Re: Carpal Tunnel Excuses

["Lisa A. Roth" <roth -dot- lisa -at- jimmy -dot- harvard -dot- edu>]

Just a side note:

There are other wrist conditions besides carpal tunnel that can be 
caused and/or aggravated by repetitive motions. I myself occasionally 
suffer from a "ganglion" which is basically a lump that forms on one the 
top of or both wrists (most often the right because it gets the most 
use). The muscles (tendons? ligaments?) in question here are the little 
stringy ones that you can see move on the tops of your hands when you 
wiggle your fingers. (Carpal tunnel syndrome affects the underside of 
the wrists, as I understand it.) I have heard that this happens somewhat 
frequently with volleyball, tennis, and piano players, too, but I am not 
positive.

For me, things that set it off are repetitive or long-term "grasping" or 
"pushing down" movements, such as clicking the mouse a million times, 
complicated graphics work that involves a lot of click-and-drag, driving 
for long periods (!!), or even grasping the subway bar if I can't get a 
seat. Constant bending back of the wrist contributes, as well. 
(Strangely, typing doesn't really affect me.)  This all began in my old 
days doing *real* cut and paste and complicated graphics work both on 
the computer and on light tables.

According to my doctor, the only potential help for this condition is 
either rest or surgery, and the surgery gives you *maybe* a 50/50 chance 
of the ganglion not returning, so I naturally chose rest.    : )

I, thankfully, have not had this return in quite some time and when it 
does, it has been mild; a few days with a pharmacy-bought wrist 
immobilizer does the trick. (It has a metal insert that prevents me from 
bending the wrist does does not inhibit other motion.)  I can even 
continue working during this period with nary a problem.

This is because I finally (after many years) decided to buck the trend 
of everyone else's advice and find my own best way to sit, set-up my 
desk, etc. For example, for me, wrist rests and keyboard trays, along 
with the oh-so-touted "negative tilt" are a life sentence to pain and 
suffering. Instead, my keyboard and mouse are on the desktop, I work 
with a "positive tilt" (i.e., elbows @ 90 degrees or less), and I always 
rest my elbows on the arms of my chair. (All evil things in most 
ergonomists' eyes.)

My advice: It is a good thing to discuss these topics and share advice 
on a forum such as this because these conditions affect many of us, but 
don't hesitate to go your own way for a few weeks and try something 
else. Also, just because something hurts in the wrist doesn't mean it's 
automatically carpal tunnel. Have your doctor check that. The awareness 
of carpal tunnel syndrome is so much greater than other problems, that 
some people might try following advice for relieving carpal tunnel 
syndrome when they should perhaps do the *opposite* (as in my case).

Good luck and feel well!



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