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?"
Get some alternate exercise (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Get some alternate exercise (Score:3, Funny)
But, to surf for pr0n requires a mouse..wait..oh you mean exercise the left hand...
Re:Get some alternate exercise - some suggestions (Score:1)
1 Finger exercises (suggested by hospital doctor) - When I first had the problem, I couldn't actually complete a full set of these. They consist of different exercises, each repeated five times. Before starting, rest the elbow on a surface, holding the wrist a few i
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
Re:Uh, you're wrong. Watch the advice you give. (Score:2)
Re:Get some alternate exercise (Score:2)
As for the AC who asked "are you really that dumb, or just being an asshole?" and
Re:This is Slashdot, afterall... (Score:2)
Re:This is Slashdot, afterall... (Score:1)
allah is great
karma will be mine
all praises to allah
amen
It might not even be your wrist (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Placebo Effect! (Score:2)
Re:It might not even be your wrist (Score:2)
A chiropractor which who I'm assuming you saw is the best person to ask
Or you could see a real physician. Be sceptical of chiropractic care [chirobase.org]. It's flimflammery.
Re:It might not even be your wrist (Score:3, Interesting)
Re: (Score:2)
Re:It might not even be your wrist (Score:3, Informative)
Re:It might not even be your wrist (Score:2)
I'm skeptical about chiropractors myself, but that post was pretty good advice.
A lot of people get treatment for things like CTS or tendinitis etc, when those are just the symptoms of constricted or damaged nerves or other issues further 'upstream'. The treatment will work in the short term, but the cause hasn't been addressed and similar problems will crop up again later. Personally I have found that a combination
Re:It might not even be your wrist (Score:2)
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*.
IANA*? (Score:2)
I am not a... wildcard?
You don't exist?
How did this metaphysical thing get on slashdot, anyway?
Re:IANA*? (Score:2)
Health Insurance Sucks (Score:3, Insightful)
The system is not designed to give you easy access to health care. On the contrary, it is designed to make it as difficult as possible.
-- Bob
Re:Health Insurance Sucks (Score:2)
This is the first mistake, you asked for a specialist first. You always go to your general practice HMO and have them check you out, and have them refer you. Then your insurance company must allow you to visit a specialist.
Insurance will deny you if you ask directly, most of the time. This is why if your doctor recommends an elected procedure is required, you can have your insurance company cover it.
Its easier to pay for a quick docter's office visit, then paying full price for a specialist and
Re:Health Insurance Sucks (Score:2)
Re:Health Insurance Sucks (Score:2)
On top of that, most techie-types are afraid (or too dim) to band together and leverage the power of their numbers. I will never figure out why we are so willing to be shoved around, mistreated and fired. Maybe we aspire to being Dilbert? Or have we been conditioned to run away at the mention of the word "union".
Re:Health Insurance Sucks (Score:1)
Re:Health Insurance Sucks (Score:2)
My experience (Score:1)
File the claim. (Score:2)
Second, the hoops are there to stop fraud. Yes, it's frustrating. But it's there because enough jackasses said that they were really sick and milked the system for a ton of money when in reality they weren't. So now the employer wants the option to send you to one of their doctors that they trust rather than your default doctor. Once their doc blesses it, you'll be back to
See a Massage Therapist (Score:2, Interesting)
I can't say I was any type of beliver in this until I felt and saw the work done myself. While there is a new-agie mystique to some of it, massage has a grounded scientific basi
Re:See a Massage Therapist (Score:1)
Blatant plug for what will soon be my new profession - you might also consider Asian Bodywork Therapy [aobta.org] (acupressure, shiatsu, etcetera). Or acupuncture. (You don't have to beleive that ki/qi/ch'i is an "electromagnetic field" to benefit from or practice these arts; IMHO qi is energy as is "I feel full of energy today!", not as in kilowatt-hours.)
Re:Gropes of wrath (Score:1)
Wierd... (Score:2)
Cortisone shot he got (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Wierd... (Score:3, Insightful)
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.
