A good mousepad w/ gel wrist support works wonders as well.
Also, my friend swears by his vertical mouse.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Who's Got It?
- Thread starter IceToEskimos
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A good mousepad w/ gel wrist support works wonders as well.
Also, my friend swears by his vertical mouse.
A good mousepad w/ gel wrist support works wonders as well.
Also, my friend swears by his vertical mouse.
+1 for this, I have it and LUV IT!
A good mousepad w/ gel wrist support works wonders as well.
Also, my friend swears by his vertical mouse.
My office is getting ultra-weird now.
I'm really digging this thread, btw.
I knew you assholes would be able to help.
Biggest reason I had something like this, was cause my elbows were leaning on a semi-hard surface most of the time (chair arm rests or desk). I added padding to the chair and it slowly got better - so look into that as well. Ulnar nerve stuff usually happens at the elbow.
There are also some exercises you can do - don't know how much they help though.
There are also some exercises you can do - don't know how much they help though.
between the geek desk, the ergonomic input devices, and now this, my office is about to become extremely weird.
Another BS device. All the weight of the arm is supported on that pressure point which happens to be right about where the inflammation is, and the wrist is bent unnaturally downward.
Ideally you want your whole arm lying flat on the table so the weight is distributed evenly up to the natural arch of your wrist, and then your hand should lie almost flat too.
A good mousepad w/ gel wrist support works wonders as well.
Also, my friend swears by his vertical mouse.
easily the best mouse i've had till date
Sweet.
Now I'll look like robocop playing DDR.
Unless I opt for a total ergonomic setup like this one:
Also, I suggest you get a mechanical keyboard. It could be ergo, but for me the mechanical part was much better for me than the non-mechanical ergo. I have this:
I will say, there is a huge geek vanity thing to it also. I get a big kick when someone new comes to my desk, sees the keyboard, does a double take and says:
"That keyboard has no markings!"
It also totally discourages friends and family from touching my computer. Someone will ask, can I check x on your computer? They then look at the keyboard and mouse and realize they will check it latter, or ask me to check for them. So no one else's fingers touch it.
I will say, there is a huge geek vanity thing to it also. I get a big kick when someone new comes to my desk, sees the keyboard, does a double take and says:
"That keyboard has no markings!"
It also totally discourages friends and family from touching my computer. Someone will ask, can I check x on your computer? They then look at the keyboard and mouse and realize they will check it latter, or ask me to check for them. So no one else's fingers touch it.
Apologies for bumping this thread again. I went to my chiropractor and he's gonna start snapping my wrists back in place so I'll update you guys on if it actually helps or not.
My measure of success is if my wrists can withstand doing a regular pushup again
My measure of success is if my wrists can withstand doing a regular pushup again
standing desk
standing desk helped considerably with this.
and when i sit i use this
and place it in my lap. it helps by
1. having my arms at a more natural relaxed angle - this helps with wrist as well as shoulder/neck issues
2. not having to go, mouse, keyboard, mouse, keyboard with my right hand. The mouse is embedded so it limits movements
standing desk helped considerably with this.
and when i sit i use this
and place it in my lap. it helps by
1. having my arms at a more natural relaxed angle - this helps with wrist as well as shoulder/neck issues
2. not having to go, mouse, keyboard, mouse, keyboard with my right hand. The mouse is embedded so it limits movements
I spend a lot of time at the computer - like y'all - but most is typing, as opposed to scrolling and reading. I've tried all sorts of keyboard set-ups, and I can tell immediately if something feels even the smallest bit off.
The set up I have includes a chair that requires me to sit up straight, a standard keyboard with a separate high-tech wrist support. I also use a normal mouse, but freak out if my wrist-pad isn't there. I think the biggest thing, though, is I actually built my desk as part of a wall of custom built-ins. That way it's the perfect height for me.
The set up I have includes a chair that requires me to sit up straight, a standard keyboard with a separate high-tech wrist support. I also use a normal mouse, but freak out if my wrist-pad isn't there. I think the biggest thing, though, is I actually built my desk as part of a wall of custom built-ins. That way it's the perfect height for me.
1st step is to find this EXACT keyboard:
That ERGO KB you posted earlier might be OK, but look on eBay for this keyboard. It is a PS/2 connection though.
With my recent Workstation build I had to be sure the new Motherboard had at least one PS/2 connection for this keyboard.
This is the ONLY KB I will use for typing. (I bought 6 of these on eBay a few years ago.) I can't type for crap on the Laptop or a regular keyboard. Wrists are twisted weird and my shoulders feel like they are in a vice on a regular keyboard.
