Got any Carpal tunnel tips??

tengraceapples · Feb 8, 2012

Hey!

So after taking a break,im back to writing and my hands hurt. Ive only been writing 2 hrs or so. But after im done with research, i will dive into 6-8 hrs writing sessions. Any Carpal Tunnel tips would be great: )

thx

strawberryblondie · Feb 8, 2012

Hand massage is an amazing thing. Wrist stretches are great too. And although I don't use one, I've heard good things about ergonomic keyboards.

tengraceapples · Feb 8, 2012

cryaegm · Feb 9, 2012

I just take breaks and let my hand rest for a while. There's times where I regret writing for 10+ hours without taking a break. My hand will just throb nonstop and I can't really move it, let alone write.

I can type for hours without a problem. It's just when I write by hand that it my hand will start bothering me.

Shakesbear · Feb 9, 2012

I have a wrist support thingy which is wonderful. Also use a an ergonomic keyboard which is easy to use and does help. I also use an Ibuprofen cream which I rub in first thing in the morning and again in the evening. It really helps. I use one that is sold over the counter. I've also been told that touch typing helps because all the fingers are used instead of just one or two - I've always touch typed, so don't know if that is true. Posture and the right seat for you will minimise back/shoulder stress, as does having the screen at the right height and distance. Hope this helps.

)

Sage · Feb 9, 2012

Don't lay your elbows on the desk while you're writing. This sounds like it's unrelated, but my doctor says my carpal-like symptoms are really probably due to a nerve in my elbow.

I wear a bedtime wrist guard at night too, and it makes a huge difference. I've never been comfortable with the normal ones during the day.

Definitely stretch your wrists and fingers and take breaks

shaldna · Feb 9, 2012

I had CTS when I was pregnant, so I can totally sympathise. I don't really have any advice other than wrist supports.

randi.lee · Feb 9, 2012

strawberryblondie said:
And although I don't use one, I've heard good things about ergonomic keyboards.

I have an ergonomic keyboard and I wouldn't trade it for the world. The added wrist support took my writing-induced carpal issues from serious to almost non-existent.

I can't say its a magical cure-all for everyone, but it is for me... worth a shot, right?

tengraceapples · Feb 9, 2012

Thx guys!

Shakesbear, what's the name of OTC cream?

Lady MacBeth · Feb 9, 2012

I have the keyboard, the wrist brace, the chair and I take frequent breaks. Still, my carpal issues have grown worse over the years. Does anyone else have it in both wrists?

veinglory · Feb 9, 2012

Make sure you look at your ergonomics, have the best posture and keyboard, experiment with changing how you types and use the mouse etc. If it becomes a chronic condition there is no going back....

mickeyDs4 · Feb 9, 2012

Parafin wax treatments at least twice a week. My parents got me a kit for Christmas. I love it.

LLW · Feb 9, 2012

This is going to sound weirdly unrelated, but I swear it's true: I used to have way more problems with carpal tunnel, especially in my right hand. When I had to go on a gluten-free diet for an unrelated issue, the carpal tunnel symptoms improved quite a bit..... just throwing that out there... good luck, hope you find some relief!

mac3910 · Feb 9, 2012

Heat up any regular moisturizer in the microwave for a few seconds and use it for the hand massage. The heat is good for relaxing muscles and tendons.

KateSmash · Feb 9, 2012

In addition to all of the above - switch your keyboard every once in a while. For instant, I'll write on my desktop for a while, then switch to my laptop if I go any longer than 3 hours. The different sizes and motion are enough to head most of the pain off at the pass.

I also take weekends off to give my hands a good long rest and don't play video games (console, phone, whatever) on days I write for any substantial amount of time. Which is hard since my nerdy little life is pretty much just writing and games.

tengraceapples · Feb 10, 2012

Hey
Great tips guys. Lady, I have it in both Hans just like you
It sucks a little

wyndmaker · Feb 10, 2012

I just stretch, and use hot compresses on my hands, but they are not the problem so much as my knees. When I try to stand up after a couple of hours of typing my knees don't want to work at all. I just push the chair back and lift my legs every now and then to avoid that.

c.e.lawson · Feb 10, 2012

Wearing a wrist brace to bed might help. Especially if you're the type to sleep in a curled up fetal position with your wrists bent. The brace will keep your wrist in neutral all night, let it rest, and hopefully keep irritation/inflammation down to a minimum. (Only to be irritated again when you type all day the next day.

