my friend and yours, carpal tunnel syndrome

[sothis]

eh just thought id share my predicament so hopefully itll help you guys to re-evaluate your habits.

to set this up, im on my computer basically all day unless im in class. if im at work, im on a computer. if im at home, im on my computer. if im eating dinner in my apt, im still on my computer. been using them for prolly 15 years or so, type super fast, i dunno. me and my computer have always been attached at the hip.

so two nights ago as i am starting to drift in and out of alpha state, going to bed, there is this intense shooting pain in my hands.. localized on the inside top of both hands (so, around the thumb/index finger area on the top, down to my wrist). i didnt think anything of it, maybe a muscle spasm i thought. it really did hurt tho. fell asleep.

next morning (a day ago) i didnt feel it. went to class, got to work, started typing... and the pain came back again.. sporatic but consistent.. very, very painful. i began to think maybe something was wrong. called my dr., made an appt for the next day (today)... went home.

as soon as i got home it got exponentially worse. the pain started to extend down to my wrists and lower arms... resonated up and down. let me reiterate that this is REALLY intense pain. then the numbness came, mostly in my right arm.. i couldnt feel my hand or arm all the way up to my elbow a lot. from before i went to bed last night, until about 6-7pm today (once i put the brace on), i could not feel my right arm/hand.

went to school today, the pain was happening all day now, not just when i was at the computer. doctor took down my symptoms, confirmed that i indeed have carpal tunnel syndrome in my right hand/wrist, and its in my left hand/wrist, tho not as prominent (i can still feel things when the nerves are jarred on that hand, but not much.)

im only 21.

this could happen to you, folks. even at this age, if you are around computers a lot, it can happen.. and it sucks ass when it does. the only way to really "fix" it is with surgery (which sometimes doesnt help or you have to get it several times to be effective). you can try to make it regress but it will often come and go. right now i am wearing wrist braces that i have to sleep in.

im not really surprised i got it, because of my habits.. but there were some things i could have done to help prevent it, that i didnt, cuz of course i didnt even imagine id get it (i thought it was only something you get when you are old). those things include, using one of those wrist pads for your keyboard (i never have), making sure you have the right posture for typing (supposedly, someone correct me if im wrong, you ideally shoudl type at a 45 degree angle below you.. not on a surface above where your wrists are kinda up or resting on a desk top.). i didnt do any of these things and now it kinda sucks.. considering my computer is my life, its my major, my hobby, my career now and career in the future, and im stuck with this shit.

so i dunno. just thought id post this to maybe draw attention to it a little.. especially since i know lots of you board kids are prolly just as nerdy as i. dont think you are immune because you are lucky and it hasnt happened, or because you are too young to get it. i had no idea until TWO days ago, and now i wish i had done some simple shit to help ensure that maybe i wouldnt have gotten this.

now im off to bed with these wrist braces and lots of wonderful pain.

[booboo69]

*aaaand the computer gets pitched out the window*

Well, I guess I've got another 3 months before my wrists go out then. I imagine that regularly using your hands for something other than typing will also help prevent wear and tear. Baseball, rock climbing, using one of those little cushy finger excersizer balls. I've been using one of those things for a while, nothing wrong so far...

[Shaggy]

i'm sorry. that really sucks, i hope you aren't in too much pain. if you ever want to hang out or talk you know where i am. chanta wants to chill with you as well because she thinks you are rad. get some rest and stay away from the computer as much as possible, i know its hard. see ya,

adam

[Little Terror =)]

omg...im so sorry kim. :(

[foofy]

Originally posted by sothis


im only 21.



heh. yeah. my really good friend has had carpel for about a year now and he's 19. he doesn't type as much as you, but he's worked as a line cook for quite awhile and anything that puts consistent stress on your wrists, especially repetitive movements, puts you in danger of getting carpel tunnel syndrome. (he also did lots of rock climbing which also contributed).

he wears wrist braces for at least 12 hours a day. sucks hardcore.

im sorry to hear that this happened to you. hopefully rest, correct typing posture, therapy or possibly surgery can help if it becomes intolerable.

[sothis]

I imagine that regularly using your hands for something other than typing will also help prevent wear and tear.

as foofy says, its not just from typing that can cause this. its caused by repetetive motion in your wrist etc... overuse (of ANY kind) causes the carpal tunnel to swell inward, constricting the nerves. my boss i guess has had it since he was my age (hes 40 something now), from all the rock climbing he has done over the years, as well as working a blue collar type factory job whe he was younger. i know someone else who was a mechanic who got it when he was only 18 due to the repetitive movements.

oh yea, now that ive slept in those brace things for one night i can say that they suck ass! the left one left this burn thing on me cuz it was too tight i guess.. heh. gotta get used to this stuff

[Star_Dancer]

Don't watch so much porn.. I hear that really helps develop carpel tunnel

[Boyd Main]

I got it from two days of drywalling and painting. It can come on that quickly. It took about 6 months to chill out and luckily I haven't got any long lasting effects, but like she said, be careful kids.

