anyone here ever have carpal tunnel? can you get it in both wrists?
polycounter lvl 11
lately ive been getting a dull ache deep in the center of my right forearm, and both of my hands tingle like pins and needles, but mostly my right
not sure what to do about it, I've used the computer for 6-7 years now and this is the first time ive had my hands tingle
every now and then the tendon in my thumb would feel like it just drops all control and twitches for a split second, but that comes and goes every few months and only lasts like 2 days
not sure what to do about it, I've used the computer for 6-7 years now and this is the first time ive had my hands tingle
every now and then the tendon in my thumb would feel like it just drops all control and twitches for a split second, but that comes and goes every few months and only lasts like 2 days
Replies
I just hope its early enough for me to reverse it with wrist exercise/braces when using the computer or a special type of mouse bad or something
So far, I'm very pleased, it has helped me a ton. I still have some aches after working with a mouse for an extended time but due to using the tablet a lot it has reduced the ache I get and when I switch back to the pen the ache goes away very quickly too.
It's surprising that this actually works, but it does! I have started writing notes and planning programming stuff using my wacom, rather than typing, and the relief is quite noticeable
It also seems that my programming problem-solving skills improve when I'm using a pen and seeing the handwriting on the screen, rather than looking at my keyboard and the set font on screen. But maybe it's just all in my head too :poly142:
I started with this :http://www.sportfood.nl/expand-your-hand-bands/
and after a month or so with these: http://www.sportfood.nl/grippers/
Every other day i exercise for a couple minutes with the gripper.
Iv managed to avoid it so far tho and i got one of these at work and home,
[ame="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Powerball-Neon-White-Pro-Signature/dp/B000MLPGZG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1359301090&sr=8-1"]Powerball Neon White Pro Signature: Amazon.co.uk: Sports & Outdoors[/ame]
i try remember to use it a few times a week during lunch etc at work.
how should your wrist be angled relative to your mouse? My elbow rests on my chair arm rest and then my wrist is about 1.5 inches higher, so my wrist bends down a tiny bit and lightly touches the table
I was sceptical to use my tablet in max as well but I got used to it very quickly and I love it right now. Sure there are a few drawbacks but I'll take those drawbacks over aches any time.
Yeah that's probably not ideal all you'll end up doing is masking the problem for a while until you start getting it with the 'new' setup and need to change again.
Powerballs are good. Stretch your wrists/hands/arms. Masturbation...
If it offends me too much i will chop it off
I believe Kevin Johnstone has a post about his dealing with it, somewhere on Polycount.
The tablet is a solid idea if it's your right hand. It has helped me out the last 2 years. As far as the keyboard hand, I havent found a solution.
edit, and the only thing that seems to really work once youv gotten it, from my observational experience (never had it myself) is complete switch off and get away from the pc for a few weeks.
so dont wait till you get it before you change your habits and posture etc.
As a side note, I don't think it has much to do with grip strength. Those stress balls and gripper things probably help because they build up the muscles but they aren't addressing the underlying issue which is your posture. The way my masseuse explained it to me is that it's a cascade effect. The back muscles overwork from slouching in your chair and reaching forward all day - which causes your shoulders and neck to compensate, and when they tire out your forearms take over and from there it's a short jump to the wrists...
Once you have it, there's no cure. There's only management and mitigation. I started feeling it back in 2007 but I'm still going strong today. It's doable, but you have to take steps.
I get a monthly trigger point massage to loosen up my over stressed back and neck muscles, and I try to sit up as well as I can during the day. I've also starting hitting the gym a lot over the last few years and that has REALLY helped ... the better shape I'm in, the less pain I feel.
I don't have numbness just an ache in right forearm and some tingling every now and then in hand
and arent most heart attack signs associated with left arm
They wound up giving me a brace which I wore during comp usage, writing/drawing, and sleeping. Which meant it stayed on pretty much all day. It seemed to help in the immediacy of the moment, but what seemed to be the "fix" was just getting a new desk. I'd moved and had to get a new set up, new desk has much better positioning for mouse/keyboard/tablet. Haven't had any problems for a couple years now.
Yes, family history here so I should know.
Just echoing, posture, wacom tablet & exercise should alleviate a lot of issues. I get it sometimes just a very mild discomfort as soon as I notice It I find a way to correct It, a lot of times it is the positioning of my elbow to my wrist. I setup my workspace so that my arm rest is leveled to my wacom, mouse and keyboard.
Been using PC's for damn near 15+ years (started early) but so far so good?
My mouse is dieing and I was also skeptical about the tablet thing but been using it for everything for about 2 months now.
Once you get used to it, you definitely see a difference and wonder how the hell you lived without It.
Like others have said, I think your sitting posture is the most important thing to correct if you're having these problems. I once had my PC set up in a closet (there was nowhere else I could put it!) and I would sit hunched over it with my body all curled forward. I started to get RSI pains within a couple of days of that, so it makes sense that even with slightly bad posture that you will develop these problems eventually.