Carpal Tunnel problem...

[demsducks]

If your fingers/hand/wrist goes numb, then you've got carpal tunnel and more than like might need surgery to fix it. If you're just experiencing excrutiating pain in your wrist (which I do), then you've got tendonitis. I have to wear a wrist brace (splint) to keep my wrist from bending and also keep me from grasping things to hard. If you are online a lot and chatting, then you can definitely get this. . .whether young or old.

 

[racer2438]

My b/f has this also. He incurred it through his work. But he did not want to lose time from work that he let it go to long.

In the end hhis symtoms grew to incl the elbows called "cubital tunnel"

It fianlly got so bad he could not take any longer and had to switch jobs.

But new job made it worse and he also injured his shoulders.

So the he had surgeries .
1. bilateral carpul-wrists
2. bilateral cubital-elbows
3. bilateral shoulders
4. left cubital 1 more time
5.left shoulder 1 more time
8 --surgeries in all.

most on right helped, but left did not come out so good.

His doctors have told him he had the worse carpul/cubital tunnel syndrom they had ever seen.

Now he has lost 80% of strength in arms and cant raise shoulders over head, or hold things up long.

He now wishes he would have gone in when symtoms were early.

So now he preaches to all he see's in wrist braces. To be careful and go in early.

In the end he lost his job he loved so much, Had to sell his bussines and was declared disabled by SSI.

But I told him he at least didnt lose all his strength, he can still jack me and himself off---(lol)

 

[demsducks]

^ Yes, you can find wrist braces in drug stores. I bought one for each wrist at my local hometown drug store.

 

[demsducks]

Here's a picture of what my wrist braces look like. . .just to help you figure out what you're looking for.

 

[accorn]

well buddy check to see if compression helps...carpal tunnal is a tricky...it is usually is a result of repetitive use or motion.

1) try getting a gel insert to place between your wrist and your laptop
2) wrist brace helps depending on the pain
3)change typing positions often
4)exercise your wrist more

Where is the pain exactly? iis it an achy deal or numbing?

(im not an expert but i do manage several physical rehab centers LOL).

 

[G-Lexington]

Four things to try.

1. Try positioning the computer or your body differently.
2. The wrist braces.
3. External keyboard.
4. I found by switching my keyboard to Dvorak layout, I can type a lot more with a lot less fatigue. You WILL, however, have to learn to type all over again. Only took me about two weeks for me to memorize the keys and regain all my speed.

Lex

 

[KaraBulut]

All the suggestions are good preventive measures for carpal tunnel.

Before you do anything, make an appointment with a rehabilitation/sports medicine specialist for an evaluation and a diagnosis. These are physicians who are trained to evaluate these types of conditions. If you need a brace, they will refer you to a orthotics technician for a proper fitting. They may also refer you to a physical therapist.

 

[cisco_teen]

I agree with ^

Every patient is unique, so stories of multiple surgeries and specific complications regarding a patient may not apply to everyone.

A sports medicine specialist or an orthopedist would be your best bet, and im leaning towards orthopedist. They can order imaging studies (x-rays, and probably MRI for the musculature) if warranted and then reccomend the best treatment option for you.

As for right now, a lot of people above had great ideas, like bracers and external, ergonomic keyboards. The best place for you to be typing is probably not in your lap, however.

this website has a good article on proper posture for typing.

 

[Syn]

I've had problems with my arms/wrists/hands in the past.

I used to be a professional classical pianist and throughout most of my college education I suffered from not only tremendous back pain, but also nerve pinching in my elbow. The nerve was called the ulnar nerve and it made my pinky, ring-finger, and middle finger numb whenever the nerve was pinched.

My ex-roommate at the time told me I need to get a brace or get it wrapped. I also usually sleep on my arm so it's also pinched at that time but I never thought that playing the piano would cause this to happen but I guess practicing so much caused all of this.

Apparently it's called Cubital Tunnel Syndrome (http://www.eatonhand.com/hw/hw007.htm)

Luckily, I'm not involved too heavily in practicing all the time anymore so the symptoms have not come back.