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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1992-08-12, Page 5Times -Advocate, August 12, 1992 Page 5 Education and awareness, keys in repetitive movement disorders By Michelle Ellison T -A Staff EXETER - Linda Finkbeiner of Crediton, wants to send an impor- tant message to employees and em- ployers in job situations involving repetitive motion, `warning them that such actions can cause perma- nent damage to the nerves, muscles and tendons in the lower arm and hand. Finkbeiner suffers from repeti- tive nerve stress syndrome caused from working as a grocery cashier. Her job, she says, entailed repeat- edly running the grocery items through the. scanner with her hands flexed in abnormal positions caus- ing stress on the nerves. "The body is not built to do that hour after hour," explains Fink- beiner1 As a result, she now suffers through daily routine in constant pain which is generally incurable. Dr. Michelle Fleming at Drs. Steele and Waters' office in Exeter, says Finkbeiner's condition is caused from the constant stretching of the nerve and that now, she is re- ceiving a signal of pain from the brain even when she is not per- forming the repetitive duty. A similar but more common and curable disorder is carpal tunnel. Finkbeiner says this painful syn- drome causes an almost paralysis of the hands as the tunnel where the nerves and muscles leading to the hand meet, becomes inflamed causing irritation. Joanne Gillis of Exeter worked on a factory line for about six months when she says numbness and pain began to keep her up at night and she finally visited her family doctor. Carpal tunnel was caused by "the repetitive motion on the line," says 40 year-old Gillis. Finkbeiner says disorders such as these attack those in employment situations involving repetition such as factory line work, cashiers, com- puter keypunchers, hairdressers and says she has also heard about cake decorators or people who knit or crochet. Because of the nature of the jobs, more women tend to be afflicted but age is nota factor. Fleming says that one contribut- ing factor that would more or less prolong the inevitable would be strength. If, for example, someone was trying to compensate for lower back strength by putting more pres- sure on their arms. 'There 1 was suffering from It. 1 was too stubborn to admit It was happening to me." Finkbeiner is quick to point out that not everyone is susceptible to the conditions. While one person could work at a job for years and not be affected, someone else could perform the same duties and suffer after a few months. After talking to many profession- als, Finkbeiner says repetitive nerve stress syndrome is a relative- ly new disorder in the medical field and is "coming more and more into the forefront." More people are being diagnosed as having repetitive nerve stress syndrome or carpal tunnel, she fig- ures, because of the changing tech- , nology in the labour force and the nature of employment. "Years ago, you did nine, ten, twelve jobs a day (at a factory). You had to be skilled at multiple jobs. Now you stand in one posi- tion and do one job for days," she says. While release surgery can gener- ally relieve most discomfort for those suffering from carpal tunnel, prevention seems to be the only cure for repetitive nerve stress syn- drome. Endless sessions with profession- als has enabled Finkbeiner to sug- gest some preventative measures that should be taken in, job situa- tions. Walking away from the chore every two hours and per- forming stretching excercises for the wrists and hand, better position- ing of tills to prevent awkward stretching, a foot step or stool to take the pressure off the lower back which will take pressure off the arms and hands, shock absorption mats and new computer keyboards are a few recommendations. For Finkbeiner, however, she was unaware that her working con- ditions could have been improved and what she assumed was tendoni- tis would sods lead to her wearing splints 24 hours a day to keep swelling down and help support her wrists to perform such daily activi- ties as lifting coffee cup. "It's the things you take for grant- ed. You have such pain and have to relearn (how to cope with every- day life). 1 get frustrated," she says. Despite the physical pain, both Gillis and Finkheiner agree the emotional strain is the most trying. "Pain 1 can deal with. The not being able to do things 1 used to be able to do, 1 can't. ... The emotional and mental ipain is the hardest'. Having to admit you can't do some- thing and you look healthy," says Finkbeiner. • Considered 100 percent disabled for workers compensation, Fink- beincr still insists on working. The compensation board has "bent over backwards" for her and in order to feel useful, she works tor Mickic Struyke at Mickie's Used Books and Novelties in Exeter tree of charge. Even though Struyke says she has witnessed Finkbeiner's hands swell considerably, seen her drop books and suffer through considerable pain after only a few hours of lift- ing paperbacks, Finkbeiner insists, "the best medicine has been being here with Mickie: 1 feel like I'm doing something." After having surgery for carpal tunnel, Gillis has also returned to a desk job and agrees with Finkbein- er that admitting the problem was serious enough to leave work was extremely difficult. "When I was suffering from it, I was too stubborn to admit it was happening to mc," she says. Finkbeiner says there are many people who have symptoms 01 these illnesses but don't realize the seriousness of the end result and she urges people to seek help at the first sign of pain or numbness from the elbow down, tingling sensation in the fingers and hands and abnor- mal weakness. "No matter how much you like your job, they're your hands and your arms and you have to live with them for life," says Finkbein- er. Both women also agree that edu- cation on the conditions is of ut- most importance as prevention is the key. "People need to be educated that the problem is there and it is get- ting bigger," insists Finkheiner. "Employers and employees need to he educated that it can be pre- vented by being aware of what causes it," she adds. Linda Flnkbelner demonstrates the awkward, repetitive mo- tion of passing items through the grocery scanner which