Slight health problem

[Somebody Else]

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]

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]

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]

Look here for an expensive alternative.

[Proletariat]

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/i...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]

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.

[LeftEyeNine]

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.

[Proletariat]

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...unnel-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]

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]

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]

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]

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

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

[Mikeus Caesar]

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

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

[Kaidonni]

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]

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."

[Caerfanan]

For th insurance stuff it might depend.. How is the health system in australia?