[HexRei]

I had severe wrist pains last year while working tech support... so bad that they would continue while I was trying to sleep. In the same general area as yours, from thumb/ball of palm area down to forearms.
They lasted about six months, but after I taught myself to move my arms around more, stretch my hands while typing to make sure circulation was maintained, etc, they have mostly gone away... or maybe I'm just used to them.
A good thing to remember is that CTS is not a "disease" like AIDS or even the flu. It can go away on it's own, and it can be reversed via proper behaviors. Keep in mind that human beings did not evolve to sit in one place moving only their wrists and hands for 8 hours a day, every day. Your muscles and tendons need to be stretched and exercised in order to function.

I'd also suggest seeing a doctor, as this is not necessarily CTS. It could be something as simple as a stressed tendon, or something far more serious like arthritis.

[AlexNUMB]

Hey Kim--

Yeah I have been diagnosed with CTS in my right hand and partially in my left hand. I was diagnosed in like feb. 2000.... I was 22 at the time.

It only really flared up once, though. I had one painful outbreak (exactly as you described...) and that was it.

I just modified my behavior. The first thing I ask for now at a new job is an MS Natural keyboard, and a wristrest.

If you can type (I mean, really type... not hunt n peck...) Then it is the way to go. I've been using a naural keyboard, and wristrest now for a little over 2 years, and haven't had a flare up since the first one.

[AmandieCandy]

maybe its nature saying to get off your ass and do something else besides sitting on the comp.

[AlexNUMB]

Originally posted by AmandieCandy
maybe its nature saying to get off your ass and do something else besides sitting on the comp.


Ahh... it finally dawns on me why everyone thinks you are stupid...

I know it's hard for your little brain to comprehend that people actually get paid to use a computer full time for their career, but alas, it is true.

Yes, I get paid a substantial hourly rate to write automation scripts, test software, etc. In fact, I don't merely sit on my ass in front of one computer, I sit on my ass in front of 4 computers, and remotley control a lab of about 30 computers.

I suppose I should give up my lucrative computer career and do something else. Maybe I could do something substantial, like you... Raise pets and suck high school cock or something. I'm sure the compensation would be comperable to what I am getting now.

Sothis and HexRei are computer professionals too. It's not exactly a solution to simply stop using a computer.

--Alex

(btw-- www.dictionary.com in case you can't figure out all the big words)

[AmandieCandy]

Originally posted by AlexNUMB




(btw-- www.dictionary.com in case you can't figure out all the big words)

wow they have an online dictionary!?:rolleyes:

[TurntableTruth]

well i make shure i get alot of exorcise with my wrists and fingers
and im on the board maybe 45 minutes a day and then off to go do some educational things

[starseed]

Originally posted by AmandieCandy
maybe its nature saying to get off your ass and do something else besides sitting on the comp.

maybe nature isn't doing it's job and telling you to not be a bitch. so i will: quit being a stuck up biaaatch. kim is saying she's got a medical condition, and you're coming in here talking shit. go sit on a cactus. or at least pull the last one you sat on out of your cooz.

[sothis]

I'd also suggest seeing a doctor, as this is not necessarily CTS

i did peter :) thats who diagnosed me...

alex: indeed, i bought one of those gel wrist pads yesterday, and actually, i can type for quite awhile without the wrist braces on it before they start to hurt, i wish i had gotten one sooner. those natural keyboards scare me :/ (well, mostly since i cant type fast on them, haha) but i might have to check one out sometime soon.

in general im hoping that if i just help it to regress now, and change my habits it wont come back.

maybe its nature saying to get off your ass and do something else besides sitting on the comp.

ill bet you get lots of exercise in your great retail or food service job eh? too bad my job pays 5+ times as much.

[Kosmicdog]

Originally posted by AmandieCandy
maybe its nature saying to get off your ass and do something else besides sitting on the comp.

Hey pixi stix for brains, I plan on sitting in front of a computer until I retire. Much like a carpenter needs a hammer, I am going to need this thing in front of me for as long as I plan to continue my career as a graphic artist and designer. Some people use their computers for other shit besides chatting with their little friends, shopping for clothes online, and posting idiotic shit here without thinking.

And I'm sorry about your cps Kim. I'm pretty sure that is gonna hit me too someday :(

[AlexNUMB]

Originally posted by sothis

alex: indeed, i bought one of those gel wrist pads yesterday, and actually, i can type for quite awhile without the wrist braces on it before they start to hurt, i wish i had gotten one sooner. those natural keyboards scare me :/ (well, mostly since i cant type fast on them, haha) but i might have to check one out sometime soon.


Kim--

Yeah, I was nervous about that, also... It's sort of like everything else with computers, though... the sooner you start using one, the sooner you will adapt.

I'd suggest doing it the way I did it... Request one from your company. They are kind of expensive... 80 freakin' bucks or something. If they balk at buying you an $80 keyboard, remind them that it will be much less expensive to get you a keyboard now than to pay the workers comp claims later. I had to go to the head of HR at one previous company. My current company had no problems with it... And my last company (Symantec) actually offered me the choice the day I started working!

