Tools that help you work through injuries

[ku17]

As the title suggests, I'm curious what tools you own that help you keep working even though you may have an injury, or a multitude of injuries. A bit of background, I learned from my doctor that I have torn my labrum and rotator cuff (AGAIN). It's looking like this issue will always be looming over me. As a result, I've come to appreciate tools that allow me to keep fixing and building things even though I'm not at 100%.

Go ahead and name the tools that keep you going. Bonus points if you give pointers that help guys work through shoulder injuries. I know that staying perfectly healthy is easier said than done, so I'm looking forward to hearing from everyone.

My top 4 are:

1/2" impact wrench: The less time I spent yanking on a breaker bar, the better. Being able to free up tight and rusted bolts with a small movement of my finger takes a lot of stress off of my back and shoulder, especially after a long day of work.

1/4" hex impact driver: You don't necessarily need an impact drive to get by, but I can no longer afford to have my arm jerked around by a drill/driver when it unpredictably binds. An impact driver gives me more control and puts a lot less stress on my body. As a bonus, it's short length allows it to fit places that a drill/driver won't

Knee pads: I'm not talking about cheap ones, I mean a good set. I bought myself a quality pair after I spent too many weekends hobbling around the house after kneeling on concrete and asphalt during the work week. Now, I can move around on the weekends with no trouble at all and when I'm at work I'm more focused on the task at hand than I am on the pain in my knees.

Air ratchet/cordless ratchet: For those times when an impact wrench won't fit, these not only save me time but also spare me the job of turning a ratchet in a tight spot. This saves me a ton of strain on my rotator cuff and shoulder girdle. It might not seem like much but it can make all the difference.

 

[boomer12831]

Because of the same issues with both shoulders and several surgeries I was no longer able to do alot of nailing like installing sheeting. I purchased a Porter-Cable framing nailer and it paid for itself in the first two sheets I put up. I really can't use it to much now so I got my wife to use it on the garden boxes.

 

[va.grouseman]

Well this isn't a shop tool but it sure has helped me this fall season not to use my back, as I have had back surgery and a pulled back muscle on top of that.---So bending over was out and I had 2000 walnuts to get out of the yard.---I can't stand to walk through the yard full of walnuts, they turn my ankles and jerk my back.---This think is unbelievable.

Check the link.---I have no affiliation whatsoever.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Large-Holts...607800?hash=item3ae49d27f8:g:fvwAAOSwq7JULt7C

 

[PelicanPines]

Ok... I tend to take threads in a different direction...

I was injured by a tool... breaker bar... chunk of wood... pulling on the blade nut under my tractor... slipped... tore my rotator cuff... as I stayed on the ground... my wife leaned over me and said... can't you use an air tool on that?

 

[strength_and_power]

This has been a godsend for injuries minor and major



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Snakebyt]

This has been a godsend for injuries minor and major



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I have been in the bar biz off and on for the last 20+ years, i have several dozen speed openers, but have never seen one with that particular shape. And the tooth on the opener looks alot better than most i have. Where did you find that at? Looks custom. Currently been using a dogbone opener for the last couple years

 

[Snakebyt]

for me, extended length wrenches and ratchets, takes less force to break loose fasteners, and i am all about working with less strain.

 

[strength_and_power]

I have been in the bar biz off and on for the last 20+ years, i have several dozen speed openers, but have never seen one with that particular shape. And the tooth on the opener looks alot better than most i have. Where did you find that at? Looks custom. Currently been using a dogbone opener for the last couple years

I had a local fab shop with a laser cut the shape and etch the writing. He already had the shape, just added the text and it was off to the races. I want to say he charged me around $10 each.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[slip knot]

I've got a cheater pipe and I'm not afraid to use it. My elbows are shot and anything to take the strain off them helps. I also use the biggest hammer I can. A big hammer barely swung is a lot better than wailing away with a smaller hammer.

 

[Ign]

Are you kidding? ANYTHING in the Material Handling category. Hoists, gantrys, etc.

My number 1? Hydraulic cart.. I can load up boxes or crates to hundreds of pounds and just slide them into my truck.

In the same vein, my 2 post lift and my Kubota L2800 (a forklift would qualify too).

I've had a microdiscectomy, 2 bi-sacral ablations, more injections than I can count, and they tell me I need a double-level fusion but I'm too young so they won't do it.

Work smarter not harder, and this applies to lifting more than anything else.

Anyone who doubts it just keep trying to prove that you're He-Man. You'll herniate a disc eventually.

 

[va.grouseman]

Plus 1, Ign.---Who ever said hard work never hurt anyone was probably on welfare.---36 years nearly killed my back.---And when the back goes, your what's known as an invalid.

 

[bwringer]

Air powered lift table for working on motorcycles.

Absolutely heavenly compared to wallowing around on the ground like some sort of wrench-wielding beast.

It's also been known to support furniture, lawn mowers, bicycles, and other random objects in need to repair.


I'd also say a chain hoist has been pretty dang handy a time or three.

