Slight health problem [Archive]

Mikeus Caesar

03-10-2008, 14:02

I've noticed recently over the last week or so that putting any sort of strain on my right wrist really hurts. It's quite noticeable just now, i'm drinking a cup of tea and i'm having to hold the entire cup with my hand (hot!) rather than the handle, because holding by the handle hurts my wrist. Any kind of activity that requires my wrist hurts.

What could i have done? What could be wrong? And is it possibly something i should see a doctor about?

EDIT: Also, no posts about my 'overuse' of my right hand in certain activities. That's sooo hilarious and unpredictable.

Fragony

03-10-2008, 14:25

Carpal tunnel syndrome, enjoy

Mikeus Caesar

03-10-2008, 14:27

Carpal tunnel syndrome, enjoy

Really? And how have we come to this diagnosis, Dr. Fragony? :yes:

Caerfanan

03-10-2008, 14:27

Hmmmm... Does te pain grow from 0 to unbearable in a few seconds when you use it? does it spread in your forearm?

Did you have any unusual activitie (and so goes off the joke, we speak of "unusual" :bounce: ), or more than usual (maybe skiing). Did you fall on your wrist? Work out? Does your hand shake when it starts to hurt?

Could be a tendon "inflammation"?

Caerfanan

03-10-2008, 14:30

Carpal tunnel syndrome, enjoy
Outch.... If that's it... Outch.... Typical computer user's "illness"

Fragony

03-10-2008, 14:33

Really? And how have we come to this diagnosis, Dr. Fragony? :yes:

Pretty common with people that use computers a lot, you need another mouse.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carpal_tunnel_syndrome

Mikeus Caesar

03-10-2008, 14:36

Fragony

03-10-2008, 14:38

Just lucky then I guess ~;)

LeftEyeNine

03-10-2008, 14:47

Tyndromassive Aphostomiasis Major aka Max-Ferlinger Syndrome.

Sorry to hear that. ~:(

Caerfanan

03-10-2008, 14:47

To answer your questions, Caerfanan, yes, the pain is instant, no i haven't been doing any activities that are different, and i occasionally get the shakes in my hand for a few seconds. EDIT: Forgot to point out, the shakes are completely random and happen for no reason.

Frag - i don't use a mouse, i use a laptop touchpad. My hand typically stays in one position while my index finger does all the moving. I probably spend about 4-5 hours a day on it.
OK, next question, then, does it hurt inside your wrist, or do you feel it on the sides?

Does you hand stays in a "stretched or not very practical position"? With a touchpad, you coud have some of you fingers continuously pointing up...

Mikeus Caesar

03-10-2008, 14:51

LEN - neither of those returned any google results. Care to explain what it is?

Caerfanan - the pain is sort of inside the wrist. And the laptop is about a foot and a half directly in front of my. My index finger is perpetually on the touchpad with my other fingers raised above it. The bottom of the palm of my hand and my wrist drops off the laptop and rests on the table.

Caerfanan

03-10-2008, 14:59

Hmmmm. If it's inside the wrist, it really could be what Fragony said - Carpel tunnel syndrome... And if it is "only" an inflammation of some tendons (is that an english word), I'm afraid there's not much to do: a lot of water, rest and specific pain killer for maybe two weeks....

TosaInu

03-10-2008, 15:00

Mikeus Caesar

03-10-2008, 15:06

Hello Mikeus Caesar,

It's nasty. Working for hours a day on a computer is a risk, maybe you won't experience any problem for years until suddenly.

It's important to have some tiny breaks while working.

Can you really go for years without it popping up?

Because i have been using the computer excessively for years with no problem. Maybe the recent change to touchpad in the last few months is responsible?

Caerfanan - as for the option of rest, not possible. The only way i can keep myself sane in this boring place is through the use of the computer, it's a great timesink. Without it i can only sit around all day, as there is very little to do.

Fragony

03-10-2008, 15:29

Better somewhat less then not at all, these are first symptoms, it can get very painful if you don't relax it a bit.

Mikeus Caesar

03-10-2008, 15:43

Well, i'll see how it goes. If it gets worse (i.e i can't pick up an empty mug without it hurting) then i'll concede defeat and submit myself to a week or two of boredom.

Fragony

03-10-2008, 16:01

Might want to check a docter first, if it is very acute it could also be a hernia. Been doing some heavy lifting lately?

Mikeus Caesar

03-10-2008, 16:11

Might want to check a docter first, if it is very acute it could also be a hernia. Been doing some heavy lifting lately?

Nah, no heavy lifting. And i'll definitely be checking with a doctor. Just went to drink from the milk bottle as i usually do. And as usual it hurt my wrist to lift it. But the real killer was holding the bottle with my bad hand while screwing the top back on. Just that slight force hurt like hell, and now i've got a dull pain in my wrist, despite this being 5 minutes ago.

LeftEyeNine

03-10-2008, 16:25

Mikeus, I love making nonsense jokes around.

For the topic, why not pop out in an instant? Is your body a periodically maintained system of manufactured components ?

Go see an orthopaedist ASAP. Don't take this lightly.

Fragony

03-10-2008, 16:26

And i'll definitely be checking with a doctor.

