Thread: Carpal Tunnel Symptons and workarounds

Stevo - Thanks for the exercise. Spot on actually.
AlexS - I learnt to type with a box over the keyboard - worked well too.
BitingMidge -

JourneyManMick - yes - avoiding sanding like the plague would be nice. Having tools that do it for me is good but would have to do a lot of trying before buying. I am concerned about the vibration too, it does funny things to my hands. Soundman showed me a nice Metabo orbital sander at the Bris WShow which was a good weight with little vibration. DeWalt have a light & small sander too for about $158, but testing is needed. Maybe I should simply hire someone to the the sanding for me, barter a deal, I'll make it, you sand it....

Cheers
Wendy

Hey, you don't need to pay anything if you want to switch to the Dvorak layout.
Keep your existing keyboard - you just install a new "language layout", which comes standard with just about all versions of Windoze, and most recent Linuxes.

Under Control Panel, Keyboard, then Add. Pick English again, but with the Dvorak layout.

The default is to press the left hand Alt+Shift keys to switch from Dvorak to Qwerty and back, so mere mortals can use the keyboard too if needed.

Cheers,
Andrew

Hey, you don't need to pay anything if you want to switch to the Dvorak layout.
Keep your existing keyboard - you just install a new "language layout", which comes standard with just about all versions of Windoze, and most recent Linuxes.

Under Control Panel, Keyboard, then Add. Pick English again, but with the Dvorak layout.

The default is to press the left hand Alt+Shift keys to switch from Dvorak to Qwerty and back, so mere mortals can use the keyboard too if needed.

Cheers,
Andrew

Somewhere in the latest AWR there are gel gloves that are suposed to help avoid white-knuckle etc when sanding - I'll see if I can find it & post the details.

The Metabo ROS is a beauty, very little vibration, but I don't have RSI so can't comment on it from that aspect.

The vibration esp fast oscillation can cause circulatory and nerve damage to the fingers and hand areas, known as "whitefinger" or reynads syndrome, found frequently in jackhammer operators and old tree fellers who used the old solid mount chainsaws, My own issues of a broken wrist and carpal tunnel can be a bugga, but if I rest the hand (being relatively ambidextrous can be a bonus )and wear a good wrist brace and all comes good for a while. Unfortunately different bodies respond to different stimulii, so what works for me may be a dead loss for others.

I get a bit of RSI from time to time, although the physio I go to says it's not but the osteopath I alternate with says it is. These days I sit at a key board although it doesn't get constant use, but sitting up straight with elbow higher than hands is supposed to help and if the elbow is annoying me I will rest the wrists on something. I tend to put on thick leather gloves when sanding to cut down the vibration on the old Bosch ROS, I must look at the metabo mentioned earlier in the posts. Hammers and screwdriving remain a problem. I no longer drive in garden posts with a 4lb dump, but stick to a 2lb toy. Even hammering I tend to pick up the lightest hammer for the job, but screwdriving remains a problem, thank goodness for battery operated drills, sometimes a bit and brace, but seldom with a straight driver except for the last bit to adjust the screw home.



JohnC.

I sympathise with all sufferers of afflictions of the hands, (shoulders, elbows and other moving parts).

I have had "tenotomy" to release "trigger finger" in both hands, and have been warned carpal tunnel affliction, which is a near neighbour of trigger finger, and also Dupuytrens syndrome, is a future possibility for me.

Trigger finger, (referred to by a previous infamous NZ Minister of Finance who had it, as "taxgatherers claw") is a hereditary condition, exacerbated by use of the fingers (and who doesn't).

One or more of your fingers will not release naturally after you have gripped something, and forcing the finger to release, results in a painful snap, the "trigger" effect.

Anyway, for sufferers, get to an orthopaedic surgeon without delay and have the op. The pain afterwards, in the hand, and in the credit card is relatively shortlived..

My hands were dealt to, separately 4 and 6 years ago, and the freedom to use my hands now is marvelous. I have been cladding a large shed (12m x8m in 250x50 boards and batten) over the last few months, and have had no had problems.

Also recommended for bone and joint "lubrication" is glucosamine and condroitin, as well as a regular beer or so.

Cheers,

ROB

wendy
Try Glucosamine Chondroitin before anything else. Look at http://drtheo.com/ to read about it. A friends knees were bone on bone he started taking the stuff now he plays squash again.
I take it every now and again and do some stretches by pushing my hands back and forwards. Since doing this I have little to know trouble with my fingers, wrists, elbows and knees.

Originally Posted by DavidG

Don't muck round. Get both wrists cut. No problems then.

Seriously I had Carpal tunnel in both wrists. Terrible pain, particularly at night. After the ops I am as good as new.

Lucky , lucky bastard . Had both mine done in the mid nineties for a double failure . The keyboard isn't the problem for me , it's holding the mouse , or for that matter holding anything for long (no , my thingy doesn't count) .
Basically use as many power tools as you can , even then holding on to em hurts !
I just put up with the pain or start scoffing Nurofen's , besides , my back usually gives out first (hmm , more Nurofen)

Originally Posted by AlexS

Somewhere in the latest AWR there are gel gloves that are suposed to help avoid white-knuckle etc when sanding - I'll see if I can find it & post the details.

Sorry, couldn't find the ad, but I reckon if you try a chainsaw place they could point you in the right direction.

if I come across the ad I'll post it straight away.

Very interesting reading - thank you. Great website too - thanks.

Yes - am slowly training my left hand to do some sanding for me. Looks like I'll be getting a friend's belt sander in the next two weeks, which will certainly help a lot.
I got the girls to do some sanding for me this weekend - was working well, then I turned my back and they were gone

I have to watch the neurofen - especially if it's the Plus-type. Interesting side effect of getting high, very quickly, for an hour or so.


Cheers
Wendy

Originally Posted by flea1607

Therma Skin Wrist Guards

Hi Flea1607

Could you tell me some more about the Therma Skin Wrist Guards? How do you find them? Do they get too hot or uncomfortable?

Thanks
Wendy

Originally Posted by rufflyrustic

I have to watch the neurofen - especially if it's the Plus-type. Interesting side effect of getting high, very quickly, for an hour or so.


Cheers
Wendy

really , how many you taking at a time ? or is there just not much of you for it to have to work on ?
I take a couple of the Plus and after about an hour I get some pain relief (I do weigh a lot though) , a couple of beers on top don't seem to make much difference either (not recommended for other people).
Might pester my doctor to send me back for another go at the wrist op's , I heard it's a different procedure these days !
Maybe get em to fit a wooden back and neck while there at it , the bone ones that came standard seem to have worn out too quick .:eek:

Originally Posted by rufflyrustic

Why use that when I have my own :eek:

RR

Ruffly's got you there Cliff

Would be useful to relieve stress for the rest of us tho' ...

Cheers........Sean the brinkman