 

[Cypherian]

As the title suggests, I'm curious what tools you own that help you keep working even though you may have an injury, or a multitude of injuries. A bit of background, I learned from my doctor that I have torn my labrum and rotator cuff (AGAIN). It's looking like this issue will always be looming over me. As a result, I've come to appreciate tools that allow me to keep fixing and building things even though I'm not at 100%.

Go ahead and name the tools that keep you going. Bonus points if you give pointers that help guys work through shoulder injuries. I know that staying perfectly healthy is easier said than done, so I'm looking forward to hearing from everyone.

My top 4 are:

1/2" impact wrench: The less time I spent yanking on a breaker bar, the better. Being able to free up tight and rusted bolts with a small movement of my finger takes a lot of stress off of my back and shoulder, especially after a long day of work.

1/4" hex impact driver: You don't necessarily need an impact drive to get by, but I can no longer afford to have my arm jerked around by a drill/driver when it unpredictably binds. An impact driver gives me more control and puts a lot less stress on my body. As a bonus, it's short length allows it to fit places that a drill/driver won't

Knee pads: I'm not talking about cheap ones, I mean a good set. I bought myself a quality pair after I spent too many weekends hobbling around the house after kneeling on concrete and asphalt during the work week. Now, I can move around on the weekends with no trouble at all and when I'm at work I'm more focused on the task at hand than I am on the pain in my knees.

Air ratchet/cordless ratchet: For those times when an impact wrench won't fit, these not only save me time but also spare me the job of turning a ratchet in a tight spot. This saves me a ton of strain on my rotator cuff and shoulder girdle. It might not seem like much but it can make all the difference.

I think You and IGN hit the big needs , I had to have surgery on my right shoulder this past Oct. I use the same as IGN lift table, engine hoist which you can use to do a lot of things from lifting tires with the right straps etc. It helps as I taught myself over the years to be ambidextrous though not as good with my left as my right it helps.

Find your comfort zone in bench heights and lift heights the only problem I still have is directly over head so If I am working on a vehicle I will lower it and work from an angled creeper https://www.jbtoolsales.com/whitesi...MIsOn5zfLs1gIVA0SGCh0pDQB_EAkYCCABEgIuDvD_BwE

And if you really can't figure out away to do it get HELP!! cause they can only do so much to repair and if you rip it out again yeah not a good thing..

Cypher

 

[joseph.a.owens.9]

I have a free floating collar bone from a dirt bike wreck and a ****** hospital that told me it will be fine and grow back together. I'm to busy with work and then the inlaws farm I help where I can buy the time I spend some time with the wife and kids I'm all out of time. I can't afford to take off work for the surgery so I live with a bum saggy shoulder that hurts to do much over head. With that being said I use any sort of air or electric tool I can to keep from pulling or pushing with my right arm. On the plus side my left arm is the strongest it has ever been lol

Sent from my XT1031 using Tapatalk

 

[johnyg]

if you wax your car a random orbital polisher / sander is a lifesaver. easy on easy off.

 

[ChaseDE]

Advil mainly. I am not old at 35 but I do get backaches from working in the yard or sore knees or whatever working on cars as I work a desk job 9-5. Advil and every once in a while a knee brace helps.

As for tools tools, like most above, breaker bars, air tools, I just bought a chainsaw attachment for my weed whacker that is a beast and 1000x easier then using a manual tree saw to clear bush in the backyard, that kind of stuff.

 

[tarbellb]

Whisky

 

[ez-duzit]

Besides too many birthdays (I'm 73) my injuries include a broken pelvis and shattered heel bone, so I found a patient lift on eBay for helping to lift and move heavy stuff in the shop. The legs spread so you can get over the corner of a workbench or machine.

 

[WhiskeyRanger]

Knipex Cobolt mini bolt cutters. I managed to break my hand, thumb, pinkie, and both wrists over the years. Doing a relamp project at work was murder on my mits since we had to cut a lot of safety chain, aircraft cable, and the like. The second day I brought them in from home. The next week, about 4 guys were ordering them from Amazon!

 

[pcmeiners]

Tools...
Back brace, Aleve, Valium....in that order

 

[WVBrady]

Tools...
Back brace, Aleve, Valium....in that order

What kind of back brace? I use a motorcycle belt, but it is not ideal.

 

[kctyphoon]

Pain management.....

 

[Strouty]

I took out two discs at 24. I now own an inside Forklift, an outside Forklift, a crane, an excavator, and many other things to keep me from hurting myself. None of it really helps. The best tool you have is your head, use it before you do something dumb.

 

[nbruno]

You guys mention a lot of great ideas for tools to get you through with the injuries youve sustained and suffer from. Might I add the most important tool? Your brain, common sense! I myself am a victim of leaving that important tool in the "tool chest" at times. I've crushed my left foot (pinned under a brake rotor when the vehicle came off jack stands), cut off my index finger (careless use of a portaband), crushed my thumb (improper tool use removing rocker panels), and have broken many, many bones (various). Now at the age of 50 with arthritis setting in, I find that if I just take a few extra seconds of thought I can usually come up with a better, more comfortable, lower physical impact way of getting the job done.
Someone mentioned He-man... He-men don't get extra credit for doing things the hard way, they eventually get injured.

Sent from my SM-T350 using Tapatalk