Pains in the wrists

[EvilMale 7]

I have been experiencing major and minor pains in my wrists as of lately could years of jarring them in the army and my added game play on the pc have finnally caused me to have carpral tunnel? Well I think I might have it and let me tell you if I do IT HURTS LIKE NOTHINg else. there are times that my whole left arm goes what feels like numb or completely asleep and this has left me in complete pain for the last few days. so needless to say I am going to the DR to get this checked out. anyways I just needed to rant for a min.

[Schot 407]

Oh hey. I've experienced something similar Evil. For me it pretty much came down to waaaay too much pc time. A good week of minimized pc use did the trick for me. Hopefully it's nothing as serious as carpal though. Not fun at all.

[myles 2]

I would get joint pains if I type on a small keyboard, like in a mini labtop.

 

I think maybe our hands are simply not designed to do excessive finer motions. um

[Totalimmortal 0]

evil. I have carpal tunnels... and hate to break it to you, but your symptoms are kinda similar to the ones I get... go to a joint specialist and get it checked out asap... they have programs that you can help strengthen your wrists and minimize the pain... unfortunately I never did any of that lol. The worst part of Carpal Tunnels Syndrome in my opinion is when your wrists feel like they need to crack, and they just won't. they feel like that for hours, even days. you feel numb and stupid for playing the computer so long lol. what works best for me... BETTER SUPPORT FOR YOUR WRISTS ON YOUR KEYBOARD AND MOUSE!! those gel strips or whatever they are work wonders... I don't have any atm... but they really do relieve the stress on your wrists. also I have found that using a laptop is worse on the wrists than a desktop... I think it actually has to do with the posture of your whole body when you're sitting and typing. sooo... advice number two: Sit up straight and maintain good posture in your back and neck. this is important for those two areas, and it may relieve stress/weight on the wrists.

take care buddy, and good luck...

 

-Total

[stubbie 21]

Total has covered pretty much everything.

I really feel for you EvilMale.

I suffer from arthritis in my right arm (a legacy of many years as an electrical motor rewinder).

 

I have found relief from using Glucosamine capsules. They took a couple of weeks before I got any benefit but then they helped greatly.

At one stage I couldn't afford to get them for 2 weeks and my pain came back. Once I took them again the pain eased.

I also rub a heat gel over the affected area and that helps. (I also take pain killers for a back problem so I guess they must help too)

 

I know you have a different condition but perhaps the Glucosamine might help. It sure helps me.

 

stubbs

[Totalimmortal 0]

I have found relief from using Glucosamine capsules. They took a couple of weeks before I got any benefit but then they helped greatly.

At one stage I couldn't afford to get them for 2 weeks and my pain came back. Once I took them again the pain eased.

I also rub a heat gel over the affected area and that helps. (I also take pain killers for a back problem so I guess they must help too)

 

I know you have a different condition but perhaps the Glucosamine might help. It sure helps me.

 

stubbie picked what I missed. glucosamine & chondroiten (spelling?) tablets, capsules, gels, or any supplements like that definitely ease all joint pain, and can actually help build up the cartilidge in the joint if taken properly. one company that I've experimented with briefly is agel... I'm not gonna spread their mumbo-jumbo about their techniques for selling... but if you can find a dealer that sells agel... their supplement called "Flx" is definitely helpful for joint pain. I have a lot of shoulder and hip issues from pitching, and whenever I go to shoot, things can crop up if I'm using a large caliber weapon. glucosamine sort of "oils up" the joints in a sense that it keeps the swelling down and makes movement more fluid. I've taken glucosamine pills before too. they work. my only beef with them is that the pills are about as big as my thumb... elephants have trouble with them. if you can handle large pills, I recommend that, because they're cheap and more readily available. if you have a problem with horse pills, then try to find a gel-suspended substitues. DISCLAIMER: I am in no way trying to sell anything or advocate the selling or buying of anything in this post. I am just suggesting help for someone who may need it. I'm no doctor, (thank god) and I'd recommend getting a doctor's advice before purchasing or trying any type of pill, gel, or dietary supplement. (Also, I no longer take any pills/supplements for my joint pain. I just use a frozen hockey puck on the spot that hurts for about 20 mins, then go about my day.) just my 2 cents. again, good luck. my main advice is definitely talk to someone who knows something more than I.

 

-Total

[tarihci 0]

hi EvilMale,

I am sorry to hear that you are having problems with your wrists...

 

you can use medical solutions for the pain to go away for the moment, but it is essentially your computer-using habit that needs to change. you should cut your pc-usage hours, plug-off, and get out of the house. I am a hardcore gamer too, but going out with friends often takes my mind off the games and lets me keep my distance with the pc for a while.

 

also, before you do anything medical (excluding painkiller stuff), you should look into your posture, mouse, and your screen. I guess others have covered posture and screen matters. I would like to point out two things about one missing thing. your MOUSE!

 

- do not use wireless. they do have batteries inside and tend to be heavy. it is very bad for your wrist. I think there is one gamemouse which is wireless and very light, but I cannot remember the brand right now, maybe logitech.

 

- immediately obtain a trackball mouse. I know, I know, they are very awkward devices. but, when I began to have really hurting pains on my wrists, I immediately switched and I have seen its benefits. although I still have some discomfort when I use my laptop for too long, I don't really feel pain, but only some discomfort. it does not get numb or anything. the benefit of trackballs and their ability to ease the pressure on the wrists is mentioned by a lot of people. and I agree from my own experience.

 

hope you get better soon.

all the best,

[gogoblender 3,070]

EM, I'm SO sorry to hear about this. I'm on a keyboard for hours a day. Lots of hours. And I'm absolutely frightened of getting CTS. In fact, when I started up with the deaf relay job, most of the eight hours was spent typing away at no less than sixty words per minute (that's the minimum for Deaf Relay) and on my first day there, I felt the twangs. Scared out of my wits, I ran home and quickly googled everything I could up on CTS, and found some good exercises and strategies regarding keyboard placement of fingers, good sitting posture, etc. My mom actually is a huge (she never stops asking me about this )proponent of proper posture while at the keyboard, and I think because of her and all the forced-reading she made me do over the last few months with multitudinous piles of links, emails and reading, the wrist twangs went away after a few days. I'm very careful to always shake my wrists out gently every little while to relax them and always checking to make sure my wrists are at correct angles to the keyboard. Having a good keyboard can't hurt, but being on guard against KPS is your best bet.

 

As well, try and look up some reading on RSS..repeated stress syndrome I think it's called...that's one of the big things going around these days with being at a keyboard almost 24/7.

 

You keep on guard, EM, and tell us how it goes.

 

 

gogo