Good boy. I have a high tolerance for pain and a very low tolerance for knowing what causes it, hate docters and that's stupid. Once hurt my hand in a match and walked weeks with, turned out to be broken on 3 places. So, they had to be broken again and you don't get any sedation here *snap* *snap* *snap*, let me tell you that I have sung a better tune :sweatdrop:

Mikeus Caesar

03-10-2008, 16:50

LEN - i would go and see a doctor ASAP, but it's 2.19am right now :beam:

Frag - ow ow ow ow ow! I can only imagine how much that hurt :thumbsdown:

Orda Khan

03-10-2008, 17:09

Wrist splints may be some use, your hand will be held in one position but that should still allow you to use your laptop, even though it may be wiser to have a break from it

......Orda

ELITEofWARMANGINGERYBREADMEN88

03-10-2008, 18:03

I have Tendinotis (still, though I am getting really better with breaks). Just take a month break from computers and you be fun :yes:

Viking

03-10-2008, 20:05

Just take a month break from computers and you be fun :yes:

Always good to know that there's an easy solution. :juggle2:

Mouzafphaerre

03-10-2008, 20:17

.
Miki,

Go to a doc man. :yes:
.

El Diablo

03-10-2008, 20:28

Mikeus Ceasar please just go to the Doctor.

I have a friend whose wife constantly gets "Self-diagnoses" off internet "medical websites".

Whilst hillarious to me (when she determined that her sore back was due to some form of wheat intolerance) it does become a problem to others - no bread in the house for my friend.

Also IF it is nothing and you go to the Doctor, your mind will be put at ease, IF it is something you will know and get the proper treatment. No more worries.

BTW my friend, with the crazy wife, is waiting to come home one day to a house covered in a bio-shroud when the "headache" turns out to "actually" be ebola. :inquisitive:

Uesugi Kenshin

03-10-2008, 21:19

Anyone have a clue if trackball mice help prevent carpal tunnel?

Good Ship Chuckle

03-10-2008, 22:43

Best case: You'll have to take a break from computers, and wear a brace.

Worst case: ...Surgery. My friend's mother had to have surgery for carpal tunnel. She wasn't even allowed to drive a car. Good luck. :sweatdrop:

naut

03-10-2008, 23:59

A laptop touchpad you say? I can see the problem; even though its your index finger that moves up and down your wrist has to constantly move sideways if you want to scroll across, putting unusual strain on those tendons.

Hope the pain goes away soon.

The Wandering Scholar

03-11-2008, 00:12

hmm use your left arm for a bit... (or if you are left handed use your right..)

Somebody Else

03-11-2008, 01:07

I get the same thing going on - pretty sure it's over-use of the computer. Don't use my touchpad much, but I do have my mouse sensitivity high enough that the only movement (much like a touchpad) is just a few milimetres in each direction.

Take a break, I bought myself one of those elasticated wrist supports - it didn't get rid of the pain when it happened, but did soften it somewhat, and stop it happening so often.

Puzz3D

03-11-2008, 01:51

Take a break, I bought myself one of those elasticated wrist supports - it didn't get rid of the pain when it happened, but did soften it somewhat, and stop it happening so often.
The wrist pad can be counter productive if it causes you to flex your wrist left and right as you move the mouse. The preferred motion is to keep your wrist straight while moving your arm from the elbow. The best solution I've found is to place the mouse on a small table that's just below elbow level next to my chair. You won't need any wrist rest with that setup.

I also found that a wireless mouse was too heavy (due to the batteries) to push around and eventually caused me to have the wrist pain. I changed to a wired optical mouse because it was light weight and easy to move, and I haven't had any wrist pain since (about 5 years). My mouse sensitivity is set for 7 cm (2.75 inches) to move it all the way across the screen, and I can use my computer as many hours a day as I want with that setting. This mouse also has low resistance microswitches which makes pushing the mouse buttons very easy, so that helps if you do things that require lots of mouse clicks. A keyboard with easy to push keys is also important if you do a lot of typing.

Caerfanan

03-11-2008, 14:28

Caerfanan - as for the option of rest, not possible. The only way i can keep myself sane in this boring place is through the use of the computer, it's a great timesink. Without it i can only sit around all day, as there is very little to do.
OK, that's me being stupid and remembering his dislocated shoulder.
.. You have another hand, right?

And BTW, self medicating oneself too much is a thing, going to the doctor for a scratch is another. If this really bothers you, you definitely should go to the doctor, especially if it's not better after a few days break. Just a few days, mate, dies, there...

And heavy "carpal tunnel syndrome" usually starts with "little tendinotis" (is that correct in english?) that you keep going, and going, and going... So you'd better know for sure.

I second Fragony on that one.. My girlfriend got kicked hard in the hand at a Taekwondo session and waited a whole week before deciding to check out what was wrong: broken... Now one of her hand bones (metacarpe in french) is slightly bent... Not enough te rebreak it, but well, she got lucky...

Vladimir

03-11-2008, 14:46

Look here (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=100398) for an expensive alternative.

Proletariat

03-11-2008, 14:50

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome doesn't cause only pain. It's more often you have shooting pain down the first three fingers, with numbness and tingling.

