My wrists have been hurting for no reason.
 

So I'm seeing a doctor for a regular checkup in about a week, but I figured I'd ask around until then ;)

For at least the past two weeks, my wrists have been hurting. I get it largely in the mornings when I wake up and it dissapears somewhat throughout the day. What bothers me is that I haven't been using them any differently or for any hard activity, and that they both hurt, not just one (so I ruled out any past injury that's inflaming for the time being).

They mainly hurt in up and down movements (thumb up, pinky down movement, not a "fipper" movement) on the outside sections. Lie your hands flat on their palms; The outside area, below my pinkies, are where the deep, sharp pain is coming from.

Can anyone comment on this? I've been pumping Advil here and there at my mom's recomendation (She's an RN), but they're still hurting me and are somewhat limiting everyday activies. Is this something to worry about?

Thanks for any info guys.
-T

maybe you have carpal tunnel syndrome? do you type a lot?

Sounds like he does. I have it, and it hurts like hell.

Yep. I had a budding case of RSI (aka Carpal Tunnel Syndrome) and what you describe sounds a lot like that.

It hurt on the pinky edge of the palm of my hand. I had it mostly in my right hand. My hands would be very different temperatures and colors a lot of the time--my right cold and pale, my left warm and pink. For a while I quit using my right pinky entirely. I still 'backspace' with my right ring finger...

Something about my change of office fixed it; before long I noticed it wasn't there anymore. Can't quite explain it.

Very interesting indeed. I've been into computers for a long time now and I figured I was past the days where any symptoms would show.

The funny thing is that the pain came when I moved out of my home and into a new apartment. I bet it could be blamed on maybe a higher desk or something like that. The keyboard is the same that I used to use, but I'm just now feeling pain.

Thanks for the heads up guys ;)
-T

PS: My wrists aren't at any funny angle where I've been. I'm sitting low in terms of my desk, however my wrists are straight out on the keyboard and mouse. Are my arms supposed to come down steeper and my wrists supposed to be lifted up more? This is what happens when I raise my seat..

I get the same pains and I've noticed they come from long sessions at the keyboard. Bad typing habits can do a lot of harm to more than your wrists - take a 5 minute rest every 30 minutes of typing and make sure you have good posture when sitting at a computer - elevate the wrists, back straight, feet flat on the floor, and avoid keeping your neck bent for long periods of time.

You should also look into getting one of those gell pads that you rest your wrists on when typing. They aren't very expensive and most elevate the wrists and makes typing a lot more comfortable.

Verbatim Gel Wrist Rest

Lot of good advice up there.

It might be arthritis, as well.
Occasionally, I take Vioxx for pain in my forearms.
It clears it right up after a few days.

Is Advil another name for Ibuprofen?
Ibuprofen is supposed to relieve the pain temporarily.

Yeah Advil is Ibuprofen.

I use one of the Microsoft keyboards that has a built-in pad. I'm going to try dropping the legs down on the rear of the board and see if it helps at all.

Thanks guys.

-T

Typing with the keyboard in your lap and your hands bent out away from your body compresses the carpal tunnels and relieves the strain you put on them. It makes the tendons on top of your arms sore for the first couple of days, but it help in the long run.

So what actually causes CTS from using a keyboard? Having your wrists propped too far up or too far down? Or is it from a combination of other things?

Thanks again
-Tim

Could it be too much titty board? :D

I used to have alot of pain in my wrists but i changed to one of microsofts egronmic keyboards about a year ago and havnt had any pain since =) some people think they are annoying to type on but i love mine and wouldnt go back to the old fashiond stile for anything maybe its worth a try for you.

Like I said earlier, I've been on one of the Microsoft ergonomic boards (split, with built in pad) for a few years now. I think it could be my new, higher-than-I'm-used-to desk that I've been on recently.

-Tim

Here's a trick that my chriropracter (errr however you spell that) told me.

1. Fill the sink with hot water (not scolding hot, mind you- but still hot enough to be felt)
2. Dip your hand and wrist into the water and let it soak in the hot water for about 3 minutes
3. Drain the water and rinse your hands with cold water

It always does the trick for me, or at least temporarily anyway :-p good luck!

I guarantee that's what it is. If I change desks, everything from my wrists to knuckles to my damned shoulders start hurting when I type. It's all about being in a place where you're comfortable while typing. I'd move around the chair and desk and try to lower/raise it to a position where your wrists stop hurting.

-Lasereth

If you raise your seat-- get something to put under your feet.

You also want to protect your back as well.. When you sit down. Your back should be straight, your feet should be flat on the floor, and your knees should be a 90 degree angle.

Protect your shoulders...Adjust the arm rests fo your chair so that your elbows are just resting on, but not leaning or putting any pressure on the arm rests,

Put your hands out - and this is where your keyboard should be keyboard should be. Don't get one of those flimsy keyboard trays either, they are bad for your wrists and hands because they are not stable enough.

YOu also want to take regular breaks to rest your hands and stretch them...

http://www.powerballs.com/

they claim to help with RSI, plus their sort of fun :)

it could also be tendonitis. i have chronic tendonitis in my hands. when you moved were you lifting heavy things.

DEFINITELY do that. Your body is better built to type with the back of the keyboard lower than the front. This whole thing about propping up the back of the keyboard on little legs is the least ergonomical thing ever.

I knew a woman who got very serious RSI--enough that she was eventually taken off keyboard work permanently. One of the attempted therapies they tried for her was a bolt-on keyboard tray that basically had her typing between her knees, with her wrists pointed at her toes. The keyboard was angled down (with the keys pointed toward the bottom edge of the monitor) at about a 45-degree angle.

I say wait til you see the Dr, get some scans, from my experience could be either Carpal Tunnel or tendonitis . . (15 yrs ago it probably would have been called RSI)

S

Thanks for all the concern guys. I went ahead and raised my seat, dropped my keyboard's legs, and removed the keyboard tray under my desk that was stopping me from raising my chair more.

I'll let you know how it all goes. As of now, I'm still waking up with horrible pains.

Thanks agian
-T