Loss of sensation in my thumb

[BrokenBiker]

right chaps. Been working last 2 days 9 hours straight wth an pneumatic orbital sander on stainless boxes. 10 mins per box and about 30 seconds rest between each one all day long.

Yesterday I was fine but woke up this morning and thumb on my dominant hand (my trigger thumb as it were) is numb and has been all day now.

Still got full motion and strength but no feeling. Any ideas if it's related to the sander?

 

[DanielW]

right chaps. Been working last 2 days 9 hours straight wth an pneumatic orbital sander on stainless boxes. 10 mins per box and about 30 seconds rest between each one all day long.

Yesterday I was fine but woke up this morning and thumb on my dominant hand (my trigger thumb as it were) is numb and has been all day now.

Still got full motion and strength but no feeling. Any ideas if it's related to the sander?

Probably? but I suggest going to your doctor about it ASAP....nuff said.

 

[Wallace]

Sounds like vibration whitefinger.

 

[BrokenBiker]

Gp is 3 hour drive away. Will be up here until mid next week by the looks of it so will have to suffer until then. If it gets worse will nip to a and e And get it checked out

 

[Tiggy_dorset]

If not using already, a pair of gloves might dampen the vibration a little.

 

[DanielW]

Oh dear,someone doesn't care about their nerves or tendons.

 

[BrokenBiker]

Wearing gloves at the moment but they are just the thing nylon gloves with rubber fingers. Might see if I can find a spare set of gauntlets

 

[DanielW]

Might not have this but.....

Carpal tunnel syndrome.

 

[anto]

There are anti-vibration gloves available to prevent/ reduce vibration white finger.
They have a foam padding lining to absorb some of the shock.

 

[Windy Miller]

I used my electric DA for the first time in ages at the weekend. Using nitrile gloves, I found that I had numb hands and fingers after about 20 mins. I put on some heavy gardening style gloves and it was a lot better, but still pretty horrible.

I will try to find some soft rubber or foam to make up some hand grips with and see if that helps.

If not, I'll have to get a better DA!

 

[the snooper]

some sanders are terrible for transferring the vibration to you hands

 

[BrokenBiker]

Have got an anti vibration glove on my hand now, seems to be less vibration coming through to me now. Thumb is still numb but I'm not expecting it to be clear up for a day or 2. Won't be carpal tunnel, have had that before on the other hand and know what that feels like. Only one more half day up here then home for the weekend and back Monday so will see out of hours doctor Saturday

 

[zzr1200]

BB...There's an Arco's near you on the left of the main drag just past the Tractor Plant, should have gloves or theres a Cromwell tools not far away.

 

[zzr1200]

@brokenbiker - any hair on your palms? lost of sight?

......

Trust the Fuzzy....

 

[harryb94]

Sounds like white finger, technically companies are meant to carry out a risk assessment on tools and ones that transmit vibration should only be allowed to be used for so long at a time before a break and for so long in a day, anti vibration gloves will extend this period but I doubt it'll be doing you much good even with them on if you've got another week of use with it

 

[harryb94]

Would be worth you having a read through this if you haven't already
http://www.hse.gov.uk/vibration/hav/yourhands.htm
Not something you want to end up with permanently

 

[Parm]

Whatever you do not use anti vibration gloves, they are expensive, misleading, do not work and offer no protection whatsoever.

You haven't got vibration white finger as it takes years to develop, however if you carry on you are on the road to experiencing issues.

Your employer should know the vibration output from the tool and this will allow the calculation of the trigger time before you receive your maximum vibration dose allowed in one day

If you are working as you describe it probably sounds like a suitable and sufficient risk assessment hasn't been carried out

In this day and age it's very rare that anyone is asked to grind for that long on and frequency

Before anyone says I make my living dealing with things like this

Pm me with your number if you want more advice

 

[pedrobedro]

Get something with a trigger lock button and change hands now and then. I have white finger from years of fettling and it comes on when my hands get cold.

 

[mike 109444]

BB at least when you get back over the bridge you should have plenty of docs with experience of seeing that type of problem from all the old ex miners.

 

[mike os]

dont ignore it BB, its only going to get worse