Upper back pain constantly, anyone have this issue in this job?

[PR Cleaning Solutions]

Hey guys, the last few months, I am constantly getting upper back pain, like the middle of my spine, very painful. It’s there all the time. I feel the cause could be from when I’m looking up cleaning top windows or when my pole is at full reach or just the strain I put on my back from when I’m moving the pole at high reach. Does anyone have same issue or had, and has a solution? I really like my job but this constant back pain turns me off this work as I’m in constant pain every day with it.

 

[Fraggle]

I bought a pair of belay glasses, £25 amazon, definitely helps

 

[scottish cleaning service]

I used to suffer from back pain and bought a back support. £25 from Amazon.

 

[Mattlekim]

It could very well be because of work. Ether the looking up is causing you issues or you have bulked up some muscles more than others and they are causing the issue.

I would recommend chiropractor as it did wonders for my lower back. Had 6 session last year and haven't had any issues since. My back was out of alignment.

For temporary pain relief a TENS machine can help some people, I know it dos me.

 

[Part Timer]

As @Mattlekim said a visit to a Chiropractor will probably resolve the issue, a deep tissue massage, Sports Massage, once every other month will help as well.

 

[Master Jedi Alejandro]

you have bulked up some muscles more than others and they are causing the issue.

This point shouldn’t be under valued. I had bad pain in my left shoulder and what it turned out to be was I had bulked up certain muscles without building up others, leading to an imbalance & abnormal weight distribution. I now have exercises that mean all my shoulder muscles are regularly exercised and the pain completely gone!

 

[Pjj]

I think sometimes technique of using the pole can cause this I had it years ago when I started , I found standing further away from the building helped so you aren’t looking up at such an acute angle . Also use the shortest lightest pole to do the job this will help with RSI and other muscle related issues

 

[Iron Giant]

Honestly baffled if you haven't sought professional help already, putting off could risk a far more serious issue.

Over the years I have back pain to the point I had to go for scans at the hospital and shoulder and elbow issues the three things which have helped are a light pole, Xtreme sill brushes and a swivel, the most important for you right now is professional help to identity and resolve your current back pain

 

[Mattlekim]

I too have gone to a smaller pole I use a 22 as my daily driver andy work colleague uses an 18. We used to use 27 and 32 respectively and have noticed a big difference in strain using the smaller ones

 

[Dave B]

Osteopath and learn to work using opposite hands ( mirror image) which spreads the load
I am ambidextrous anyway but friends have taught themselves to work that way trad and water fed

 

[scottish cleaning service]

One has got to save up and run with an Xtreme pole which I think is one of the lightest. ?

 

[steve garwood]

Osteopath and learn to work using opposite hands ( mirror image) which spreads the load
I am ambidextrous anyway but friends have taught themselves to work that way trad and water fed

A lot of people claim to be ambidextrous, however being able to use both hands ok doesn’t make this the case, it’s being able to do the same thing equally with both hands which is extremely rare. ie, can you write equally well with both hands?
If that’s the case, then you are very rare and very privileged. Bit like us gingers ???‍?

 

[SteveFalkon]

Hey guys, the last few months, I am constantly getting upper back pain, like the middle of my spine, very painful. It’s there all the time. I feel the cause could be from when I’m looking up cleaning top windows or when my pole is at full reach or just the strain I put on my back from when I’m moving the pole at high reach. Does anyone have same issue or had, and has a solution? I really like my job but this constant back pain turns me off this work as I’m in constant pain every day with it.

 

[SteveFalkon]

Buy some Belay glasses. They are for mountain climbing. It allows you to look straight forward but able to see strait up. It also has some magnification as well. Saves your neck and stops the strain on your back. About $25 on Amazon

 

[marlowswindows]

Best things you can do are

Order massage gun of amazon £40 and work the parts that are hurting.

Reduce weight of your everyday pole even if it's a light weight brush it will make a difference.

Stretch in a morning.

When you start to feel the pain it's time to go home.

If all anyone these fail you're left with two options

1 chiropractor

2 time to find a new job.

Good luck

 

[Master Jedi Alejandro]

Best things you can do are

Order massage gun of amazon £40 and work the parts that are hurting.

