Jump to content

Returned To Pottery After 45 Years, Now In Pain


Recommended Posts

Now retired with time to do my interests, I have returned to my wheel, which I have been moving with me since the 70's, and still working

I have been making pots for a few months, mostly cutting vertically to see my progression and trashing them..

A week ago I made a couple of small pots for my bonsai, turned them a couple of days later, and now have severe nerve pain down my right arm emanating from my right shoulder blade, the specialist seems to think my wheel work caused it.

Has anyone experienced this?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Any kind of repetitive (new) exercise / positioning can bring this sort of thing on. Once it has settled, some stretching exercises and shoulder/ upper back mobilisation before you start throwing should help wake things up and prevent damage/tightening. I find Pilates to be brilliant for the older body - maintaining/improving joint mobility and strengthening where necessary to support vulnerable areas like the back & hips.

In the short term a physical therapist might be able to manipulate the shoulder/ upper back and release things - physiotherapist / chiropractor whatever works for you. Good luck!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

You know that old saw where the guy tells his doc "it hurts when I do this" and the doc says "don't do this"? That's right, as far as it goes, but might keep you from having some fun!

I had the same pain, in the same place, but I hadn't been throwing for a while. I noticed it most while pouring hot water slowly thru my drip coffee filter twice a day, but it affected much of my gardening and construction in certain positions. Finally saw the light bulb (!) and lowered the surface the coffee pot stood on. Stressor removed, I rarely feel any pain there anymore in the 3 years since.

Your pain might be from tension held awkwardly while throwing. If so, try modifying your whole body position, not just arm/shoulder. Higher or lower stool, move, adjust foot pedal, etc.

Or you may be doing some other repetitive task in a way that pinches that back/shoulder network.

Before you change too many things, just observe your daily routine to see what else you're doing that might affect that shoulder.

Good luck,

Rae

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Don't sit at the wheel for longer than (say) 10 minutes or 20 minutes, then get up and walk around, look up at the ceiling, down at the floor, left and right, stretch arms up to ceiling and circle round.  Repeat 5 times before going back to the wheel.  If no improvement see medic/physio.......

 

Best wishes, I have similar pain if I do anything new repetitively without breaks.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My state-of-the-art expert chiropractor has been my salvation for all kinds of body pain, including when issues turn out to be related to working in clay. The adjustments and her recommendations have consistently been way more effective than other medical practitioners or physiotherapists. (Plus I get to pick up my CSA share from the chiropractor's office (community supported agriculture = boxes of the most delicious local produce :) )  Welcome to the board.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thank you all for your input.

I was in emergency on morphine and now on serious painkillers before I asked this question.

All I had done that week was thrown 2 small bonsai pots and a couple of days later turned their bottoms and cut drainage holes, not the longest time on my wheel in the last few months, I think maybe I hold my head and shoulders differently than when in my 20's..!!!

I have been doing Tai Chi classes since last December (before resuming pottery), and will return to class when I can.

My motivation to do pottery again was from a bonsai convention after seeing some pots on sale, now doing thrown pots with dragon decoration for my own trees. Will post pics when all this subsides.

Again a big Thank You for your responses.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Having dealt with neck pain for over a decade I can also suggest you get a mirror to put near your wheel so you don't spend so much time bending over to check the profile of whatever your working on. I was suffering after a long lapse of wheel-time and saw the mirror bit in a video. Makes a huge difference.

Also, if you have myofascial pain and/or knots get a Theracane. It lets you work out the sore spots without a trip to the doctor/chiro/massuse.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

henny, one thing that may help when you throw is just using a mirror in front of you with a view of the wheelhead.  this allows you to see progress as you throw and check the shape without that awful painful bending over sideways that i see people do.   it makes a huge difference when you are just beginning and as you get more comfortable with shapes, you notice changes and can adjust curves, etc more easily.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

henny, one thing that may help when you throw is just using a mirror in front of you with a view of the wheelhead.  this allows you to see progress as you throw and check the shape without that awful painful bending over sideways that i see people do.   it makes a huge difference when you are just beginning and as you get more comfortable with shapes, you notice changes and can adjust curves, etc more easily.