You get CTS from any prolonged activity that causes the wrist to be flexed or extended.

http://www.ubsportsmed.buffalo.edu/images/education/navicular4.gif

Puzz's mouse table setup is by far the best way to go. It sounds like it's probably something else but it's too difficult to guess what without seeing exactly where the symptoms are from.

Let us know how the doctor visit goes, best of luck!

Mikeus Caesar

03-11-2008, 14:55

LeftEyeNine

03-11-2008, 15:03

Prole - the shooting tingling sensation you described, i did happen to experience it (rather coincidentally) just as i clicked this thread. I flexed my wrist, got awful tingle through my tendons in my hand leading up to my middle finger. Can still kind of feel it now. It's not painful, but it doesn't feel very pleasant.

EDIT: And if you're interested, it happened because i flexed my wrist in a way very similar to the latter of the two positions in your link. I moved my hand as far up as it could go unassisted when i got it.

Mikey, patients intend to be patients more than anyone else. So instead of "inflating" your concerns, try not to think of it, and wait for the professional response before anything else.

Quick recovery. :bow:

Proletariat

03-11-2008, 15:11

Ah, try these two tests (only ones I know of that you could do without someone who knows what they're doing there to help you)

Tinel's sign test

Your health professional taps on the inside of your wrist over the median nerve. If you feel tingling, numbness, "pins and needles," or a mild "electrical shock" sensation in your hand when tapped on the wrist, you may have carpal tunnel syndrome.

Phalen's sign test

You rest your elbows on a flat surface such as a desk, with your elbows bent and your forearms up. You then flex your wrists, letting your hands hang down for about 60 seconds. If you feel tingling, numbness, or pain in the fingers within 60 seconds, you may have carpal tunnel syndrome.
http://www.webmd.com/pain-management/carpal-tunnel/physical-exam-for-carpal-tunnel-syndrome

For the Tinel's test you could take your left hand and tap with your first two fingers on the palmar side of your right wrist, just below the crease that separates your palm from your wrist.

Anyway, go get it looked at. They might just give you a wrist cock-up splint that maintains that neutral position for your wrist and that could be enough to have the symptoms go away.

Somebody Else

03-11-2008, 20:51

The wrist pad can be counter productive if it causes you to flex your wrist left and right as you move the mouse. The preferred motion is to keep your wrist straight while moving your arm from the elbow.

That's what I meant, essentially - I used the support to stop my wrist moving at all, forcing, as you said, movement from the elbow. (Though, to be honest, I do most of the side-to-side movement by nudging the mouse with either thumb or ring finger)

Mikeus Caesar

03-12-2008, 05:57

Mikey, patients intend to be patients more than anyone else.

I also have huge rashes everywhere, am spitting up blood, and ocassionally have fits where i recite the satanic bible backwards ;)

I'm not intending to be a patient, i just happened to be flexing my wrists, as you do out of boredom without noticing. And then it hurt. And then i read prole's post. And i lol'd.

Caerfanan

03-12-2008, 15:47

Prole - the shooting tingling sensation you described, i did happen to experience it (rather coincidentally) just as i clicked this thread. I flexed my wrist, got awful tingle through my tendons in my hand leading up to my middle finger. Can still kind of feel it now. It's not painful, but it doesn't feel very pleasant.

EDIT: And if you're interested, it happened because i flexed my wrist in a way very similar to the latter of the two positions in your link. I moved my hand as far up as it could go unassisted when i got it.
Seriously, then: get cured properly before it becomes important enough to bother you for monthes, or even years. I'm not the best guy to tell you that, as I keep straining my Achille's tendon at taekwondo while it really needs a break, but I heard of people getting really handicaped by this. Try your other hand if you really can't not come here on the forum (which I understand)

edyzmedieval

03-12-2008, 22:46

Oh well, I had wrist problems, but it was a professional disease. Basketball. :beam:

I had some wrist liquid which clogged up in one place and prevented me from flexing my wrist.

Mikeus Caesar

03-13-2008, 15:04

Oh well, I had wrist problems, but it was a professional disease. Basketball. :beam:

I had some wrist liquid which clogged up in one place and prevented me from flexing my wrist.

That sounds disgustingly fascinating...please do go on :yes:

Kaidonni

03-13-2008, 16:22

I also suggest going to the doctor. Nip any problem in the bud while you still can. It might simply be Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI), or how you are holding your wrist. Or it could be more serious. Don't rely on self-diagnosis or us forummers to diagnose you. Rely on a professional. Doctors are there to help, and that is what they do best. You really could save yourself a whole lot of trouble. Don't end up in a situation where you look back and say,' What if I had [insert most likely action here, the one we're all insisting on]?'

ReiseReise

03-13-2008, 17:35

If it just started with the touchpad but you have been using a mouse for years with no problems, it would be logical to use a mouse with your laptop.
If you have insurance, go to a doctor ASAP.
If you don't have insurance, I would try not using the touchpad for 2 weeks and see if that helps, rather than seeing the doctor immediately.
You: "Doctor, it hurts when I do this"
Doctor: "Then don't do that."