Using a large camera when you have joint pain?

Samsung Galaxy S21, S21+, S21 Ultra

04/10/2016 01:17:51 AM · #1

Hey everyone! Been a long time since I've posted here.

For the first time in years, I have a photography job. The first few weeks were pure bliss. I was so excited and thankful. My wrists started hurting, first the right, then the left. So I got a wrist brace and made sure to support the camera better. Started doing wrist exercises, and it seemed to be improving.

Then a few days ago, massive throbbing started in the fingers on both hands and I noticed nodes had formed on some of my finger joints. I panicked.

Saw a general doctor, and seeing a specialist soon I hope.

But regardless, I obviously need a solution because I'm scared I won't be able to do my job any more. I'm young too! This is nuts. Are there certain straps or gloves or anything you guys can recommend? I don't think I'd be able to use a smaller camera or lens as my company is rather particular about the equipment used.

A monopod was suggested but that won't work. I'm walking around a pool taking photos all over the place, some laying on the ground. Some with half my body in the water.

Thanks everyone!

Bear_Music

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

04/10/2016 11:07:39 AM · #2

"Nodes on the finger joints" sounds arthritic to me, Heberden's and Bouchard's nodes. Read up on "early osteoarthritis" and talk to your doctor. I do have nodes like that myself, one in particular that comes and goes. It has improved significantly since I went to an anti-inflammatory, paleo-type diet.

Tiberius

Samsung Galaxy S22, S22+, S22 Ultra

Panasonic Lumix G 14mm F2.5 ASPH

04/10/2016 07:08:34 PM · #3

Good to see you back and sad to hear that you have problems :(

I hope is nothing serious. I also experienced pain in wrist when I had to shoot for hours. I had couple of occasions when I had to shoot products in hotel rooms with portable sets ups. Extremely boring and labour intensive. However the pain mainly occurred at the beginning then vanished by itself. I do though often exercise and do push ups on regular basis.

Check with your doctor and let us know as well.

Be well,

Tibi

Edit: I shot Canon 6D with 24-105 and macro 100 with macro flash up to 3000 pics per session.

Take care

Message edited by author 2016-04-10 19:14:24.

Neil

Fujifilm X-T30

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

04/10/2016 11:12:57 PM · #4

Hi Monica! Good to hear from you!

What camera do they have you shooting with? A full frame camera? What lens(es). It seems to me you might need to convince them you need a lighter, if not smaller kit!

And if you can shoot with primes, that will really help keep weight down.

The mirrorless cameras are great...the Fuji X-T1 is very light, has wonderful glass, and great primes. The X-T10 produces the same picture quality from the same sensor (just not weatherproof and missing some dials), and is 20% lighter still. It's basically a professional level camera and relatively economical to going with the FF Sony's. A 90mm f/2 lens (135mm) weighs in a 540 gms, and the X-T1 is 440. Shorter lenses are lighter still. (The X-T1 is all metal...the X-T10 saves some weight because I think it uses more plastic.)

Of course, you can likewise get primes for your Canon (assuming they have you shooting that) and I bet that will be much lighter. You may have to carry more around in a pack, but it won't be weighing on your wrists.

I hope it works out for you!

Neil

Fujifilm X-T30

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

04/10/2016 11:17:50 PM · #5

Another option if you can't go lighter:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_ES9ETJclE

04/11/2016 08:19:40 AM · #6

Thanks everyone.

Unfortunately as I said, changing equipment is probably not an option. I shoot with a Canon 5d or 6d with various versions of the 70-200 L. Some with stabilizers and some not. They generally remember to give me the lightest of the options but there isn't a huge difference.

I go back in today after taking some time off and they might allow me to use a lighter lens, but it would be severely limiting and could effect my shoots and sales. I photograph kids around a pool and I mean all over. In the pool myself, in the kiddie pool. It's a rather large area with rocks and sand and all kinds of stuff, so I can't have a kit to worry about, and definitely wouldn't want to change lenses mid shoot with all of those elements.

I bought some arthritis support gloves. (These)

And in May I'm going to drop down to 4 days a week instead of 5 to give myself more rest. Also my mom is a massage therapist and works at a chiropractor's office and one of the doctors there said she'd do acupuncture on me for free.

So I guess I'm hitting this from a lot of different angles trying to get the best of it.

