Technology and Snow

Similar to many in Pittsburgh, I have been struggling with snow removal for the past five days. With one crude tool, a shovel, I have tackled the weight of hundreds of pounds of snow. Compared to ideas, technology and the internet, snow is much tougher to deal with. I feel traumatized. Experiencing a big snow storm is humbling. We are fragile little people up against a powerful force of nature.

In terms of medical informatics, this would be a great time to look up all manner of medical advice on the internet.

It's a wonder we shovel at all:

http://www.usnews.com/health/family-health/heart/articles/2010/02/11/fitness-a-factor-in-snow-shoveling-injuries.html

http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/02/10/snow.shoveling.back.heart/

http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00060

Let's start with my ...

Neck:

http://www.emedicinehealth.com/neck_strain/article_em.htm

I feel as if I have sprained by neck muscles with the effort of hoisting a fully-laden shovel repeatedly over my head as I attempt to toss the snow over my chain-link fence.

Shoulders:

http://www.shoulder-pain-management.com/shoulderdislocation.html

Perhaps a person can partially dislocate their shoulders through the constant motion of shoveling for five days.

Upper arms:

http://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/sma/sma_bicepten_sma.htm
or
http://www.wellsphere.com/wellpage/bicep-weakness

After shoveling for many hours, over the course of many days in a row, my arms are sore and weak. Last night, at a certain point, I was unable to lift my arms high enough to throw snow over our fence.

Wrists:

http://orthopedics.about.com/od/handwrist/a/wristpain.htm

Both of my wrists feel swollen and painful in the joint area. I have a great technique for cracking them, by wrapping my opposite hand around the wrist in question and squeezing. Usually, my left wrist does not pop but over the last few days, it does.

Back:

http://www.spineuniverse.com/wellness/ergonomics/tips-snow-shoveling-how-avoid-back-pain

I feel like a have a chronic pull in my back muscles and my stomach is sore from tightening it as I shoveled.

Ankles:

http://www.medicinenet.com/ankle_pain_and_tendinitis/article.htm

I have the sensation that my ankles are about to give way as I have had to lift up on my toes carrying 15-25 or more pounds on the shovel with each scoop.

Amazingly, even under these conditions and sensations, many of us are able to make progress and improve our situations. This must be true for other forms of progress...one step at a time, one shovelful at a time. Work to exhaustion, sleep and work again. Increase efficiency, problem solve and take action. The snow storm has been a mighty life lesson. Dig or Die. Well, not quite that dramatic since I can stop any time I want, go back in the house and re-enter all the comforts of modern technology and home sweet home!