Hi all,
I've been a member for a little while now, but I've mainly been an active reader than poster due to my disabilities. I just thought it was about time I should introduce myself and to see if there are any other reefers in similar situations who might have tips to make tasks easier.
Firstly my name is Shane and I'm from Melbourne, Australia. I'm a software developer for a fuel cell company, but have had a large role in designing and developing an RO/DI system that we've produced in relatively high volumes. I developed carpal tunnel syndrome through my work and the release surgery went wrong. It turned into something called Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS). I lost most use of my right hand and soon developed carpal tunnel in my left hand too. Surgery wasn't an option on the left (CRPS spreads to other areas of the body, so the risk was too high). I tried many medications without success, so last resort was a spinal cord stimulator. The trial surgery for this was initially successful, however while waiting for the final implant I developed and infection in my spinal surgery wounds and had to have everything removed. My CRPS then quickly spread through my back. This ruled out further attempts. I now continue to work, but I'm mostly housebound and am down to 4 x 3hrs per day working for the same company.
So this is where I am left a few years after this. My hands aren't great. I have some use of my right hand after we found a medication which gave some relief. I need to take breaks when using the magnetic glass cleaners. My back is worse than my hands. Bending is not good, so working in the sumps is torture. Water changes I don't look forward to as carrying heavy buckets and bending is torture. I want to setup a mixing station + RO/DI and hard plumb it to the rooms where my tanks are (I have two 40gal cubes).
Does anyone have any tips on making tank maintenance easier?
Shane
I've been a member for a little while now, but I've mainly been an active reader than poster due to my disabilities. I just thought it was about time I should introduce myself and to see if there are any other reefers in similar situations who might have tips to make tasks easier.
Firstly my name is Shane and I'm from Melbourne, Australia. I'm a software developer for a fuel cell company, but have had a large role in designing and developing an RO/DI system that we've produced in relatively high volumes. I developed carpal tunnel syndrome through my work and the release surgery went wrong. It turned into something called Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS). I lost most use of my right hand and soon developed carpal tunnel in my left hand too. Surgery wasn't an option on the left (CRPS spreads to other areas of the body, so the risk was too high). I tried many medications without success, so last resort was a spinal cord stimulator. The trial surgery for this was initially successful, however while waiting for the final implant I developed and infection in my spinal surgery wounds and had to have everything removed. My CRPS then quickly spread through my back. This ruled out further attempts. I now continue to work, but I'm mostly housebound and am down to 4 x 3hrs per day working for the same company.
So this is where I am left a few years after this. My hands aren't great. I have some use of my right hand after we found a medication which gave some relief. I need to take breaks when using the magnetic glass cleaners. My back is worse than my hands. Bending is not good, so working in the sumps is torture. Water changes I don't look forward to as carrying heavy buckets and bending is torture. I want to setup a mixing station + RO/DI and hard plumb it to the rooms where my tanks are (I have two 40gal cubes).
Does anyone have any tips on making tank maintenance easier?
Shane
