Carpal Tunnel
Time to admit that I have some carpal tunnel. I have had it for some time in my right wrist but have just been stubborn about it for several years. It really shows up when I try to write for any length of time at all or especially if I do a lot of active things with the mouse and/or touch-pad on the computer. It has gotten to the point that in a matter of a few hours of this kind of usage that my fingers get numb in regards to feeling and the wrist and up into the palm are just painful. A few notes about carpal tunnel and thoughts of what to do next. I am very open to suggestions by the way.
For those not familiar with carpal tunnel syndrome, it usually manifests itself has pain in the wrist and hand and eventually gets severe enough to result in numbness in the hand. It is caused by repetitive motions with the hand or by holding the hand for long periods of time where the wrist is bent (more my case). Very oversimplified, but basically you have a tunnel in wrist that the bundle of nerves to your hand goes through. The damage is caused by the nerve being constantly pinched or that same pinch applied repetitively. Initial fixes include exercises, position the wrist to limit the pinching motion day-to-day, adding a brace to limit that pinching motion and use of over the counter pain medications. Sever cases can eventually need surgery, and often do.
As noted above it is something that has been there for a long while. I am not completely sure when it first started to be problem, but it was probably six or seven years ago that I really started to feel it on occasion. Typically, this would occur on those days at the office when I was stuck using the mouse for a lot of work or when I would do a marathon computer gaming session over the weekend, also using the mouse. I am personally of the opinion that the mouse and subsequently the touch-pad are the worse designed ergonomic devices to have come along – of course what line of work do I have? I have just enough ambidexterity to manage though – often switching to my left hand for a few days with the mouse and things and I would be fine. It has gotten to where I now use my left hand almost as much as I use my right for just this purpose.
It has gotten worse though and it shows up with a long day of practicing either mounted or ground medieval activities (sword grip, lance and spear grips all have similar angel stress). If I go several days with a lot of this activity, which I often do, I can end up having that same kind of like of feeling in my fingers. This is also an activity that I am not able to switch my hands and honestly, with jousting, most left-handed participants have to switch to the off-hand anyway. I might add that I think when I broke my little finger on my right hand doing ground fighting this spring that I think I made the situation worse in the long run.
What is my action plan? Knowing my aversion to and opinion of doctors, that will be far down the list. I will start with continued use of my left hand for some activities, perhaps with more focus on that. Ibuprofen (boo-boo profin in my world) and aspirin when it starts to bother me, which is something I do not typically do. And definitely purchase of one the braces to limit the motion that allows me to put the pinch on the nerves and keep it there for a long time. I think having that reminder on the range of motion will make the biggest inroad on causing less damage and better feeling in my hand.
** – Image from medecin.eu
Up until this summer the CTS and arthritis in my left hand were miserable at best. I was told I *HAD* to have the surgery 12 years ago. I wouldn't do it. The only surgeries I've had were ones that were completely unavoidable. This past spring I had to go gluten free for other medical reasons. One of the things I noticed first was I was wearing my splint less. I haven't worn it since early June, when it used to be a daily thing for me. I looked more into it and found that there is a connection between swelling (like the aggravated carpal tunnel nerves) and gluten intolerance. I can't say for sure what effect it has had on my arthritis because the summer months aren't my high pain periods for that. Going wheat free isn't easy, it's hidden in everything. But just for the benefit of less pain in my hands, wrists and knees, it is well worth the hassle of scanning labels even closer. In the mean time... a brace at night and ice should help ease the pain."
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
Like