Re:Just a few words (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Just a few words (Score:2)
Doh, now all my co-workers know I'm not working... :-)
Comment removed (Score:4, Informative)
Re:Just a few words (Score:1)
When all you have is a scalpel, everything looks like surgery. Don't turn to a practitioner who's going to be biased to that course until you've exhausted all other alternatives. The failure rate for CTS surgery is over 50%.
See your regular doctor (who will, as the parent notes, probably prescribe NSAIDs). See a bodyworker. See an acupuncturist. See a herbalist. Hell, see a shaman. Then, if all else fails, see a surgeon.
Re:Just a few words (Score:2)
Could you point to a specific source for this? I'm not saying that you're wrong, but I'm not sure that I buy this argument, and of course I can't really confirm that you're the expert that you claim to be.
I've always heard that _excessive_ keyboard use
Outsource (Score:2)
Switching to a Trackball worked (Score:2, Informative)
Try a pen tablet! (Score:1)
My experience with Carpal Tunnel... (Score:3, Interesting)
I'll share with you what he told me. Problem number was was that I was holding my elbos off the desk. My shoulders bore the brunt of the work there, and it was causing my neck some serious troubles. My hands also hurt, but I don't remember that we addressed that specifically. In the efforts to keep my muscles from having to hold my arms up, the hand discomfort went away as well.
Well poo I don't know that it's that useful to you. I think my problem has largely gone away, but who knows if it'll come back from the contsant click click of my mouse. I'm just hoping my suggestion to see your doc without making it a "my company hurt me!" claim is useful to you.
Re:My experience with Carpal Tunnel... (Score:2)
Furthermore, your average primary care physician may not have the most relevant experience with RSI and may not be up on the latest research.
That's why they funnel you to the worker's comp system. Besides, if the injury was caused by work it SHOULD be paid for by t
See a doctor (Score:2, Insightful)
I was tested for carpal (Score:5, Funny)
- Went to see my General Practioner
- He referred me to the neurology department at a local hospital
- They ran an EMG test
- I saw neurologist for results
Easy. Never a problem with forms or my employer.
Oooooh....sorry....I live in Canada. Damn our Socialist tendancies and universal healthcare!!
-psy
Canada's "Socialist" healthcare (Score:2)
A) not wealthy
Go back to your own doctor. (Score:1)
I was told "there's nothing wrong with you" (Score:2)
When I eventually saw a wrist consultant at my hospital I was told "it's nothing, it will sort itself out".
This despite occasional pins and needles in my face and complete loss of strength in my hand (I would sometimes have to drop things like books and cups).
He was right in that the excruciating pain went away but I still suffer from wrist pain over 10 years later.
They gave me some cortisone injections but the response of UK medical staff has been rather underwhelming.
It *was* useful when I was unemplo
Several approaches (Score:2, Interesting)
First, if you have a little pain or tingling after a long session of work, get some *real* excercise and if the discomfort goes away, keep doing it. Squeeze balls help, as do lifting weights, but be careful. You can actually sprain your wrist or hand if you got a case of tendonitis, so don't give in to the urge to think yourself macho. What you want to do is understand that Repetitive Stress injuries come from doing the same thing constantly: sitting in a rig
My experience about 3 years ago (Score:2)
I thought about going to doctor but after doing thorough research on web, I decided to try these first:
(1) Buy Gel Pads for keyboard and mouse for every computer I use.
(2) Reduce the frequency of keyboard/mouse use (I quit playing computer games, can you believe that). Give short breaks to forearm whe
Re:My experience about 3 years ago (Score:2, Informative)
If it hurts, it might just be tendonitis (Score:2)
However, if it hurts while or immediately after working, it may be tendonitis rather than carpal. Carpal is more tingling and numbness than pain in the early stages.
The good news: If it's tendonitis, it can be cured with an anti-inflammatory drug like cortezone (sp?) and some changes in how you use your hands. Very minor, very effective -- and the over-the-counter wrist braces another poster mentioned work wonders.
Could be tendonitis, stay on the home row (Score:2)
First, they sent me to a neurologist, who electrocuted various parts of my arms and hands to check the stimulii. Since I felt the full extent of the pain of being shocked over and over everything checked out OK. He said it was probably a case of tendonitis, which is fairly common, probably more common than carpal tunnel.
