Allergic To Mechanic Work??

[Big T]

While working on my '99 Burb, I had an old sheet of plywood under it. I was on my back working and felt a stinging sensation on the back of my left shoulder. Thought maybe ants biting, but saw none. Didn't think much of it and continued working.

Fast forward and I got a rash or burn the size of my Palm back there. I also got a rash on the outer half of my forearm. I'm thinking two things: 1) used purple degreaser and brushes to clean the frame crossmember under the engine, 2) drained coolant when I pulled the coolant temp sender from the DS head. Whichever, I got a nasty burn. Skin pulled of and it's oozing.

 

[btfarm]

Purple degreaser, as in Super Clean? That's likely it

 

[3500GMC]

Yeah that stuff is acid, better keep an eye on it

 

[Will L.]

Dont be bashfaul about seeing a dr. Search brown recluse spider bites. I got bit by one and barely felt anything. Only because my boss saw it crawling on me, he made me go to the dr as an on the job injury. If I didnt go, doc said I could have lost part of my leg/foot.

Not saying you got bit- 99.99% degreaser is your problem. But get into a dr. While it is a small problem, do not wait until it gets any worse.

 

[Big T]

My sister is a full RN with master's degree. She came and looked at it and thought it was an allergic reaction. You can see a line on my forearm where it got wet and everything below that is rashly and scabbing up. The back the skin just peeled off.

She gave me silicone bandages left from when she was dealing with radiation burns for double breast cancer treatment, plus antibiotic ointments. I'm on business travel in the AM through Thursday. It should be fine.

My bigger issue is the diagnosis I got Friday from an MRI on my right amkle: complete tear of the Peroneal Brevius tendon plus developing arthritis in the joint. Arthro surgery and scoping of the joint. 6 weeks on crutches, 6 months recovery. This injury is......18 years old. Last of 4 major sprains playing tennis. Back then they just x-rayed it and sent you off with a prescription for ice. I'll scheduled surgery for mid November. He said I was ok to fly fish. Wouldn't screw it up anymore than I have.

 

[3500GMC]

Sounds like my left ankle. One bad step and I'm on my face. Old injury.

My ol dad used to say, 'first hundred years is the hardest'

 

[Will L.]

Hang in there. Yeah, I'd say she counts as having it checked out.

First 100 years is the hardest!! Ha, thats great!

My dad would say "It's hell gettin old, but it beats the alternative"

 

[Big T]

Hang in there. Yeah, I'd say she counts as having it checked out.

First 100 years is the hardest!! Ha, thats great!

My dad would say "It's hell gettin old, but it beats the alternative"

I have a real high pain tolerance. I had been to orthos before and they simply took x-rays and sent me on my way with prescription for ice.

In the last year, it became even more chronic, what with schlepping luggage through airports. Finally, with the long summer days I had time in the evenings to talk the dogs on long (5 mile) walks on the horse trails in the neighborhood. Goal was to lose some weight (I did) and treat the dogs. But had two separate incidents where I felt a pop as if the tendon were sliding across the knob. It was chronically puffy and stinging in the joint. Ice helped. Went into to see a specialist. He looked at the x-ray and drew two not so parallel lines on the upper and lower portions of the joint and said "see that, they should be parallel. You got some arthritis developing here where cartilage is wearing due to the bad alignment and overall instability. We need an MRI to assess the ligament damage and course of action." Well damn, the pics don't lie. MRI comes back saying complete tear. Now I sit hear focused on the dull ache and wonder why all those years, but the other docs said nothing they could do. It wasn't as if I had bad insurance. Hell I got CIGNA PPO.