Now I find I actually type faster on a natural keyboard than I do with a standard keyboard (although I am well over 130wpm on either).

--Alex

[groovinkim]

i have it too :(
11 hrs/day online at work

[evilarchangel68]

that sucks.

[adreezy]

My friend Jenny got cts from scooping icecream at Baskin Robbins. Isn't that shitty?

[geminiboi]

Originally posted by Kosmicdog


Hey pixi stix for brains

**laughing my motherfucking ass off**

thats some funny shit Sondr
:D :D :D

[sothis]

alex: wow, i didnt realize they costed so much.. guess im too used to cheap ass 15 dollar regular ones. heh ive never gotten up to 140.. i think the last time i tested myself last year was around 85 or so..

[sothis]

bump cuz its important!

[tallcan]

my mom has it.

my dad's on the computer a very large amount of the time, but he doesn't have it.

I wonder what that says about my chances...

[breakbeatpaul]

I have a DynaFlex Gyro (http://www.dynaflexstore.com/product.asp?0=203&1=204&3=11) and it only takes like 2 minutes a day to use. It totally helps me.

[tallcan]

Originally posted by breakbeatpaul
I have a DynaFlex Gyro (http://www.dynaflexstore.com/product.asp?0=203&1=204&3=11) and it only takes like 2 minutes a day to use. It totally helps me.
I have one of those.

um...didn't know they could be used for this, but they're really cool....:D :D :D

[Boyd Main]

I'm pulling this old thread up because I just noticed that the UW medical center is looking for participants with mild to moderate CTS to participate in a research study. They say that surgical or non-surgical treatment could be given in some cases. I'm not sure of the time committment or if there is any ping in it for you, but you can call them to find out:
206-616-0982

[AliciaisAlwaysPimpin]

oh man....i dont know if i have CTS or not, I have dull, annoying soreness in my right arm after knitting for basically a day straight. do you guys with carpal expirence dull pain? or sharp? this really isnt in my fingers, only in my wrist and forearm...considering i've only been knitting for a few days, i think i should just take it easy and not knit for awhile, and it will go away? i hope!! x_X

[Dave_Jumpers]

Oh dude that sucks.
I have that shit too.

I used to play basketball, I play guitar, keyboards, play with knobs, code all day and I use Linux, mostly text console work for me.
I have to ice my wrists once a day and play with a squeezing gell ball.

the moral is, don't do sports!

[sothis]

alicia: tendonitis is something to consider as well...

in any event, try taking it easy for a few days and the pain SHOULD subside. CTS can go away on its own as long as you stop doing whatever it is that is pissing it off.. but thats why so many people who use computers, have it chronically.. they cant just stop using computers cause of jobs, etc.

[LegalHu$tle]

i worked with a lady at a grocery store who got CPS, and that was from reaching into handheld shopping baskets and pulling groceries out for so many years. so she just started making customers empty the baskets for her. and if they didnt like that she would just tip the basket over. :p

[SkyeC]

oh shit. i better stop sitting in front of my computer 8-14 hours a day.

[electrikitty]

i got cts and tendonitis (in three places no less!) last spring from swordfighting and cutting/sewing too much for my job. i have two diff kinds of braces now. also i've started taking glucosamine (sp?), i can't remember what kind (and i'm too lazy to go find the bottle) but it's the kind they make old people take for arthritis, and it has helped sooo much. besides, sothis, aren't you going to eventually replace any faulty parts when you become a cyborg? ;)

[electrikitty]

Originally posted by foofy


uh...?

*crosses fingers and hopes its live action role playing*

haha, no. it was stage combat training in an acting class.

[DJflutterby]

Originally posted by electrikitty
...it's the kind they make old people take for arthritis...
I am 30 years old, and just diagnosed with arthritis.
And I thought only "old people" got that!

Just a reminder that our environment, activities, and genetics can predispose us to health problems at any age.

Heal well, everyone. :)

[LegalHu$tle]

Originally posted by electrikitty
i got cts and tendonitis (in three places no less!) last spring from swordfighting and cutting/sewing too much for my job. i have two diff kinds of braces now. also i've started taking glucosamine (sp?), i can't remember what kind (and i'm too lazy to go find the bottle) but it's the kind they make old people take for arthritis, and it has helped sooo much. besides, sothis, aren't you going to eventually replace any faulty parts when you become a cyborg? ;)

yes glucosamine is the shit.
next time you need to re-up try getting a Glucosamine + Chondroiton + MSM(naturally occuring pain reliever). and if you can find one of those blends with Bromelain in it that would be good too.
it's a little spendy but i promise you will notice a real difference, and without the corny pharmys.
i get 35% discount :-P

edit* shark cartilage is good too i think. and umm a bunch of other things, but those first 4 i listed are important, if not necesary.

[schwyn.dr]

i'm pretty sure i have it too :(
it hurts in the most awkward ways sometimes, in times i use my wrist the least, or in just a wierd position.
i need to get mine checked up on sometime too, good luck there kim :)