Also, someone mentioned the thing that if you hunch forward too much that you could be pinching nerves in your neck that are causing the
Oesteopaths know how to treat RSI / CTS (Score:1)
Speaking as a professional... (Score:4, Interesting)
"I do not want to file a claim due to the stigma that it carries"
FUCK stigma, FUCK any whining from HR, FUCK any future possible employers who might look disfavorably, FUCK any insurance company that tries to disallow a charge.
Take care of YOURSELF. Get yourself evaluated and treated. By allowing yourself to be bullied by adminimonsters you only increase your chances of ending up with something worse than you have now and letting them off the hook.
Shit rolls down hill. If at any point someone tries to cause you grief, start a few steps above them in the food chain and file a complaint that's tough enough to make their boss's boss cringe, such as an ADA (Americans With Disabilities) suit, and make sure it's publicised. Discrimination of this sort is illegal. That means (1) they'll try to get away with it only if you let them think they can and (2) it can cost them far more money and other problems if you stick it to them for trying to stick it to you. Make them aware you're aware of these things.
The best defense is the BEST offense. If you don't do it, nobody is going to do it for you. They'll be more than happy to rip off your health instead.
It's your HANDS, man. Even if they all got away with their BS, it's not worth your hands.
That being said, consider a thumbwheel mouse. I have a maximal case of carpal because the bones of my right wrist have been replaced with a bar of titanium, and the surgeries really screwed up the tendons etc. I replaced my mouse with a thumbwheel and have had no problems since. Well, none attributable to repetative stress.
Yes, easy painless, and solved the problem (Score:2)
Being the good manager that he was - he recommended that I see the company nurse that deals with such things daily as opposed to your doctor that sees them once in a while (think about it). The nurse looked me over and said - yes I was showing classic signs.
Step one - see an eronomist
Step two - see if that helps
Step three - well it did help - so
CARPAL TUNNEL? (Score:2)
No stigma (Score:1)
Contrast baths (Score:2)
The thing that worked best for me is "contrast baths". You set up two tubs of water, one hot, one cold. (Not too hot or too cold).
You then stick your hands in the cold water for a minute, and then switch to the warm water for a minute. You switch back and forth 10 times (for 11 minutes) starting and ending in the cold tub. It helps to have a count-down timer.
Works like a charm.
Dude.. (Score:2)
Don't screw around with your hands. If you catch things early, you'll need to do splints, advil, exercises, and maybe "physical therapy" or whatnot, make a few minor changes (like working the wrists and arms out) and go on with life. Let it fester and get worse, you'll need to find something that doesn't involve your hands and/or get surgery that can only help so much.
You ma
Just get treatment (Score:2)
Your company HAS to pay for it, if it is work related, if it is not work related your insurance company pays. Go to a doctor and tell them to find out which, and what is wrong, and a reasonable cause. (Likely work, but it could be tennis or something else you do on your own time...)
If it is work, turn it into work and ask how to handle it. Most small companies prefer to pay small bills themselves to keep their claims and payments down. Nothing wrong with that, so long as the bill is paid. (Larger
I foudn this worked... (Score:2)
exercises for the wrists (Score:2)
I learned some exercises to open up the carpal tunnel. Now, IANAD and cannot verify their effectiveness, but they Work For Me(TM). Unfortunately, it's kind of hard to explain it in words. The site I learned it from had pictures. Much easier.
Glove... (Score:2)
One word (Score:1)
forum | my RSI | mouse | surgery (Score:2)
Types: http://www.chicagolegalnet.com/rsi.htm
Personally I've used a computer a heck of a lot and I only got pain when I combined it with:
- playing guitar
- doing a very repetitive manual labour "I press a button" job
The pain would strike randomly and it felt like being electricuted on the arm. That pain travelled up the arm and trankfully stopped at the shoulder. Wasn't intensely painful but more of a shock, could cause a crash if you drive.
