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I had bad wrists from the get-go

Posted By: Bad wrists. on 2006-02-01
In Reply to: those of you with hand pain, carpal tunnel, tendinitis - related to typing...? sm

I have had two ganglion cysts removed from my left wrist and one removed from my right wrist.  Also, in August 2005 I had sugery for DeQuervain's in my left wrist.  It was after this that I finished my schooling and became an MT.  Maybe I'm asking for more trouble, I don't know.  But this was what I really wanted to do, so I'm willing to take the risk.  I have been having trouble with my wrists since I was in the 6th grade...so I guess I'm used to it.  So far, things have been OK for me.  I haven't had any trouble, even from the most recent surgery.  I try to take at least 5-10 minutes every hour and stretch my fingers and wrists, and just give them a "breather".  I know I will end up with trouble in the future, however.  So, I feel your pain.


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And sore wrists. Have you tried any of these?

Smart Gloves.  Google them.  They're wonderful.  About $20 bucks apiece but well worth the money.


Carpal tunnel type straps.  Wal Mart.  $10 bucks apiece.


I have both and I alternate.


I ended up with numbness in my right index finger, but after buying these, it just went away after a few weeks.  My fingers and wrists have some discomfort on occasion, but nothing like they were before.


One more thing, and I know people that do this, if you do "pound" the keyboard with your fingertips, relax those hands, elbows and shoulders and just tap. If that doesn't work, you may want to get a better keyboard.


Good luck!


sore wrists
I use Oregano Oil on my wrists and the tops of my hands. Sometimes it hurts to lift fingers and I run the Oregano Oil along those bones.
Invest in some wrists splints soon. ;) nm

good for a while, until your wrists give out.
nm
Therapy for hands and wrists that keep me typing. sm

With a medium-weight rubber band around your fingers and thumb, stretch your fingers and thumb out as wide as you can against the rubber band.  Bring fingers back in then stretch them out again, repeat 10 times 2 to 3 times a day. 


If you maintain a daily schedule with this you will definitely feel a difference.  Hope this helps!


Rings on 5 fingers, bracelets on both wrists. nm
.
Also wear Handeze. They keep wrists and hands
warm with some tension, not too much though, but helps with carpal tunnel also, being that they are elasticized.  I bought mine through craft catalogs, such as Herrschner's and Mary Maxim.  Can buy them through the catalog or online. 
Sorry! Wrists at 180 degrees in same flat plane as
s
I have arthritis in my wrists and thumbs, and find - sm
it works just as well to make my own. I buy cheap, thin, snug-fitting gloves, then cut out the fingers so that about 2/3 of each finger sticks out. That way all knuckle joints, base of thumbs, and wrists are warm, and when they're warm, they rarely hurt & I can type faster.
personally, I cannot type unless my wrists rest on
something, and my right hand is more "pegeon-toed" inward than my left.


Isn't decorating cakes hard on the wrists and

I wouldn't be able to handle not making more money when I need to. 


This board is not know it all and neither are the people who post here.  MT is not going away.  There are too many physicians and/or clinics that still use tapes.  Come on, let's be realistic.  There are changes and cut in pay, but do you not think the physicians are feeling the crunch as well?  They only get paid a certain amount from insurance companies.  They've been told not to prescribe certain meds.  It's not just MT, everyone is feeling the pressure of higher prices. 


It's a shame you've never found a company that truly appreciates your work!  Good luck with the cake stuff!  I hope people don't quit buying cakes because of the price of food rising!  The economy is tough, very tough! 


Oh, that is funny. What a visual...an MT with Frankenstein scars at wrists from
lol
Tip on Aching Wrists/Target Laundry Detergent!
Okay, I have hesitated sharing this one for a long time now, cause I know, absolutely know, I will get flamed somehow, cause its sort of silly, but its not silly to those of us whose wrists and/or arms are shot from this "career".  I have really bad wrists now AND elbows - actually if your wrists hurt, chances are your tendons are aggravated right up to your elbow, too, though the pain might not localize there.  At any rate, I also found my wrist would hurt with some "ADLs", mostly laundry.  No matter what size of detergent I bought, they were always heavy, and the motion of pouring deturg into the cups really hurt my right wrist. Sometimes I could even hear an audible "pop" on that motion of holding this heavy bottle and pouring. My physical medicine guy said it was the motion of that with the weight on top of typing that wreaked havoc on my wrists, and that even lots of women who don't type have popped their tendons out using laundry detergent!  Well, this is SO stupid, but...a few months ago I went to Target and saw their brand "Method" laundry detergent.  Its super concentrated and fits 32 loads in a tiny bottle. Plus, its like those mouthwash dispensers where you just hold the bottle upright and squeeze and a tiny bit of the detergent fills in a tiny cup at the top. You fill to the line, which takes all of 1 second, and that's all the detergent you need! Plus, this stuff is awesome with the laundry.  Prior to that, only Tide could get my kids clothes clean. This stuff is the BEST, and it smells great! Its about $6 for this bottle, which I would have thought expensive, but the savings on my wrists are priceless!  My carpal tunnel and elbow tendonitis have nearly completely healed. It was just this stupid combo of motions that did my wrists in!  For those older MTs like me, who've been at this for over 20 years, try it! It might help!!  Again, I see a sports med guy, and get injections occasionally. I used to have to wear wrist braces, etc.  I was scheduled for surgery until I started using this silly Target laundry detergent! Now, no more pain!  Isn't that so weird? But neat?
Any suggestions for painful hands/wrists from typing?

My hands are always freezing cold.  I wear fleece "wristies" to keep warmer.  I have pain in both hands all day from typing.  One wrist has a ganglion, and both wrists have some arthritis showing on x-ray.  I rub capsaisin on hands/wrists.  Still the pain persists.  Pain relievers (Advil, etc.) do not help much.   Prescriptions from doctors did nothing.


I was wondering if other heavy typers out there might have found some helpful things to alleviate hand/wrist pain.  I even purchased "warming cream" which is supposed to help increase circulation to the hands, but it did nothing.  I have several keyboards that I have tried also. 


THanks!


What do you do when your wrists ache and your hands weigh a ton but you have to keep typing?

I know I have read posts on here before regarding this topic but I can never find them in the archives.  Besides a different keyboard, is there something you can take like a vitamin or different foods that will help?  I have noticed that if I eat potatoe chips, my hands are stiff the next morning.  Is there a certain brace or splint you can buy that you can wear when not working or do you even wear these when working?  I thought I saw some magnetic splint somewhere.  I am not like this every day, just some of the time but when I am, it is very frustrating. 


Also work on eScription. Make more. Easier on wrists. sm
It's editing work, and the reason I personally make more is that I'm a slow typist but a fast reader and "punctuator." The eScription software is very easy to learn.
what keyboard would best help with arthritis in my long fingers and wrists
Doc says I do not have carpal tunnel syndrome or cubital tunnel syndrome, I have osteoarthritis.  Most painful in the long fingers and the wrists of both hands.  I have tried the ergonomic keyboard and just can't seem to adjust.  I do use the A-style keyboard layout and love it.  Anyone have one they use that is not as abusive to the arthritis.  Thanks in advance. 
Mine are on a beanbag wrist rest. Need wrists at 90-degree angle
s