OT: Hand pain

[Don Y]

I notice that much of this is marketed at "older folks". Hence the question, what is it about aging hand that lends itself to favoring larger diameter handles?

I'm not keen on adding "nooks and crannies" in which foodstuffs can hide. I tend to be obsessive about keeping things that touch food really clean! There'd be no practical way of removing the sleeve for cleaning; then reattaching for next use.

E.g., one of the rubber/silicone (no one seems to make rubber utensils anymore!) spatulas (spatulae??) that I frequently use gets disassembled at each wash -- to ensure nothing is hiding up under the blade.

The *wooden* spoon is already pushing the limits of cleanliness as it provides places for "stuff to grow". But, it can be nuked to kill off that stuff.

The discomfort subsides quickly -- ceasing motion with the spoon gives almost instant relief (e.g., taking a 15 second pause makes a big difference -- but, you can't pause while baking as the chemistry keeps running!)

[Muggles]

Pain in the meat of the hand (muscle) is caused by tiny tears in the muscle when it's strained. Muscles repair themselves and then become stronger the next time around.

Sounds like you're in the zone.

[Don Y]

+1

Many years ago, I was routinely afflicted with it. Debilitating pain. Learned the ONLY way to get it to go away was to STOP (not "reduce") the motions that were causing it.

And, to continue to avoid them even after you *think* it is "better"; else the pain would return very quickly. (things need time to heal; healing isn't complete until long after the pain has subsided).

Afterwards, reexamine how you're doing things and change your habits to avoid those stressors.

I had a similar problem in my upper back/shoulder. Same sort of searing pain from carpal tunnel. Of course, immediately started thinking along the same lines (as the solution I'd found for the hand/wrist).

First time in my life that this happened, I was drawing large schematics (E size paper -- 34" x 44"). So, lots of "reaching" to get to the top, side, etc. of the "page". Right shoulder always carrying a load (the weight of my arm). And, being twisted inward (in that "reach"). Got to a point that I couldn't lift myself out of bed (shoulder would scream when I tried to put the "load" of lifting my upper body on it). I had to practice rolling out of bed and landing on my knees. Then, lifting my body with my legs while holding my torso upright.

Later in life, problem returned: "Huh? I haven't used a drafting pencil in YEARS!! WTF??!"

Turns out, I was spending a lot of time with my shoulder "loaded"... holding my arm *up* for mouse in much the same way I'd done for the drafting pencil, years before! So, the shoulder never got a chance to rest -- in a LONG workday!

You can have similar problems if a nerve is pinched or irritated anywhere along its length. A friend has permanent numbness/cold in his hands from stenosis at the spine (as the nerves exit the vertebrae).

Annoying when your "sensory apparatus" misbehaves... you can "feel" all sorts of things!

[Don Y]

But I'm not sure the same thing is happening in the center of my palm. I.e., I can *see* (with my EYES!) how the handle is digging into the edges of my palm. I don't see any similar "focused assault" in the center of the palm.

Folks we won't be seeing in the *week* before the holiday so my schedule has to "move up". And, two others who are "on their way out" -- one just entering hospice, the other has already written his obit, etc. Biscotti are the healthiest "treat" that I make -- no fat (essentially, the body just sees it as "sweet bread")

[Kenny]

Will second that about changing typing style, I bought a mouse mat with a gel pad for the wrist, also learned as many keyboard shortcuts as I could, helped a lot.

Kenny

Good stuff. I developed this in the computer biz and I (my insurance company) spent a lot of money to have the same thing explained to me.

Once I understood the problem, I didn't have it anymore. I changed my typing style.

[Eagle]

I used to have two Brothers Oren. We never did that, so now I'm wondering if My Grandson would get mad at Me if I did that to him. :')

[Muggles]

The center of the palm has less meat there, and an assortment of tendons, and you can bruise and strain both, I'm pretty sure.

[...]

awe ... sorry to hear about your friends.

[FrozenNorth]

I'm not sure if an electric stand mixer with a dough hook may be an option for you, it would be worth it as a cheap experiment, especially if you already have a mixer and just need to pick up a dough hook.