The only was to stop
Getting a trackball is a great idea... (Score:1)
Treatment that helped me (Score:1)
First of all, I can't say anything about the insurance side, and such, since that is all rather different in my part of the world.
Last year, I finally had to admit that I was having too many pain problems in my arms. Both the company doctor and my "own" gp came to the same diagnosis: CTS in my right wrist and bursitis in my left shoulder.
First thing the company doctor had me do, was take rest - staying at home. While that helped for short terms, it also meant that I got less resistance against pain, meani
What I tried (Score:2)
Getting frustrated with my mouse hand hurting all the time, I spent a, hour or two writing a quick program that would listen to my joystick port (I had a Gravis gamepad connected) and translate that into mouse movements (I was using Win98 at the time).
Suddenly I could use my left thumb to move the cursor, and I would use my right thumb to click (I mapped the other buttons by h
Tai Chi - thats what I began to do ... (Score:2)
It is just important IMHO that you do not emphasize on 'The Form' but more on "body awareness" (following Patrick Kelly [baoidao.free.fr] perhaps).
CC.
Beware the ides of march.... (Score:1)
I spent some quality time ignoring the CTS symptoms I was having and continued to pretend that all was ok. One morning (about 5.5 years ago) I woke up with a start because I thought my arms were on fire. A quick visual check ruled that out, but the sensation persisted. I made an appointment to see my GP and he quickly (thankfully) sent me on to a specialist instead of trying to fool abo
mousemitts (Score:1)
When I was at the point where just looking at somebody using a mouse made me cringe, I found these. The "Keyboarder" model solved my problem and I was pain free while using them. After 12-18 months I didn't need them anymore. Granted, I didn't have legit full blown CTS, but I had serious pain when typing and mousing.
I found the "softsplits" too tight and hard to type in.
Read the testimonials on their site... worst case, try em out and return em. Only cost is the shipping - the
Thank you Bush, for making it worse for us... (Score:1)
I would like to take this opportunity to remind everyone that Bush rolled back [aflcio.org] ergonomic safety regulations and trivialized the nature of RSI.
It used to be possible to get your employeer to repair poor ergonomic conditions by law. It used to be easier to get compensiation and medical costs covered for these types of injuries. No longer [aflcio.org]. Thanks George [commondreams.org]!
Repetitive Strain Injury: A Computer User's Guide (Score:1)
I found a few references to it online as a good resource and it has been to me. I've been suffering from another form of RSI (they're all detailed in the book) for a number of years, and this is the first thing that is really helping me
Take It Seriously (Score:2)
Workers' Compensation Attorney (Score:2)
The workers' comp system is there for people who have work-related injuries, including repetitive stress injuries. Nearly all injured workers are eligible, including undocumented immigrants, people who work "off the books," and, in many cases, even so-called "independent contractors."
Carpal tunnel and other RSIs can cause permanent disabililty (can affect your abililty to earn a livelihood) and they can get worse if not treate
Nolo Press, for the law and some reality checking (Score:1)
I'm approaching 55, can't feel my fingertips very well, drop things a lot -- had the surgery too late and it failed to help.
1993, got checked and told 'Tendinitis'; 1999, when it came back, was told 'you gave up your right to further treatment'. Saw an attorney who said 'how can they tell you it's the "same" problem without your seeing a doctor? Different things can cau
How CTS is usually treated (Score:1)
illumination - after many hours of pondering... (Score:1)
1. Don't spend too much time trying to narrow the cause of wrist problems (like CTS ) down to one specific thing. Instead, make a list of activities that either a) require small movements of hand and wrist or b) cause your forearm or wrist to contract or be tight. This is your list of dangerous activities. Now, just because you do some things, like type, use mouse, foosball, video games - doesn't mean that yo
Ambidextrous mousing works! (Score:2)
Re:Ambidextrous mousing works! (Score:2)
Re:Ambidextrous mousing works! (Score:1)
I've watched people type @ special typing tables, & it never looks comfortable or healthy. I honestly don't understand how those wrist things work for the keyboard.
I'm always trying to find a way to rest every part of my arm. When resting, my right hand fingers usually sit in between the arrow keys & the 6 keys above them. My left hand sits on