Oh I definitely have carpal tunnel symptoms from being on bar. Making sure your pumps are getting regularly and thoroughly cleaned should help some with the stubborn pumps. “Barista stretches” and trying to not spend too long on bar help too, but I know that not always possible.

For me it’s the thousands of extra extra caramel drinks over the 13 years I’ve been a partner. Definitely have caramel tunnel from that.

I used to take Aleve before *every* shift because my joints hurt so bad at work. To be fair, I had preexisting issues, but being on bar 40 hours/week made it dramatically worse. Wrists and shoulders from reaching to pump syrup, hips and knees from standing all day.

* If you can * take b6 it helps my wrists and hand tremendously! Only take one every couple of days.

Yes! My wrists have been hurting a lot lately. It’s kinda scary. I’ve been looking for other jobs. Screwing my body over for pennies rn. I don’t like it.

I try to stretch as much as possible while on bar. I also use my whole arm to pump and not just my wrist. If that makes any sense.

You should get a wrist brace when working

This comes up for me when holiday season lines up with finals. Lots of writing and lots of bar with those goddamn holiday sauces.

If you're stuck on bar a lot, maybe try asking your shift to switch to something else after an hour or two. I like to use the transition back from my break as an opportunity to ask to change things up.

i like the burn

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Every part of my hands hurts at this point.

Hahaha. Syrup pumps? Have any of you used a la marzocco at Starbucks? Busting out drinks for 30-45 customers per half hour. We didn’t just press a button and get a double shot of espresso.

keeping your wrist straight while pumping helps me a lot

I use two hands.

Oh my god yes I’m mainly on bar and my wrist was hurting so freaking bad for like 2 weeks. I legit cried one day lol

I have carpal tunes from changing coffees and the TWM pumps, and the smoked butterscotch pump, and the base pump and the sticky bottles and so much of sbux

Yup. I've had to wear a wrist brace some times and I bought this roll on gel, Asystem, to help with the pain.

How do you push the pumps? I used to have problems as well. I push from above for harder pumps like white mocha. For other pumps I push with the lower palm of my hand for vanilla and such

oh for sure, not so much with the holiday syrups but honestly the white mocha takes me out the most 😭 i just do some stretches before i’m put on bar, like extending my wrist