Hand splitting over the years

I have bee n an advocate of hand splitting firewood for many years. It always brought me satisfaction to "do it myself" so to speak. A sore back and aching shoulders after hours of splitting would go away after a couple hours rest and an Advil or 2. Years go by and the pills are not giving me the same relief. I keep on hand splitting. More shoulder pain. I keep on hand splitting. The pain is not going away, so I go see the doc. He orders an MRI. You're not the same young man the doc tells me. You are in your 70's and your body can't take that constant beating even though you enjoy the work. MRI comes back with torn rotator cuffs on both shoulders. One side repairable and the other side doubtful and might require replacement.
My bottom line is this. Pay attention to what your body is trying to tell you. I felt invincible! I should have been more careful and done less hand splitting or at least slowed down. You only get one body. Give yourself a workout with that ax or maul but know when to say that's enough for now.













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You got more mileage out of yours than I did.
Sorry to hear you won’t be able swing the axe anymore. Enjoyment can be found in using machines too and you can cut back on the Advil.

 

Maybe a splitter will help put of the surgery. May JESUS give you HIS HEALING TOUCH.

 

My shoulders 'talk' to me more than any other part of my body. They've been pretty well used over the years. I don't believe I have an actual condition yet, but am working on it. I took maybe half a dozen advils this whole year for various pains/aches. I get sore but am usually ok a couple days later. Sleeping with an arm in wrong place can aggrivate my shoulders (mainly right side). Salute. I hope to be still going when I get your age and that's a couple decades off yet. I started trying to be less hard on my body in the late 2000teens.

 

timusp40 Based on your profile, I am right around the corner from you. Let me know if you need help.

I got a splitter this fall for the very reason you are warning about.

 

Very sorry to hear of your woes. I, like you, kinda have that invincibility factor, but my body tells me otherwise. I handsplit exclusively until 2021 when I went hydro and never looked back. If I only supplied my own wood I might keep swinging the axe, but selling several cord a year the splitter is a blessing. I had the same mind set as to not need/want a machine to do what I could "easily" do

In recent months my right shoulder is giving me trouble. Thinking its bursitis, so I can relate to how you feel now and you have many years on me as I'm "only"57. Thinking the all day cutting with a large saw, but just a guess based on what my internet research says. Orthodepist visit in my future too.

New years resolution for you: Get shoulders fixed and invest in a hydraulic splitter. Look back at what you used to do with pride and remember the only thing constant in life is change.

Sweet looking hoard of white oak and wood yard there btw.

 

I am exactly like you regarding hand splitting and "doing it myself" for many years, but now also in my 70's ,purchased a splitter and use it as well as hand splitting easy stuff. I had a torn rotator cuff about 5 years ago that healed itself, orthopedic surgeon says that happens about 10% of the time, so I was lucky.
Good luck to you sir.

 

I used to hand split everything until 2022. It was my favorite part of the whole process.

 

X2

 

I put off buying a hydraulic splitter for many years but sure glad I have two of them now.


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I split by hand for the first 23 years of heating with wood, and this year make 23 years on the splitter.

 

I still hand split. Turned 50 this year. I stockpile the rounds and when the mood hits, I go at it. For now I don't have any pain in my shoulders, my back gets sore at times but that lasts for 1/2 day - day. I actually have started stretching and warming up beforehand and it seems I don't get sore as often. When I do, I don't take any pain relief pills. Not trying to be a tough guy, I kind of appreciate the soreness. If that makes sense

I talk about getting a splitter but want to buy once, cry once. Im too cheap.
My oldest son always mentions not only how much time I will save by using a splitter but also saving the wear on my body. I say I feel good now and he always comments something along the lines of "just wait" or "it's going to catch up to you."
Maybe someday, but not today!

Because we know...

 

I had about 2 cords of elm that needed to be split. I had just sold a garden tractor. I took that money and bought a splitter.

 

I always enjoyed splitting wood by hand, and always took pride in it. It's good, honest work that doesn't take too much thought so you can ponder other things while doing it. Overall I think the exercise is a good thing, but last year I finally got to the point with my shoulders that I bought a nice used splitter. Not the same pride of work as doing it by hand, but I find I enjoy running the splitter too. But with good ear protection, though. Like Yosemite Sam, I hate noise! LOL

And if you get the splitter close to the stack, and stack the splits right off the splitter deck, that's one less bend-over-and-pick-it-up step. My back appreciates that!

 

I used to talk a ton of smack about how I was always only going to split wood by hand.
God laughed.
I had a very minor accident August 23, 2020. Changed my whole perspective. I bought a splitter. I'm relatively young but still have back pain most days, for anyone who hasn't tried it; a little bit of yoga goes a long way. Highly recommend it.

So... hydraulic splitter and yoga.

 

I started hand splitting after using the splitter for 8 years. Lost 30 pounds. I can just about fill a cage tank per session if the logs are cut. I am sure at some point I’ll slow down on the ax and tune up the splitter again. I do try to stretch every day to lower the pain. Always had upper back and neck issues, strangely splitting helps it a little.

 

I can’t begin to fathom hand splitting all the wood I’ve processed over the years. When wife and I first talked of heating with wood, a hydro splitter was something that had to be acquired. I watched what it did to my dad growing up and knew I didn’t want that for myself.

Hoping for the best outcome timups.

 

I don't know where the phrase "no pain, no gain" originated, but they sure couldn't have been farther off!

Reminds me of this: