Possibly Carpal Tunnel?

[Wezas]

(To go along with the pattern of medical threads today)

*I've already gotten all the jerking off jokes from my co-worker, so you won't be original*

So for the past week my right hand and wrist have been aching when I try to tighten my hand into a fist. Also when I move my hand/wrist to certain positions I feel pain. Picking up objects also sometimes hurts (depending on my wrist/hand position).

I've been reading up a little about carpal tunnel (there's way too much info out there) and it looks like if it's diagnosed quickly it's not as bad. I'm planning on making a Dr. appointment soon to have it checked out.

A tester who was hired into our company had to wait 2 months before he actually worked at all because he was recovering from the surgery. I sure as hell don't want to be out of comission for that long.

It may just be arthritis or some tendon issues, but has anyone had any experience in this type of thing?

[HarmNone]

Since there are several things that could be going on (you mentioned a couple of them), the best thing to do is to see your doctor and get a confirmed diagnosis. It might be that wearing a brace for a bit and taking some anti-inflammatory medications will make a difference for you.

Let's hope it doesn't require surgery. Good luck, hon.

[AnticorRifling]

You shouldn't jerk off so mu......

I don't care it's the first thing I thought of even before I read your little disclaimer!

[Alfster]

I know what you're going through, and it sucks. Mine isn't exactly carpal tunnel, but it's a fall out from when I got Lymes disease at the age of 10...at that time there was no cure for it and according to my doctor the reason I have arthritis so bad is because of that.

The other shitty part is i'm only 22 and there are days that I can't even type my papers because of it....I

[Jennaen]

Could be CTS, could be tendonitis, could be a sprain. Make the appointment with the doc, and find out for sure.

!

[Atlanteax]

It's probably Carpal Tunnel.

I have mitigated the onset by switching to an ergonomic keyboard.

It has definately eased the stress on my hands over the pass three years (nevermind the shift to more macros and scripts, as opposed to typing everything out repeatedly)

Now I really get any such pain unless I've been typing for like 6+ hours stop.

[Wezas]

It seems to get better as the day goes on (even though I'm at the computer all day long). The mornings is when it really sucks.

Like right now I can squeeze my hand into a fist without any problem, but if I turn my wrist the a certain way the pain is still there.

I'm hoping it's just a tendon or something.

[Anailea]

Originally posted by Wezas
It seems to get better as the day goes on (even though I'm at the computer all day long). The mornings is when it really sucks.

Like right now I can squeeze my hand into a fist without any problem, but if I turn my wrist the a certain way the pain is still there.

I'm hoping it's just a tendon or something.

That really sounds a lot more like arthritis the carpal tunnel because it gets better through the day. :shrug: But certainly get it checked out.

[Wezas]

Originally posted by Anailea
That really sounds a lot more like arthritis the carpal tunnel because it gets better through the day.

:( I'm too young to have arthritis. Only people PB's age get that type of thing.

[HarmNone]

Anailea is right. That sounds more like an inflammatory process, like arthritis, than CTS. There are other possibilities, as well. The good side of it is, if it's an inflammatory process, surgery may well not be necessary. Just get it looked at, hon. :)

[Trinitis]

hey! I'm 25 and have arthritis. It's not and old people thing!

[Ravenstorm]

It could also be something very simple... I recently had a bout of carpal tunnel type pain and realized I was causing it by sleeping with my wrist bent under me. It cleared up when I made sure not to fall asleep in that position.

It could also be referred pain. I had a huge carpal tunnel episode that lasted for a month or so. While it helped to wrap it in an Ace bandage, It didn't get better till I strapped up my elbow. The nerve was getting pinched or something in the elbow but I was feeling it in my wrist since that nerve runs all the way down the arm.

Raven

[Skirmisher]

Originally posted by Ravenstorm
It could also be something very simple... I recently had a bout of carpal tunnel type pain and realized I was causing it by sleeping with my wrist bent under me. It cleared up when I made sure not to fall asleep in that position.

It could also be referred pain. I had a huge carpal tunnel episode that lasted for a month or so. While it helped to wrap it in an Ace bandage, It didn't get better till I strapped up my elbow. The nerve was getting pinched or something in the elbow but I was feeling it in my wrist since that nerve runs all the way down the arm.

Raven

Ding ding ding, yes, same thing happened to me in the last year. Well not exactly the same, but it was a pain in my hand that came about due to sleeping on it wrong one night causing a good deal of discomfort for like 10 days or so.

[Atlanteax]

Just got a newsletter this morning here at work relevant to this...

"The ealier you catch arthritis, the better your chances that you'll like the ending....

Heed warning signs : At the first sound of crunching in your joints, talk to your doctor, loose cartilage is an early sign.

Grease your joints : Pop a supplement with chondritin and glucosamine. It's the medical version of the Tin Man's oilcan, treating and preventing creaks (ie the ParkBandit Sydrome).

Hit the Gym : Running and weight lifting help prevent inflammation and lubricate the joints.

Lose the flab : A recent study found trhat 32% of overweight and 43% of obese adults have arthritis."