caused the repetitive nerve stress syndrome. She wants to warn people in repetitive work situations of the dangers in- volved if preventative action is not taken. Back in Time from the archives of the Times -Advocate 10 Years Ago August 11, 1982 - Grand Bend are fisherman Ted Triebner caught at 24 pound coho salmon fishing off the breakwall in Goderich harbour recently. It's now official. The police villages of Centralia and Credi- ton will be getting water from the Lake Huron water pipeline system. Plans arc underway to establish a home for multiple - handicapped children on Huron. Street east in Usbome Town- ship. Donna Fargo will be the headline entertainer aI the 1992 Lu - can Fair. Four residents of the Broadhagen area managed to swim safely to shore after the boat they were riding sank in Lake Huron, near St. Joseph's. 25 Years Ago August 1() -1967 - Grand Bend reeve Orval Wassaman indi- cated this week that Expo and the weather have cut into the summer resort business somewhat, but whimsically noted that when time came for resort operators to go to Florida there would be as many reservations as usual. Annie Morenz, RR2 Dashwood was crowned Household Exhibit Queen at the 27th annual Mary Hastings central pic- nic at Springbank Park in London. Huron Ag Rep Doug Miles has retumed from a 12 week tnp to the British Isles and several European countries. He was escorting a number of Junior Farmers. This week, Crediton received Centennial greetings from the town of Crediton in England. 50 Years Ago August 13, 1942 - The Exeter High school board is advertis- ing for a male teacher of shop work and lower school subjects with physical training qualifications. Leavitt's Theatre reopens tonight after one week of install- ing new red leather spring -filled seats. Mr. John Hunter has brought a freak cob of com to the T -A office. Clustered around the main cob are six smaller cobs in various stages of formation. The $5 bill advertised as lost last week was found by Mr. William Andrew and returned to owner Mrs. W.J. Mathers of McGllivray. 100 Years Ago August 11, 1892 - A daring thief entered the store of Keller- man Bros. in Dashwood Thursday night and took a small till containing $135 and notes. Chief Gill of Exeter is investigat- ing. The till with $10 in silver was recovered near Kaercher's blacksmith shop. As an inducement to get new subscribers, the Advocate and Medical Advisor and Farm Help will be offered until next January for 25 cents a year. Workmen are presently busy remodelling the shed at the rear of Trivitt Memorial Church. The excavation for the cellar of the Sunday school is about completed. Wednesday was Civic Holiday in Brucefield and residents spent use day at Jowett's Grove in Bayfield. August Hill has again taken possession of the Commercial Hotel in Crediton having putrhased it from I. Bice. Contractors working on the Grand Bend Cut are making rapid progress and should have it running by September 1.The drudge will be operated by John McHugh of Essex Centre. Got a news tip? Call the '►s Advocate 24 hours a day 235-133.1 Purchase Royal Bank building Credit Union moves to new Exeter location EXETER - A deal is in the works to relocate the Exeter branch of the Clinton Community Credit Union to the building formerly occupied by the Royal Bank. Exeter branch manager Lawrence Bean confirmed that the Credit Union had placed a deposit on the purchase of the former Royal Bank building and hopes to take possession by October 1. Speculation had arisen only. days after the Royal Bank announced last Christmas the construction of their new bank that the Clinton Credit Un- ion might be interested in the old prop- erty to enlarge on the business start- ed downtown. Bean said the present "storefront" property does not have the parking or the visibility that the new buiid- ing will offer. "It will give us the parking we re- quire," said Bean, and added "people have dnven through town for five or six years and said they -didn't even know we were here." Bean said better acxessibihty to the branch by senior and elderly cus- tomers is a major consideration kw the move. Most customers, he said, arc in favour of the move, and only a few arc unhappy with the new loca- tion on the far side of the river beside MacLeans. Overall, he said the new branch will bring in new business and will have an automated teller machine as well. Bean said the Exeter branch has increased its business 20 percent in the last year and a half and he expects further opportunities to develop. The Exeter and Clinton branches of the Community Credit Union have total assets of $73 million. 113 objectives New conservation plan described as "fairly inert" EXETER - Town council will be reviewing a "Draft Conservation Strategy" for their next meeting. The document, according to steer- ing committee member George McEwan, is a "fairly inert" mission statement under which the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority is to operate over the next 15 years. McEwan said the strategy was drawn up after a series of seven meetings of the steering committee. The strategy includes an "action plan" with 113 objectives the ABCA would like to see fulfilled, but McEwan pointed out the ob- jectives have no particular order or priority. "The focus was conservation," said Mciwan, who asked council to read over the 113 objectives and sec if any arc contrary to die town's interests so that those concerns can be addressed before the final document is drawn up. The document deals with five mala environmental issues for the Conservation Authority: water quality, education, soil quality, natu- ral areas, and planning. "There's really nothing bad about it," said McEwan, who said while there are new programs, most existing programs arc main- tained. "1 don't think you'll find any great amount of change from what has happened ao Gtr," he said. Cowbell will be reviewing the 113 recommendations as "home - wait" and win discuss them at their next meeting. CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS Kime, Mills, Dunlop. Chartered Accountants Daniel B. Daum. B.A.. M.Acc.. C.A. Manager 412 Main St., P.O. Box 2405 Exeter. Ontario NOM 1S7 (5191 235-0345 Fax: (519) 235-3235 John A.M. Norris CHARTERED ACCUUN I AN T 497 Main Street South, Exeter. 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