[Don Y]

A natural consequence of growing old. I am learning that the trick is in how you *handle* it: "woe is me" vs "que sera, sera"

[Muggles]

All too true. Still, I'm sure you'll miss your friends, and for that I feel for you.

[Don Y]

Won't work. I've made these often enough (probably 50 batches/year) and have always eyed the possibility of using the large Hobart mixer to make the dough. But, it is simply too sticky and viscous. E.g., I can easily make 20 doz pecan sandies in the mixer (easiest Rx I have -- primarily BECAUSE the mixer can do all the work!). But, this small batch of dough would probably strain even *it's* ~3/4HP motor!

And, you'd lose too much dough clinging to the hook (with spoon, I can use a knife to scrape any remaining dough off the spoon and off the sides of the mixing bowl)

[Don Y]

I enjoy people while they are here so there's more to hold onto than "miss".

[gfretwell]

Maybe but I have always liked them.

Use a wood dowel. Drill it to size and poly urethane glue it in. Keep the handle out of the food.

[gfretwell]

A Kitchen Aide will pretty much rip your arm off the way it is geared.

[clare]

A hobart makes a kitchen aid look like a lightweight.At least the institurional Hobart. I helped my friend move his daughter's newly aquired Hobart and it took a set of ramps and the 2 of us to get it off the pickup. It went on. on a pallet, with a forklift.. Takes a 30 inch bowl. (60 quart?)

There is also a "little" 20 quart Hobart. and the "Legacy"11.3 and

18.9 quart jobs.

They also make them up to about 140 US quart capacity. with a "built-in forklift" to handle the bowl!!!

[Don Y]

Hobart == Kitchen Aid

[Don Y]

That doesn't answer the old age question...

It's not a question of keeping things *out* of food. Foodstuffs get onto/into things regardless of the effort you expend to keep them clean. You don't want places where things can "hide".

E.g., when we prepare/process chicken, EVERYTHING gets cleaned (including ourselves) before anything else is touched.

One of the cookies that I make in large batches is "glazed" with a sugary coating (XXX + milk + almond flavor). The cookies are effectively dunked in the glaze, then set out on wax paper to "dry".

As a result, your hands (and anything they touch) end up covered with the same glaze. And, anything you *touch* gets transported into the (bowl of) glazing! So, you don't do anything other than glaze the cookies -- ensure they've all been baked, don't make yourself a little snack, etc.

When I make marinara/bolognese sauce (16 qt), I "taste test" regularly to see how sweet the sauce is becoming. Of course, spoon can't go anywhere after it's touched my lips -- so the sink will fill with every teaspoon, tablespoon, soup spoon, etc. before the pot of sauce is done.

If you watch folks cook, you will grimmace at how often they DON'T follow these sorts of disciplines -- and, often are unaware that they are doing something wrong! ("Didn't you just have that in your mouth?" "Didn't you just TOUCH that with your hand?" etc.)

In the medical and pharmaceutical fields, "sterilization" and "cross contamination" are issues that are addressed obsessively. One tablet press manufacturer even makes a "washable" line of tablet presses -- a considerable achievement considering the mechanisms involved! You don't want your aspirin product to be contaminated with traces of Viagra that were produced immediately prior! :>

[Don Y]

This isn't really a cramp. It's more like "being beaten on" (see my post elsewhere this thread)

Yes, I'm sure thicker would make a difference. Which is why I mentioned the "old age" tie in: it seems that older folks *want* large/fat handles. So, what is it that causes "aging" to show a preference for this larger diameter that isn't true of "younger" hands?

E.g., I could understand arthritic hands not wanting to put undue strain on the joints (knuckles). But, not sure that explains the "fat handles syndrome".

[Muggles]

Maybe we just get wiser when we're older because we've figured out that thicker handles work better than thin handles?

[Don Y]

I suspect it is more than that. I notice older friends have a hard time with smaller diameter items -- bottle caps, etc. Like the hand doesn't want to close down that small. Or, maybe it has less strength in this configuration?

Dunno. I will start asking friends as these situations come up so they can relate what they are feeling "first hand"...