 

I do the awful bending over thing all the time, and I have a mirror. I have been trying to use it more, but I just have ingrained that motion so long. Start using a mirror asap so you don't get in the habit of doing the bendy over thingy.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Henny, did your specialist gave you any specifics of how it may cause the trouble? If you know the details, you can adjust the position at your wheel. The little bit I know about pain is that it can be pinned to the exact cause. 

It is pinched nerves, not really sure if the wheel caused it, that is why I asked the question and once pain free should be able to go back to normal activities. If it was my body position I want to change it and do more wheel work.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

When I first started learning to throw two years ago, all the videos on centering said to brace your elbow in your stomach. After I threw out my lower ribs several times I finally started bracing my elbow on my thigh and after that the constant pain stopped. For anybody who goes to the chiropractor regularly, I will share that having a rib put back in place is not great, but the ones up higher are nothing compared to how uncomfortable it is to get the lower ribs adjusted. Plus stabbing pain every time you bend more than an inch in any direction stinks. And getting checked out over and over to make sure it really is a rib out of place and not a kidney infection .... 

 

Stretches have helped and daily walks also. I pay attention to how I'm holding my body and stretch in between each item rather than hold an unnatural position for an hour or more at a time. 

 

Later this year we plan to raise the wheel which will mean learning to throw all over again. But I know it will help my back and neck to do it so it will be worth it! 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Henny I agree with Mark and Giselle. Pain is something that I've learned to manage, rather than cure and if you are retired, chances are good that you may have a lifetime of injuries; known and unknown. The place where you must start is finding the origin of the pinched nerve. Get any inflammation out of the way and then find the correct position that will work for you. In your excitement to throw again, you probably did not notice anything,before you experienced pain. 

 

You must know and understand your own body. Know what kind of stretches work and what not. A self examination of your arm will quickly tell you which positions to avoid.  What I often do is to trace the pain. I start by examining around the hurtful area, pressing lightly around it until one pressure place makes it quiet down (or making it worse) and go all the way further until I know exactly where it leads to. Most of the time, for me it goes straight into my back, which I did not preserved as I should have done as a young potter. 

 

If you have that knowledge you can also explain it better to your doctor or chiropractor, who often will only make a diagnose after many many tests.

Hope you get it figured out soon.  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest JBaymore

 

 

Later this year we plan to raise the wheel which will mean learning to throw all over again. But I know it will help my back and neck to do it so it will be worth it! 

 

Make sure that you research John Glick's article on this subject.  It is not just about standing up.  Standing and throwing without really understanding what you are trying to accomplish can simply move the repetitive stress injury zone to other body parts.  Seen it happen with even students.

 

best,

 

....................john

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I gave the details and illustrations of Glick's piece to my chiropractor and she worked on me with that awareness--bottom line, after a couple of months I am "well adjusted" for throwing and for standing, and show no signs now of needing to move to supported standing only. Here is the article if interested.

JGlick standingtothrow.pdf

JGlick standingtothrow.pdf

Link to comment
Share on other sites

...I feel your pain Henny. I too back to throwing after many moons not , and insteda doing my desk job..

After hobbying it for the past 6 years, it hurts when I'm not in practice, but overall I am stronger.

Pain all over the place, but yes, left lower back and shoulder down to the elbow and thumb. That said, it's part old age and lack of using those parts you haven't used for so long.

 

Throwing is like any other exercise and very isometric. Strain is what happens if you don't train those muscles and tendons.

Keep at it. Take ibuprofen when it hurts.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

 

 

Later this year we plan to raise the wheel which will mean learning to throw all over again. But I know it will help my back and neck to do it so it will be worth it! 

 

Make sure that you research John Glick's article on this subject.  It is not just about standing up.  Standing and throwing without really understanding what you are trying to accomplish can simply move the repetitive stress injury zone to other body parts.  Seen it happen with even students.

 

best,

 

....................john

 

 

An excellent piece of advice, John. Thank you!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.