Carpal Tunnel....ideas?

[shrdlu]

Re: Carpal Tunnel....ideas?

So far its only when I sleep and really rarely when i'm mousing. (ha, is that a verb?) I know i tend to try and fold my wrists in when i'm sleeping (cuz face it, what do you do with your hands, they're in the way!) so i'm definitely taking that into consideration. Only- i notice that my left hand is much more tingly and that's the one i mouse with, hence the concern.

Speaking as someone who has paid consistent attention to work environments, I'm going to offer some serious advice. I'm sorry I can't drop by physically, because I'm quite sure I could offer advice on simple things that would help.

Look at the place where you work most. Are the edges of the desk/table where the computer is curved or sharp. 90 degree edges on anything you rest your wrists on are bad. If you can't do anything else, get a couple of mouse pads, and tape them over it. Those squishy gel-filled things that are meant to run the length of the keyboard are excellent. Buy two, and have them run the length of the desk.

Where is your mouse? Is it to the approximate left of the keyboard, at the same height, or do you reach up, forward, over, or any combination of those? You should not have to stretch your arm forward, or up, when you move your hand from the keyboard to the mouse. You might consider a trackball as well, although not everyone can get used to them. If the place where your keyboard sits is not wide enough to move the mouse, move the keyboard to where the mouse is.

Raise (or lower) your chair so that your hands comfortably rest, at a natural angle, with your arms able to rest on the arms of your chair. Don't have a chair with arms? Take one away from someone else who does.

Find a friend who plays the piano, and who has had piano lessons as a child. Get them to help you hold your hands properly above the keyboard, such that you are letting your fingers do the work, and not placing unnatural strain upon your wrists.

Is your keyboard elevated or flat? Those little feets are there for a reason. Use them.

I'll probably think of more once I've had more coffee. It's early yet (for me, anyway).

[lil_freak]

Re: Carpal Tunnel....ideas?

Then you get Carpal Thumb and can' t text anymore :-).

xor

If it goes into your finger(s)/thumb(s) then it's called trigger finger/thumb. And you can still text, it just really hurts. Also, if anyone gets trigger finger I found it's best to go ahead and get the A-1 pulley release surgery.

On a side note CTS and Trigger finger/thumb are related in a way, at least in how it affects a person and treatments that can be used.

[goathead]

Re: Carpal Tunnel....ideas?

After a long periods of work I too can feel the strain in the hands and wrists. Since my studio/office was built without ergonomic considerations, using the work surfaces around the room require that your arms are not at rest but instead are being actively elevated by your shoulders. It was nice to have someone craft a computer room's surfaces, but the design was poor for long sessions at a box station.

Although the discomfort isnt costant, I can clearly feel it's effects when playing guitar. After a half set of death metal tunes, I can begin feeling the burn. So I take regular breaks to abuse a stress ball, squeezy thing, that I got from a tradeshow. Stretching and massaging the hands/wrists really seems to help me manage the discomfort.

I figure that I will need my hands to communicate, work, and create... and diminished use is a terribly frightening prospect.

[enven]

Re: Carpal Tunnel....ideas?

Lately (past couple of weeks) I have been waking up at night and my primary mouse hand has been numb. This is starting to freak me out as I don't have any insurance.

I'm going to switch mouse hands, I have a beanbag wristrest and an ergonomic keyboard, and besides stretching, is there anything else anyone can think of do to? (Besides get a life and not be in front of keys all the time?) Are the wrist braces worth it?

I never used a wrist brace...But my carpel in my left hand is apparent, I also blame injuries due to skateboarding; all in all...The inevitable is that you'll have constant pains like this even with ergo keyboards...By any chance have you formed any bone spurs?

[0x58]

Re: Carpal Tunnel....ideas?

The thing that helps me from using the mouse in the wrong way is to sit in an kneeling chair. It is a chair that has no back, and instead has a place to rest your legs, so you that you always sit straight up. Sitting in such a way means that I can sit at my desk and have the mouse and keyboard "below" me in such a way that it is comfortable to use the mouse and keyboard. It also helps in that the correct posture means grabbing the mouse and using it is more natural.

This has helped me with numbness in my hands with extended periods of mouse usage.

[DJ Jackalope]

Re: Carpal Tunnel....ideas?

