Tip #4548 - Computers and Carpal Tunnel
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Q:
Lately, I've been hearing a lot of stories about people getting carpal
tunnel from typing too much with their computer keyboard. Is there
any truth in that? Can you please clear this up for me?
A:
Oh, that's a wonderful question! I've been asked
this in the past, but I never really got around to discussing it,
so I'm glad you brought it up again. This is something every computer
user should be aware of and since all of you reading this newsletter
are computer users, I urge you to pay attention. In this article,
I will go over what exactly carpal tunnel is, what some of the symptoms
are and how all of you could be affected by it. Let's get started!
First of all,
I'm sure there are some of you out there asking, "What is carpal
tunnel?" Well, it's technically called the Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
and it is basically the result of a compressed nerve in the wrist
area. The affected nerve is called the median nerve and it is in charge
of delivering sensations to the thumb and all of the other fingers,
minus the pinky. The term carpal tunnel actually comes from the passageway
of bones and ligaments in the wrist that the median nerve goes through.
If the median nerve is compressed, it could result in numbness and
different levels of pain.
A lot of different
symptoms surround the Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, including pain, numbness
and tingling. Some people even suffer from lack of strength in their
grip and burning sensations in the wrist and hand areas. Severe cases
of the syndrome also include the inability to sense hot and cold,
as well as, loose muscle.
So, now that you
know all the symptoms, I'm guessing you want to know how carpal tunnel
happens, right? Well, it can happen for various reasons. The Carpal
Tunnel Syndrome can start to flare up when your wrist or arm has been
compressed or has been in the same position for a long period of time.
It could be caused by sleeping with your wrists flexed all night,
using a mouse or keyboard for too long without taking a break or it
can even be caused by falling and landing on your wrists the wrong
way. Keeping your wrists in the same position without rest can definitely
cause carpal tunnel.
Studies show that
women are more likely to have carpal tunnel than men, mostly because
their arms and nerves are smaller. It's also said that certain occupations
carry a big risk for this type of injury. Some of those include assembly
line workers, typists or anything that requires you to do the same
task over and over again. As you can see, using your computer for
an extended amount of time without rest can be troublesome. If you
fall into that category, you can take steps to avoid the carpal tunnel
injury. For example, you should take plenty of breaks. If you just
take five minutes out of every half hour to flex your wrists and relax
your muscles, you'll be much better off in the end. Doing that can
really save you from some pain later on.
If you feel any
of the above symptoms, you'll want to consult your doctor right away.
Your doctor will probably start out with a treatment plan of rest
for approximately two weeks. They will want you to relax your wrist
muscles before you go back to work. If you don't do that, your case
could become severe and it could require surgery. Of course, surgery
is used as a last resort, but you should do all you can beforehand
to make sure it doesn't come to that. Certain drugs, acupuncture and
massage therapy have also been used in treatment plans. You should
also ensure that arthritis isn't causing your pain and if it is, be
sure to treat that first.
Now, if you fear
carpal tunnel because you use your computer on a regular basis, there
are some things you can do to combat it. First, try switching to an
ergonomic keyboard. They are split and angled so that your fingers
rest more naturally on the keys. On a standard keyboard, you have
to twist your wrists outward, which puts more strain on your carpal
tunnel area. An ergonomic keyboard helps you position your wrists
for a more comfortable feel, which minimizes the pressure. There are
ergonomic mice you can use as well and you can find those and the
keyboards at any regular computer store.
Of course, you
shouldn't depend on those devices alone to cure your carpal tunnel,
but they can be a big help. And like I said before, be sure to take
breaks often and give your hands a rest. Feel free to relax, my friends!
~ Erin
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