[RPCCS]

Can relate to all the comments, I will be 53 this year and for last 4 years I have wound window cleaning hard going. Especially during the winter, the aches start at back of my neck, shoulders,wrists, lower back, knees, ankles,feet. I do a handful of gutter jobs in winter and find the ladder work tough now, even 10 years ago, I was still fit. This is why in late 2018 I started the carpet cleaning business  to try and get out of the window cleaning.

What hours are u doing day to day window cleaning?
What pole are u using?
Do u use a fixed electric reel with microbore hose?
Do u rinse on the glass for upper windows?

If your already using xtreme poles,electric reels and working short days,do u think u might be suffering from arthritis?

It probably is Daz, I have a large boney lump at the base of each thumb. Working hours are generally 9am  start, coffee break 10/10.15 for 15 mins, 30 min lunch break 12-12.30, finish about 3/3.30 this time of year. 4/4.30 the rest of the year . Using Gardiners SLX 25 with superlite  xtreme brush, but manual wind  up metal reel. I have been considering  a power reel, I am due to get an inheritance this year sometime so will be getting a much newer van too, as this one is sh#$, so will maybe get a power reel too.

[Frankybadboy]

i am 51 years old and i was all ok until  i was 47 when i was in the best shape of my life,
i then had accident,not my fault and now because of the injury, i fill the slower  in the winter months,summer i can work as hard as any one,but if i am truthful i sold some work and now on the scale down to four days a week on the windows,

i still train 5-6 days a week but very structured and smart and not hard. and still complete at a very good competitive local level

[Elfyn]

I'm 65 and up until arround 2 years ago I would have out worked most 20 year olds. I've been back and fore to the doctors in the past 2 years trying to get them to see why I was very out of sorts, with no luck. It all came to a head last August when I ended up being rushed to hospital by ambulance with a heart attack. I'm booked in to (I hope) have it all sorted out on the 21st and plan to be back at it full time in a couple of months (just in time for the spring).
So, if any of you are feeling unwell or out of sorts don't be put off by doctors receptionists or over worke GP's and keep pushing for them to do their jobs.

[Spruce]

I'm 66 now and started to notice the slow down effect a year ago when I reached 65, I now only do about 60% of what I used to do

Did it coincide with you reaching retirement age by any chance?

[G Griffin]

I hate the 40's lol.  Personally i think your health takes a nose dive at 35 and without your consent lol.
Up till that age, I could eat whatever i wanted and without worry of weight gain and now ive cut right back and mostly on a diary free diet

That's a new one on me and it sounds easy enough.
Do you just give up dates then?

[dazmond]

Can relate to all the comments, I will be 53 this year and for last 4 years I have wound window cleaning hard going. Especially during the winter, the aches start at back of my neck, shoulders,wrists, lower back, knees, ankles,feet. I do a handful of gutter jobs in winter and find the ladder work tough now, even 10 years ago, I was still fit. This is why in late 2018 I started the carpet cleaning business  to try and get out of the window cleaning.

What hours are u doing day to day window cleaning?
What pole are u using?
Do u use a fixed electric reel with microbore hose?
Do u rinse on the glass for upper windows?

If your already using xtreme poles,electric reels and working short days,do u think u might be suffering from arthritis?

It probably is Daz, I have a large boney lump at the base of each thumb. Working hours are generally 9am  start, coffee break 10/10.15 for 15 mins, 30 min lunch break 12-12.30, finish about 3/3.30 this time of year. 4/4.30 the rest of the year . Using Gardiners SLX 25 with superlite  xtreme brush, but manual wind  up metal reel. I have been considering  a power reel, I am due to get an inheritance this year sometime so will be getting a much newer van too, as this one is sh#$, so will maybe get a power reel too.

something doesnt sound right mate..i work similar hours to you and very rarely get any aches and pains at all,the only trouble ive had is a lower back strain which has healed now(and that was lifting too heavy on a deadlift in the gym a few months ago),a 25ft xtreme pole will help,much lighter and more rigid than the SLX and a fixed electric reel without a doubt.....