Is it generally around when you sleep?... it could be the way you sleep. I have experienced similar and have wondered the same, but also have considered it could be other factors like diet/hydration, or simply pinching a nerve the way I often lean on my arm/elbow while typing. I think I have ruled out circulation, as that tends to feel different.

So far its only when I sleep and really rarely when i'm mousing. (ha, is that a verb?) I know i tend to try and fold my wrists in when i'm sleeping (cuz face it, what do you do with your hands, they're in the way!) so i'm definitely taking that into consideration. Only- i notice that my left hand is much more tingly and that's the one i mouse with, hence the concern.

[xor]

Re: Carpal Tunnel....ideas?

At the office (and until recently at home) I use a trackball instead of a mouse. Trackballs can be a little tricky to get used to, but I haven't had any problems in quite some time.

Then you get Carpal Thumb and can' t text anymore :-).

xor

[jur1st]

Re: Carpal Tunnel....ideas?

At the office (and until recently at home) I use a trackball instead of a mouse. Trackballs can be a little tricky to get used to, but I haven't had any problems in quite some time.

[theprez98]

Re: Carpal Tunnel....ideas?

I had/have something called de Quervain’s tendonitis. I thought it had to do with computer usage, but it is more often attributed to the way you pick up and hold a baby (I have a 14 month old)! It's often called "Mom's Thumb" or "Baby wrist". One shot of cortisone cleared it up.

[lil_freak]

Re: Carpal Tunnel....ideas?

Is there actual wrist pain or just general numbness with CTS? My hand is pretty much tingling a bit some of the time.

Depending on the person you can have the following symptoms with CTS: frequent burning, tingling, itching feeling, and/or numbness.

Also, you could have a pinched or damaged nerve. If this is the case, depending on pinched or damaged nerve there's a lot of stuff that also helps relieve the problem. I would go into detail however it would take me a long time to try and type it all out right now.

[converge]

Re: Carpal Tunnel....ideas?

Is it generally around when you sleep?... it could be the way you sleep. I have experienced similar and have wondered the same, but also have considered it could be other factors like diet/hydration, or simply pinching a nerve the way I often lean on my arm/elbow while typing. I think I have ruled out circulation, as that tends to feel different.

[DJ Jackalope]

Re: Carpal Tunnel....ideas?

Is there actual wrist pain or just general numbness with CTS? My hand is pretty much tingling a bit some of the time.

And thank you guys for your suggestions, esp lil freak!

[Z^2]

Re: Carpal Tunnel....ideas?

I've been in wrist braces for a couple months now almost every day when I have to do work, otherwise I just fail a week's worth of material to give them a rest and hope for the best (the upside of being in school?). I just went to the doctor to ask if I should be doing anything else, and essentially what the GP and the specialist said is either wear wrist braces that look like this:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...nel_splint.jpg

and they have a metal reinforcement thing on the palm side. Or they do surgery where they cut at the ligament that rubs against the median nerve.

Though, if you are using wrist braces, you can get tendonitis in your thumbs too from being in an awkward position, and there are wrist splints that help with that too. ...I don't remember the name of them off the top of my head because I'm actually away for the weekend and the prescription that I got for them is on my desk at home, but I could tell you about it in a couple of days if you're interested.

[xor]

Re: Carpal Tunnel....ideas?

Find a friend and get them to massage your hands and wrist. Increase the resolution on your mouse and acceleration so you don't have to move it as much.

A Linux guru friend would what me to tell you to dump windows and the mouse and go with Linux running a window manger called Rat poison.

xor

[lil_freak]

Re: Carpal Tunnel....ideas?

Hey Jackalope, I have some stuff from when I had to do therapy for Carpal Tunnel. Would you like me to send it to you?

Also, you might want to try using a contrast bath to see if it helps. Contrast Baths help decrease swelling, decrease pain, and increase ease of movement (for most people). For a contrast bath do the following:
1. Use 2 bowls or a double sink.
2. Fill one side of the bowl or sink with warm water, then fill the other bowl or sink with cold water (do not add ice).
3. Alternate your hand and wrist area in the following pattern:
Warm water - 3min, Cold - 1min, Warm - 3min, Cold 1min, Warm - 3min, Cold - 1min, Warm - 3min. (You only do this seven times to reach a total of 13 minutes)