to continue to do their job.

Lastly, I will sometimes look to supplementation to offer help. In addition to my back I have had chronic knee issues and have tried a TON of different "joint" supplements to help alleviate some of the pain. The only one that has worked for me (and many others it has seemed) is iForce Nutrition's Joint Help. Totally blows away the typical glucosamine/chondroitin/msm supplements I have taken in the past. I would imagine this could help your wrist problem as well.
 
Jeremy1976 said:
Sounds like fibromyalgia.

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I thought so too but Fibromyalgia doesn't cause inflammation, and I do get inflammation of the joints. It is not constant but sometimes my joint will get really inflamed and I can barely bend that joint when that happens. Annoying to say the least ;)
 
Calendyr said:
I thought so too but Fibromyalgia doesn't cause inflammation, and I do get inflammation of the joints. It is not constant but sometimes my joint will get really inflamed and I can barely bend that joint when that happens. Annoying to say the least ;)
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Gout?

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Just try to stay strong, I always try to workout 2-3 a week, helps everything heal up quicker
 
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