[nathankaye]

I hate the 40's lol.  Personally i think your health takes a nose dive at 35 and without your consent lol.
Up till that age, I could eat whatever i wanted and without worry of weight gain and now ive cut right back and mostly on a diary free diet (not classing myself as a vegan s true vegans seem to be nuts lol)
I also never got ill for longer than 24 hrs and now colds etc take 48 hrs and sometimes longer to shake off.
Sleep, well I think ive said before how little sleep I usually get but I feel in this last week, all the years lack of sleep has caught up with me.  Im shattered going back to work this week 
But then, it could just be the stress levels of non work related stuff

personally ive loved my 40s up to now......lots of luxury holidays that once i could only  dream of,financially stable,we got the band back together,i met my current girlfriend when i was 41,new van,grippa hot system,new golf GTD and i earn more money now than i ever have cleaning windows and short hours to boot,i took up bodybuilding again when i was 44(4 years ago),ive now finally got my dream drum kit and cymbals(which will last me the rest of my life now!).......

i can honestly say its been the best decade of my adult life,its been a blast........

Yes but we're talking health and work daz and all im saying is that for me, i noticed a change from 35 onwards as regards my own health.
Yet in comparison
By time i was 25 I owned my own house, happily married with a car a piece and 2 holidays a year plus many short breaks.
By 33, divorced and taken to the cleaners and had to rebuild myself again. Naturally back to gym etc etc and pick up the pieces and try best with 3 young ish kids to balance emotionally.
By 36, remarried to a great woman and had another family. Forward to now and the business etc is great, my health isnt too bad apart from what mentioned and things are good apart from wifes health and my other daughter suffers from borderline personality disorder and other mental health issues.
So on one hand my 40's is great, business wise and happily married etc etc but on the other hand my 40's is a whole lot of hard work n stress etc lol
But who doesnt have additional problems eh

[nathankaye]

I hate the 40's lol.  Personally i think your health takes a nose dive at 35 and without your consent lol.
Up till that age, I could eat whatever i wanted and without worry of weight gain and now ive cut right back and mostly on a diary free diet

That's a new one on me and it sounds easy enough.
Do you just give up dates then?

I was meant to add, that the weight seems to stick regardless of how much i cut back.

[dazmond]

I hate the 40's lol.  Personally i think your health takes a nose dive at 35 and without your consent lol.
Up till that age, I could eat whatever i wanted and without worry of weight gain and now ive cut right back and mostly on a diary free diet

That's a new one on me and it sounds easy enough.
Do you just give up dates then?

I was meant to add, that the weight seems to stick regardless of how much i cut back.

you need to do some strength training nathan.....if you build more muscle you ll be able to eat more without becoming a fat knacker......basically you ll burn more calories at rest(BMR)

[Don Kee]

I hate the 40's lol.  Personally i think your health takes a nose dive at 35 and without your consent lol.
Up till that age, I could eat whatever i wanted and without worry of weight gain and now ive cut right back and mostly on a diary free diet

That's a new one on me and it sounds easy enough.
Do you just give up dates then?

I was meant to add, that the weight seems to stick regardless of how much i cut back.

I think Griff was playing on the fact you typed “diary” instead of “dairy”, big fella.

[Phil J]

I'm 55 and only clean bungalows

[nathankaye]

I hate the 40's lol.  Personally i think your health takes a nose dive at 35 and without your consent lol.
Up till that age, I could eat whatever i wanted and without worry of weight gain and now ive cut right back and mostly on a diary free diet

That's a new one on me and it sounds easy enough.
Do you just give up dates then?

I was meant to add, that the weight seems to stick regardless of how much i cut back.

I think Griff was playing on the fact your typed “diary” instead of “dairy”, big fella.

Ahhh, i knew there was a pun in there, just didnt connect it....  

[bravo20]

I’m 51 and relatively fit, I play 5 a side football one night a week. In the past I’ve had a rotator cuff issue and tennis elbow. I used to have quite a big round with 4 employees but over the last  4 years or so have sold off a lot of work and kept the cream to myself.  I got a new van in July and didn’t even bother putting a roof rack on it, the few jobs that required a ladder to get onto a flat roof got passed on to another window cleaner.  I don’t clear gutters or wash fascias anymore  either, I much prefer the regular window cleaning, which I find easy in comparison.

What treatment did you have for the rotator cuff and tennis elbow?  I've got a second appointment  at MSK clinic today for shoulder, physio doesn't seem to have helped over last few weeks.