)

And yeah, ergonomics while typing are very important.

CrastersBabies · Feb 10, 2012

I second (or third) the hand massage.

Get a good wrist brace.

Ice after every long session.

Lady MacBeth · Feb 10, 2012

LLW said:
This is going to sound weirdly unrelated, but I swear it's true: I used to have way more problems with carpal tunnel, especially in my right hand. When I had to go on a gluten-free diet for an unrelated issue, the carpal tunnel symptoms improved quite a bit..... just throwing that out there... good luck, hope you find some relief!

I've heard a gluten-free diet can help with health problems. Interesting that it helps with carpal issues too.

Drachen Jager · Feb 10, 2012

Exercise. If you strengthen the muscles it takes a lot of the strain away from the wrist.

I do weights, but I know people who use gyro-balls and that's quite effective too. They start at about $25 and do a great job of keeping your wrist strong. It's hard to explain until you've tried it, but they're quite addictive too, lots of fun to play with when you're on a break.

http://www.powerballs.ca/

cornetto · Feb 10, 2012

Sage said:
Don't lay your elbows on the desk while you're writing. This sounds like it's unrelated, but my doctor says my carpal-like symptoms are really probably due to a nerve in my elbow.

I wear a bedtime wrist guard at night too, and it makes a huge difference. I've never been comfortable with the normal ones during the day.

Definitely stretch your wrists and fingers and take breaks

This ^^

My symptoms totally went away after my hysterectomy. I was taking 1200-1800 mg of ibuprofen a day for post-op pain and that cleared up the inflammation in my elbow and forearm.

The padded wrist rests always bothered me (I move my keyboard too much) so I bought a memory foam kitchen mat--they kind you stand on while washing dishes--and put that on my desk like a blotter. Pull it all the way to the front edge of the desk and your hands, wrists and arms are padded even if you rest them right on the desk's edge (one of my many bad habits). You can buy similar mats made for desks, but the floor mats are waaay cheaper. I got mine for $2 at Wally World after Christmas.

I also got some thicker memory foam and repadded the arm rests of my chair. It was the arm rest that screwed up my elbow.

cornetto · Feb 10, 2012

LLW said:
This is going to sound weirdly unrelated, but I swear it's true: I used to have way more problems with carpal tunnel, especially in my right hand. When I had to go on a gluten-free diet for an unrelated issue, the carpal tunnel symptoms improved quite a bit..... just throwing that out there... good luck, hope you find some relief!

If you are sensitive to gluten, it will not only irritate your gut (sometimes severely), it will also cause inflammation everywhere else, including joints, tendons, nerves and so on.

RemusShepherd · Feb 10, 2012

Everyone's given good advice. Let me add just a bit:

Your goal is to reduce inflamation. That means ice is better than heat when your wrists are hurting. Also, anything anti-inflammatory is potentially helpful. Different things help different people when it comes to inflammation. I like Omega-3 oils, but they don't help everyone.

I got rid of almost all my carpal tunnel pain by exercising with chinese medicine balls. They're usually cheaper than gyroballs and more fun to play with.

Personally, I prefer having my elbows supported by the table or armrest, but that's because my pain definitely comes from my wrist. As someone else mentioned, your pain could arise from the elbow. Make sure you know what part of your arm is the problem, because any ergonomic solution that fixes one part might stress the other. Best of luck!

Lady MacBeth · Feb 10, 2012

cornetto said:
If you are sensitive to gluten, it will not only irritate your gut (sometimes severely), it will also cause inflammation everywhere else, including joints, tendons, nerves and so on.

We need to start a new thread on gluten-free diets if there isn't one already.

Got any Carpal tunnel tips??

tengraceapples

strawberryblondie

tengraceapples

cryaegm

Snakecakes

Shakesbear

knows a hawk from a handsaw

Sage

Our Lady of Parentheticals

shaldna

The cake is a lie. But still cake.

randi.lee

Certified Non-Genius

tengraceapples

Lady MacBeth

Out, damn'd spot! out, I say.

veinglory

volitare nequeo

mickeyDs4

LLW

mac3910

Here, there, everywhere

KateSmash

this was a triumph

tengraceapples

wyndmaker

c.e.lawson

CrastersBabies

Burninator!

Lady MacBeth

Out, damn'd spot! out, I say.

Drachen Jager

Professor of applied misanthropy

cornetto

cornetto

RemusShepherd

Lady MacBeth

Out, damn'd spot! out, I say.