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Anonymous
Hey, /fit/... I've been having a problem for some time now, and I was wondering if you guys could possibly help me. This might be long, but please bear with me. Last year I started helping my brother with his landscaping business, and currently my main job is basically weedwacking all the lawns. After doing this for a few months last year, my hands began to hurt when I would wake up. It was actually to the point where I could not even close them all the way without feeling pain. There then was a period of time when I wasn't helping him (during the winter), though, and after that brief "vacation" the pain went away. Since then I have begun to help him yet again... and obviously the pain is back in full force. My guess for the cause is because of constantly holding that heavy weedwacker all day long with my hands in the same position, and also the constant shaking probably isn't helping much either.

So, basically, I believe that I now have some minor symptoms of arthritis (can't close hands when I wake up, and also hands hurting throughout the day) and was wondering what the best "cure" for this would be. Someone recommended taking Glucosamine Chondroitin with MSM. I've been trying it for a couple days now and will obviously need to give it more time before making a judgement on it. For those of you who have read this far (thank you very much)... what would you recommend (besides getting another job)? Also, what would help my hands from absorbing the shaking of the weedwacker itself? Maybe gloves or a bandage of some sort? If you need any more information (age and whatnot) to come up with a better solution, feel free to ask.
>> Anonymous
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definitly gloves and a better working tool.
Ever tried a garden claw?
>> Anonymous
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This might be good too. No whacking but a drilling motion.
>> Anonymous
>>198719
>>198722
oh, you guys are terrible
>> Anonymous
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>>198719
>>198722
OP here. It's been a while since I have been to /fit/, so it's hard for me to pick out who is a troll and who isn't. Anyways, if you are honestly suggesting that... those tools wouldn't work. Weedwacking basically consists of using a weedwacker (herp derp) and going around the entire perimeter of a house (the front yard, back yard, etc. . .) as well as around anything in the yard itself (trees and whatnot) to "neaten" it up. So after doing that all day, every day, you can pretty much see why my hands are hurting.
>> Anonymous
>>198736
Ah I see.
Use thick gloves anyway.
Do you have a shoulder strap for that thing?
If you can distribute the weight on your body it could help a lot.
>> Anonymous
>>198739
They do in fact sell straps for those, so I should probably try getting one. Thicker gloves will probably help as well. I honestly can't think of any other other solutions for that problem, so thanks for your help.

Now I just need to find out what medication will help ease the arthritis/pain currently in my hands...
>> Anonymous
It doesnt really sound like arthritis; even in it's early stages it is incredibly painful and it doesnt really sound like it is that bad (from what i can deduce from your description). Nevertheless go to a doctor to get a proper diagnosis...

Ibuprofen is a good choice of painkiller, unless you are pregnant or you have a (history of) stomach ulcer/s. Then consult a doctor for that aswell.
>> Anonymous
>>198776
>It doesnt really sound like arthritis

Yeah... I was really debating on whether this was truly the early stages of some form of arthritis or not. I just didn't think this constant pain was a 'normal' type of pain. Even now when I move my fingers and close my hand it hurts.
>> Anonymous
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osteoarthritis

read this
>> Anonymous
GET A DIFFERENT JOB
>> Anonymous
You're just weak