Getting Treatment for Carpal Tunnel? 101
DeathGripOnMouse asks: "Let me set to stage. I am a 30 something network analyst. I have been electronics / computer industry for the better part of twenty years, most of that time spent behind a keyboard. Like my peers, I am concerned about Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and other injuries that seem to afflict IT professionals. Recently, I began to notice some tenderness in my mouse hand. Deciding that it was time to see a doctor, I asked around the office for a good doctor, as my primary doctor no longer accepts my insurance. At the recommendation of several of my co-workers I called the office of a doctor the next town over. I explained my problem and was told that because this "could" be a work related injury, I was not able to see the doctor until I completed the following. First, I needed permission from my supervisor to seek treatment for my problem, in writing no less! Second, I was told that my medical insurance may not cover the doctor's expenses and I needed permission from my employers HR department to start a workman's compensation claim. All this without even seeing me! I do not want to file a claim due to the stigma that it carries, and I feel that it may hinder my chances at landing another job. I haven't approached my HR department, but what if they refuse to allow me to file a claim? This whole situation just angers me to no end. Anyway, has anyone sought treatment for CTS or some other repeated stress injury? If so, what were your experiences?"
Here's my IANA* advice (Score:2, Informative)
It's complete bullshit that you have to do all this before seeing him. You don't know what's wrong and neither does he. You don't even know if anything is wrong. Besides which, fuck work! Your health is more important, you go see what's up, get it treated and only AFTER all this you figure out if it's a work injury or not etc etc.
Hope that helps. IANA*.
Just a few words (Score:5, Informative)
Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is usually characterized by numbness/pain of the thumb, index, middle and the thumb-half of your ring finger. People often report waking up inthe night to "shake out" their sleepy hand, they also may report pain radiating from their hand to their elbow/shoulder. Risk factors include; being a diabetic, pregnant and thyroid problems. Computer keyboarding has NOT, I repeat, NOT been shown or linked to cause CTS. I know that this goes against what most of you have heard, but there are million of people using keyboards, and there are certainly not anywhere near that many people with CTS.
You need to see a hand surgeon - preferably an orthopaedic trained one. Just a small warning - workers compensation patients have an interesting stigma - they typically do worse than non-workers comp patients in all aspects of medicine, for many diferent reasons, i.e. secondary gain, etc.
So go see a hand surgeon in person who knows the facts and don't listen too much to your co-workers (they didn't go to bus driving school - so they don't get to drive the bus). If your hand surgeon does indicate surgery for you, he really should send you for an electromyelogram (EMG) to first to rule out any other causes for your hand problems. EMG's check the nerves in your hand and make sure that the problem is in your wrist, and not in your elbow/shoulder or neck. EMGs hurt like hell (you get shocked with needles in various places), but it's definetely worth it.
Switching to a Trackball worked (Score:2, Informative)
Cortisone shot he got (Score:3, Informative)
Re:My experience about 3 years ago (Score:2, Informative)
Re:It might not even be your wrist (Score:3, Informative)
The problem is that there are a few good chiropractors out there. But, as a whole, they are either out for money, or are inadvertently selling you treatment that doesn't work. Chriopractors, like spammers, have acquired the reputation of scammer.
And the problem is that the "points out of alignment" as you say is a crock. If you give 10 chiropractors the same X-ray, each one will point out mutually contradictory subluxations and pinched nerves and stuff.
I actually managed to lick my hand problem, long-term with some advice from my old doc. He showed me a simple set of wrist exercises, suggested a few things, and I'm fine. Which is cheaper than manipulations and a new bed.
Comment removed (Score:4, Informative)
Uh, you're wrong. Watch the advice you give. (Score:3, Informative)
I am not a doctor either, but I am someone who used to suffer with CTS and have since all but eliminated most of my problems. I have some disagreements with titaniam.
Lots of bike riding can further [utahmountainbiking.com] aggrivate [trailrider.com] Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Tennis, on the otherhand, can cause it's own set of problems [medinfo.co.uk]. I am not a tennis player, but I am an advid biker, so I can only offer advice on biking. Biking gloves help mitigate the problem, but they do not eliminate it. Padding anywhere on the grip surfaces is always a plus. However, biking remains one of the worst activities for your hands and wrists.
Then you go on to mention frisbee and masturbation (which is implied by porn). I am not sure either one of these activities is all that great. You see, the fundamental problem with Repetitive Stress Injuries (like CTS) are repetitive motions. (Imagine that?) You want to do engage in activities that have a wide range of motions. Nothing you mention does.
This is not necessarily true. With a standard mouse, you are forced to a degree to use your whole arm to achieve motion. At least it's an option. With a trackball or trackpad, that motion is reduced to a single digit on your hand, which may contribute to the problem. In this case, ask an ergonomst.
Have you considered that when any kind of RSI is diagnosed by a physician early, treatments such as anti-inflamatory drugs can seriously reduce the damage done to your joints? In fact, visiting your doctor early and often regarding this problem can eliminate the need to have surgery.
I think overall we are learning here that a lot of advice on Slashdot is quite bad.