A decent Physiotherapist should be able to recommend the best stretching exercises for them, also the NHS website has stretching instructions for both. You should also look at how you work, for instance, how you hold the pole when scrubbing. If you’re like me and you have the right hand near the base of the pole, the left hand should be alternated throughout the day so you see  the day so sometimes your knuckles should be showing and at other times it should be your finger nails showing, doing this uses all the  muscles around the rotator cuff so there is less chance of RSI. For tennis elbow I found the two best exercise were 1, stretching your arm out with your knuckles showing ( as if to say stop ) then with the other hand pull your hand back and forward slowly from the base of the fingers (  not the point of the fingers ) 2, stretching your arm out but this time point your hand downwards, place your other hand between wrist and knuckles and press your hand slowly back and forward. Hope this makes sense...it does to me🤪

Thanks, yes makes sense.
Already doing some of the exercises mentioned. Has helped slightly but pain still wakes me up through the night.
Outcome of today's appointment  was referred for steroid injection,  problem is they can't fit me in before I go on holiday next Thursday.  Hopefully  some rest and sunshine may  help ☀️

[RPCCS]

Can relate to all the comments, I will be 53 this year and for last 4 years I have wound window cleaning hard going. Especially during the winter, the aches start at back of my neck, shoulders,wrists, lower back, knees, ankles,feet. I do a handful of gutter jobs in winter and find the ladder work tough now, even 10 years ago, I was still fit. This is why in late 2018 I started the carpet cleaning business  to try and get out of the window cleaning.

What hours are u doing day to day window cleaning?
What pole are u using?
Do u use a fixed electric reel with microbore hose?
Do u rinse on the glass for upper windows?

If your already using xtreme poles,electric reels and working short days,do u think u might be suffering from arthritis?

It probably is Daz, I have a large boney lump at the base of each thumb. Working hours are generally 9am  start, coffee break 10/10.15 for 15 mins, 30 min lunch break 12-12.30, finish about 3/3.30 this time of year. 4/4.30 the rest of the year . Using Gardiners SLX 25 with superlite  xtreme brush, but manual wind  up metal reel. I have been considering  a power reel, I am due to get an inheritance this year sometime so will be getting a much newer van too, as this one is sh#$, so will maybe get a power reel too.

something doesnt sound right mate..i work similar hours to you and very rarely get any aches and pains at all,the only trouble ive had is a lower back strain which has healed now(and that was lifting too heavy on a deadlift in the gym a few months ago),a 25ft xtreme pole will help,much lighter and more rigid than the SLX and a fixed electric reel without a doubt.....

I have had several injuries over the years though Daz, fractured my heel in 3 places, broke my wrist in 2 places, and finally broken ankle and 3 fractured verterbrae.  Last year I had osteopathy on my neck, about 5 sessions and it sorted the problem totally. I still get the odd ache on my neck but it doesn't linger.

[Jay Le Huray]

I'm 66 now and started to notice the slow down effect a year ago when I reached 65, I now only do about 60% of what I used to do

Did it coincide with you reaching retirement age by any chance?

not at all, it just happened at that age

[Owenhargreavesmidf]

I recommend you get invest in a reach and wash system as it is a lot more lighter work then carrying ladders all day

[RPCCS]

I recommend you get invest in a reach and wash system as it is a lot more lighter work then carrying ladders all day

Who?  I already have it.

[Mr.G]

Hi, I'm 58 and definitely feeling my age over the last couple of years
various back and shoulder aches after a hard days work particularly after using the pole horizontally.
Maybe the CLX 27 is too heavy for this kind of work..

  Quote from RCPPS

  I have a large boney lump at the base of each thumb.

I recently developed these too,  my hands don't hurt working, but when I wake up in the morning???
Have taken to wearing padded gloves to protect the boney lumps!

[RPCCS]

Hi, I'm 58 and definitely feeling my age over the last couple of years
various back and shoulder aches after a hard days work particularly after using the pole horizontally.
Maybe the CLX 27 is too heavy for this kind of work..

  Quote from color=red]RCPPS[/color]. RPCCS actually


  I have a large boney lump at the base of each thumb.

I recently developed these too,  my hands don't hurt working, but when I wake up in the morning???
Have taken to wearing padded gloves to protect the boney lumps!

[Mr.G]

RPCCS actually!

sorry, it's senility setting in!