Reduce weight of your everyday pole even if it's a light weight brush it will make a difference.

Stretch in a morning.

When you start to feel the pain it's time to go home.

If all anyone these fail you're left with two options

1 chiropractor

2 time to find a new job.

Good luck

Chiropractor or find a new job aren’t the only two options. Like others have said, see a physio. It could be muscle related. Or learn to use the other side. Find a new job is very extreme and it should be considered, yes, but only as a last resort. Better to pay a few £100s a month for physio and make it back window cleaning than work for less pay & potentially still have the issue.

Also, go see your Dr. They can help. It might take awhile, but get yourself on the lists at least.

 

[marlowswindows]

Chiropractor or find a new job aren’t the only two options. Like others have said, see a physio. It could be muscle related. Or learn to use the other side. Find a new job is very extreme and it should be considered, yes, but only as a last resort. Better to pay a few £100s a month for physio and make it back window cleaning than work for less pay & potentially still have the issue.

Also, go see your Dr. They can help. It might take awhile, but get yourself on the lists at least.

I gave 5 options.

Let's be honest switching hands that your most dominant with 8snt an option tried it many a time hard to do.

The last option of finding a new job are if it's that severe its just stating the obvious.


Good luck anyhow but I would take a few days off work to ease the pain. Ibuprofen would be a go to for any inflammation.

Speaking from experience of a recurring sholder muscle pain.

 

[Master Jedi Alejandro]

I gave 5 options.

Let's be honest switching hands that your most dominant with 8snt an option tried it many a time hard to do.

The last option of finding a new job are if it's that severe its just stating the obvious.


Good luck anyhow but I would take a few days off work to ease the pain. Ibuprofen would be a go to for any inflammation.

Speaking from experience of a recurring sholder muscle pain.

Switching hands, as hard as it is, is still a lot easier than switching jobs.

Massage gun isn’t a solution, it just helps ease the pain. You also need to be careful because you can actually do damage if you’re not careful and go in too hard. Which is tempting to do when you are in pain.

I have also suffered from bad shoulder pain. It made me want to give up. But instead of doing that, I brought an Extreme pole and did physio. I now have no pain. I regularly exercise my shoulders in the gym, like I said above, and it has worked wonders.

I’m not trying to belittle what you say but you made it seem like there is very little that can be done when in fact lots can be done to remedy a situation like this. After trying everything else, if the person still has problems, then yes it may be time to look for a new career.

 

[marlowswindows]

Switching hands, as hard as it is, is still a lot easier than switching jobs.

Massage gun isn’t a solution, it just helps ease the pain. You also need to be careful because you can actually do damage if you’re not careful and go in too hard. Which is tempting to do when you are in pain.

I have also suffered from bad shoulder pain. It made me want to give up. But instead of doing that, I brought an Extreme pole and did physio. I now have no pain. I regularly exercise my shoulders in the gym, like I said above, and it has worked wonders.

I’m not trying to belittle what you say but you made it seem like there is very little that can be done when in fact lots can be done to remedy a situation like this. After trying everything else, if the person still has problems, then yes it may be time to look for a new career.

Don't worry mate just my way of talking straight to the point.

Massage gun helped alot for me. But best tip is sorting your equipment out so that it's easier.

Morning stretching does help also.

 

[Dave B]

A lot of people claim to be ambidextrous, however being able to use both hands ok doesn’t make this the case, it’s being able to do the same thing equally with both hands which is extremely rare. ie, can you write equally well with both hands?
If that’s the case, then you are very rare and very privileged. Bit like us gingers ???‍?

Yes I am Steve and writing is just as awful with either hand
I have no dominant hand if you throw something at me etc
Not as privileged as gingers though

 

[DeLaCruz]

get yourself booked in for a monthly sport massage from a sports injury specialist - had first one recently and the amount of tension in my neck muscles, upper back (and lower back aswell haha - basically everywhere) was just crazy. It hurt ! The lady said she regularly massaged window cleaners over the last ten years and her opinion was without the regular maintence injury is very likely. Be advised the first massage will hurt during but much better a couple days after. Also if you have a bad back then just a few days after the massage is the best time to go to the chiro bc they can manipulate the back much easier and reset everything without all the muscles tension hindering them.