so, what are the warning signs of carpal tunnel syndrome? and how to protect oneself?

[Agathon]

You really should do something now. There are quite a few members of the faculty here who have had to resort to screen readers because they simply cannot type for any length of time.

[Agathon]

I see that Wikipedia lists among the causes...

Any activity where hand use is vigorous and routine could contribute.

Beware, masturbators of Poly!!! You're next!!!

[Kuciwalker]

[trev]

Numbness of the hands while sleeping was the major symptom I suffered, a numbness that took up to 15 mins of hand, wrist and finger flexing to remove. Surgical treatment and a change of employment was the cure, lsubstantial loss of feeling in the tips of my fingers the permanent result

[DaShi]

Don't listen to these people! Carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by worms that have somehow worked their way into your hands (this is usually from handling with raw dough or picking your nose). To put in simply, the worms burrow tunnels through the small bones in your hands causing them to feel painful and sometimes itchy.

Fortunately, modern medicine has provided us with several solutions. First, you could just cut your hands off. Drastic, but a 100% guarantee of being cured. Second, you could cut small holes in your hands and attempt to suck the worms out being careful not to swallow any (where do you think ulcers come from?). Third, go to any veternarian and get some deworm medication. Finally, hold apples in your hands for about 7 hours. Eventually, the worms will crawl out on their own and into the apples.

I hope this helps, and good luck!

[Q Classic]

Hmm... numbness?

I'm not getting that. Occasionally, after heavy use, i get aches along the top part of my right forearm. If it's not CTS, I'm not sure what it is.

[Agathon]

You better see a professional. Tassadar aside (who is a hypochondriac if ever there was one) I wouldn't be leaving this up to the opinions of a bunch of internet nerds and pr0n addicktz.

[MichaeltheGreat]

Originally posted by Zkribbler
See?? According to DRoseDAR's link, it's a compression of the nerve. So no one here knows what they're talking about.

[Notice that Dr Strangelove, Doctor Feelgood and Tiamat have not posted in this thread. So IMHO we're all a bunch of quacks.]

Not quite, it's a compression of the sheath surrounding the nerve trunk (that's the tunnel) where it passes through the carpal bones (those little roundish ones that give your wrist mobility.)

I have traumatic injuries to both wrists/hands (three fractures in right wrist, fractures and nerve damage to outer half of left hand, traumatic arthritis in both) so I always pay attention to any symptoms affecting my hands and wrists, since I'm on the keyboard all the time.

Ergonomics is huge - I take my preferred keyboard and pointing device of the moment to client sites if I work there, and always tweak around workstation layouts to make sure they're as sound as possible.

I change pointing devices between mouse, trackball and pen tablet pretty frequently (once every month or two at least) so that I'm not constantly doing the same right wrist motion.

Power Putty absolutely rocks - http://www.healtheestuff.com/powerputty/

The difference with other hand exercises is that Power Putty lets you work extensions and abduction/adduction of the finger and hand muscles. I use it all the time, and it has had a major impact in keeping me able to work at a keyboard most of the day and often into the night.

As far as symptoms go, most nerve injury symptoms are quite variable, with numbness, pain, odd sensations (tingling or burning, etc.) or loss of coordination/mobility all being possible.

[boann]

mine started with tingling , like my hands falling asleep.
then swelling of the nuckles on the backside of my palms with tenderness. loss of grip strength.
pain up my arms.

i went to physical therapy for several months
followed by wearing stints and exercising with
a putty and rubber rope like bands.

at the worst stage the pain was only relieved by
soaking my hands and arms in warm water.
or heating pads things like that.
they did have me alter warm and cold compresses.
i had my arms straped to my chest to prevent
motion.

now im fine... but if i feel any pain i stop whatever
im doing . i continue to do wrist exercises
and never do repetitive motions for long periods of time.
though i am a writer and spend a great amout of time typing... so i take lots of breaks

[I Am Jeff]

I was around 17 when I started getting pain in my wrist. I went to a hand specialist and he said I had carpal tunnel syndrome even though I did not have numbness or tingling. I had surgery, that went about an inch or so into the arm. And a couple of months later and about 3 years after the pain started, the pain returned.

I then went to a neurologist and he said he doubts I ever had carpal tunnel syndrome. I have now been recommend to pain management at Kessler (they do a lot of rehabilitation stuff).

The only way they recommend to prevent it is moderation of repetitive tasks.

[Ally]

My dad and his brothers and sisters all suffer from Carpal Tunnel and I think I'm the next one to get it. Sometimes I get bad pains in my wrist even if I haven't been doing anything.

It sucks

[The Emperor Fabulous]

Originally posted by I Am Jeff
The only way they recommend to prevent it is moderation of repetitive tasks.

And strengthening the muscles in your wrists.

[Vince278]

I always thought this had something to do with driving through those tunnels in the carpool lane.

[Sikander]

Originally posted by Agathon
I see that Wikipedia lists among the causes...

Any activity where hand use is vigorous and routine could contribute.

Beware, masturbators of Poly!!! You're next!!!

Thank god I'm ambidextrous in this regard.