04/11/2016 08:22:54 AM · #7

Originally posted by Neil:

Another option if you can't go lighter:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_ES9ETJclE

Oh man! That actually might be a solution. It would certainly get me a lot of attention at the pool! lol.

The only thing is I have to lay down on the ground for some of the main shots. And be up to my waist in water sometimes.

Message edited by author 2016-04-11 08:24:56.

Samsung Galaxy S21, S21+, S21 Ultra

04/11/2016 08:23:23 AM · #8

Does anyone know if those smaller straps around the hand help? Or would that just agitate it more?

Bear_Music

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

04/11/2016 11:21:05 AM · #9

Originally posted by escapetooz:

Originally posted by Neil:
Another option if you can't go lighter:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_ES9ETJclE

Oh man! That actually might be a solution. It would certainly get me a lot of attention at the pool! lol.

The only thing is I have to lay down on the ground for some of the main shots. And be up to my waist in water sometimes.

I doubt waist-high fresh pool water would be too hard on that rig, actually. Salt water, I'd worry about.
And I've used the smaller wrist strap from Cotton Carrier and it worked quite well for me. I used it with the 5D2, haven't needed it with the much smaller Sony a7...

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

04/11/2016 11:32:11 AM · #10

Here is one example of a support harness which allows all of the weight to be transferred from your arms to your torso. While these are usually associated with videography I don't see why they wouldn't work with a still camera.

I think nodules developing at the affected joints is more suggestive of a rheumatoid or other auto-immune type of arthritis than ordinary osteoarthritis, which is inflammation due to loss/wearing away of cartilage.

mariuca

Fujifilm X-T30

Fujifilm XF 18-55mm f/2.8-4 OIS

04/11/2016 11:49:38 AM · #11

Originally posted by escapetooz:

Does anyone know if those smaller straps around the hand help? Or would that just agitate it more?

The braces help. The doctor might recommend a different type though. You might have a combination of carpal tunnel syndrome and osteoarthritis. Overuse obviously.
Acupuncture helps a lot but you have to stop overusing the wrists and fingers. Go get a firm diagnostic and start from there.

For the same reasons I switched cameras and was not even using it as much as you do.

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

04/11/2016 11:58:54 AM · #12

Originally posted by mariuca:

Originally posted by escapetooz:
Does anyone know if those smaller straps around the hand help? Or would that just agitate it more?

The braces help. The doctor might recommend a different type though. You might have a combination of carpal tunnel syndrome and osteoarthritis. Overuse obviously.

If it is carpal tunnel syndrome my chiropractor has developed an inexpensive therapeutic device which can help: Wrist Release Glove

aliqui

Nikon D300s

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II

04/11/2016 02:10:39 PM · #13

Originally posted by GeneralE:

Originally posted by mariuca:

Originally posted by escapetooz:
Does anyone know if those smaller straps around the hand help? Or would that just agitate it more?

The braces help. The doctor might recommend a different type though. You might have a combination of carpal tunnel syndrome and osteoarthritis. Overuse obviously.

If it is carpal tunnel syndrome my chiropractor has developed an inexpensive therapeutic device which can help: Wrist Release Glove

That makes my hands happy just looking at it.

Mike

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2.8 Di VC USD Canon Mount

04/11/2016 04:17:14 PM · #14

try a monopod, at least you wont be supporting the weight of the camera with your hands and you can grab the shaft to carry as well instead of relying on the camera grip.

Originally posted by escapetooz:

Does anyone know if those smaller straps around the hand help? Or would that just agitate it more?

when i used one it actually made my hand hurt and it normally doesnt, especially the thumb.

Message edited by author 2016-04-11 16:20:17.

04/11/2016 09:58:35 PM · #15

Originally posted by Mike:

try a monopod, at least you wont be supporting the weight of the camera with your hands and you can grab the shaft to carry as well instead of relying on the camera grip.

Originally posted by escapetooz:
Does anyone know if those smaller straps around the hand help? Or would that just agitate it more?

when i used one it actually made my hand hurt and it normally doesnt, especially the thumb.

Monopod is not an option because of how mobile I need to be and in and out of water.

About the hand strap, that was kind of my guess.

04/11/2016 10:01:00 PM · #16

Originally posted by GeneralE:

I have a wrist brace already and just bought arthritis gloves but I meant camera hand strap. ;)

As for the wrist release... it just makes you sit with your fingers spread out basically?