There must be somebody in the house with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome!

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No Lifer
Sep 29, 2000
70,150
5
0
I'm 22, working on computers all day and when at home...I don't have it now but I went to see a doctor and she said I have tendenitis. Currently the pain levels are very minimal and I have full functionality of my hands/wrists, etc. It doesn't affect my everyday life or weight lifting. I use the little under-wrist things you can buy as well.

However I'm concerned it could get worse even though I'm doing what I can to help it. I bought a wrist brace to wear when I sleep and maybe this works...

Has anyone here had this? I'm trying to learn about it very very early because I cannot afford to have any major problems with my wrists in the future. What I'd really like is for these wrist braces to fix my problem up if I wear them religiously every night - is that likely to work?

Are there excercises or something I can do? I was thinking of going to an occupational therapist but my health insurance doesnt' kick in for 10 weeks...

 

StageLeft

No Lifer
Sep 29, 2000
70,150
5
0
I've read that - i'm really looking for comments from people who have gone through this, like what they did and what ended up happening...:)
 

Fathom5

Senior member
Nov 3, 2000
361
0
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Try an ergonomic keyboard. My hands used to go numb until I got a Microsoft Natural Keyboard several years ago. They're a pain in the ass to type on but the numbness in my hands went away. As soon as I go back to a regular keyboard my hands and wrists will start to flare up again with 5-10 minutes. Like now.

Good luck.
 

Ornery

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
20,022
17
81
A guy I work with had a few fingers on his left hand start to go numb. It was carpal tunnel. He had surgery on Friday last week and was back to work on Wednesday. Since he's right handed that wasn't a problem.

Another guy had surgery on both hands. The surgeon told him the left was worse than the right, and he's right handed too. If I were you I'd study all the info I could get my hands on. It's a strange affliction when you think about it. If you look at a group of 50 people, all doing the exact same typing task day in and day out, you'll see only a few get the carpal tunnel. Why is that? What are they doing wrong? What do the others do right?

This may be a clue. I've noticed once in a while after I've been on the phone for around 20 minutes that my forearm gets cramped. Is that the fault of the phone? I don't think so! Many people spend hours on the phone with no trouble at all. Seems I have to work on something that I'm doing wrong there. Perhaps you should look at the way you type. Just a guess.
 

Tripleshot

Elite Member
Jan 29, 2000
7,218
1
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I had carpel tunnel in my right hand from being an over the road truck driver. I got some cortizone shots in the wrist and steroids and wore the brace for as long as the doctor told me,and now everythings ok(knock on wood)

Just do as the doctor tells you,thats my advice. They know more than you or I on how it should be handled. Thats why they get the BIG bucks! ;)
 

perry

Diamond Member
Apr 7, 2000
4,018
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I have tendonitis in my right hand, my mouse hand. Doc gave me Celebrex to help with the inflamation, and a neoprene-held-on-with-velcro wrist guard to wear when I'm at the computer. Kinda bulky, but I've gotten used to it.

I slacked off when the pain went away and didn't wear the wrist guard. Pain came back within a month. Back on the wrist guard, and back on the medicine. You really shouldn't drink when on this medicine though, it supposedly messes with your liver and I figure that can't be good when combined with alcohol. How do I get around that? Limit my medicine intake ;)

MS Ergonomic keyboard helped me quite a bit. And I found that my mouse pad w/ wrist guard made the pain worse so I just keep my intellimouse on the desk now.