This keyboard also has the Raiser Bar at the BOTTOM near the palm of your hands. Not at the TOP like regular keyboards which only makes the angle worse. Being at the bottom and raising your palms forms a STRAIGHT Natural line for your wrists with no bending or pressure on them.
Also the separation of the keys and the angle they are on along with the rise & fall of the "wave" pattern really does relax your shoulders and hands.
I was also very surprised when I hooked back up with my Fiancée after 20 years and this is the ONLY Keyboard she had and will do any serious typing on. She's a Writer and types over 120wpm.
This is the OLD First MS Natural Keyboard. All the other newer ones are CRAP!! They cramp me up like a regular keyboard does.
I have several Logitech Wireless KB's for surfing and research. The MK700 & 710's.
Back in 2004 I fell asleep in my office chair for a few hours with my forearms on the arm rests.
When I woke up BOTH hands were COMPLETELY NUMB!!! I freaked out!! It took almost 24 hours for me to even have pins and needle feeling in them!! (Think about trying to wipe your ASS when you can't feel your hands. )
Called the Doc and by the time I got to him 4 days later I could feel my thumbs, forefingers, and middle fingers as normal. But the Ring and Pinky fingers of both hands were still pins & needles.
The Doc told me that I had Pinched the Ulnar Nerve in both arms and he prescribed Elbow Braces for me. Told me to NOT let my forearms rest on chair arm rests anymore and to be sure to NOT bump my elbows on anything while the nerve was healing.
During the day I wore them normally and at night I turned them around so that my arms would be STRAIGHT out when I slept. I also had the wrist braces like what Guerilla posted up that I wore on both hands at night.
It took me 6 months to get rid of the pins & needles. (Never would have thought that a few hours of squashing a nerve would take that long to recover.)
But having my arm bent to talk on the phone would put those fingers to sleep again within 5 minutes. Had to keep switching hands.
The Doc wanted to do the surgery where they re-route the nerve so that it is essentially longer and no longer gets stretched thin when bending the elbow and/or wrist.
I decided against it. A golfing buddy of mine suggest this: FLA OrthopedicsGAYGel-Band Professional Grade Black Arm Band | Walgreens
I bought two of them and ONLY used these from then on for about another year.
After that I stopped using anything.
I've been using Gel Wrist pads on my desk ever since as well. Similar to this:
In a pinch away from my computers I've taken the thick wetsuit-like mouse pads and rolled them and then taped them to use as a wrist rest. (No Guerilla, the Burrito Mouse Pad Roll puts NO PRESSURE to speak of on the wrist. Yes, the GEL pad does put "some" but NOT like just being on a HARD DAMN DESK!!)
I put EXTRA padding (By the way of Memory Foam.) on the arm rest of my office chairs while the nerve was healing. No way could "I" go all day at the computer without resting my arms on them from time to time.
It actually took about 3 years for me to get back to "almost" normal. Once in awhile I'll get the numbness along the lower half of my forearm in line with my pinky and then my whole pinky and half of my ring finger will go numb for a few minutes to an hour. But it will go away and then it'll be fine for months at a time.
Thanks to having been arrested back in the 1990's and the Handcuffs being so tight that I lost all felling in both thumbs for almost a year and recovered, I was hoping that this too would heal on it's own and it seems to have done so.
At least good enough for an Old Fart like me.
Lulz
That ERGO KB you posted earlier might be OK, but look on eBay for this keyboard. It is a PS/2 connection though.
With my recent Workstation build I had to be sure the new Motherboard had at least one PS/2 connection for this keyboard.
This is the ONLY KB I will use for typing. (I bought 6 of these on eBay a few years ago.) I can't type for crap on the Laptop or a regular keyboard. Wrists are twisted weird and my shoulders feel like they are in a vice on a regular keyboard.
This keyboard also has the Raiser Bar at the BOTTOM near the palm of your hands. Not at the TOP like regular keyboards which only makes the angle worse. Being at the bottom and raising your palms forms a STRAIGHT Natural line for your wrists with no bending or pressure on them.
Also the separation of the keys and the angle they are on along with the rise & fall of the "wave" pattern really does relax your shoulders and hands.
I was also very surprised when I hooked back up with my Fiancée after 20 years and this is the ONLY Keyboard she had and will do any serious typing on. She's a Writer and types over 120wpm.
This is the OLD First MS Natural Keyboard. All the other newer ones are CRAP!! They cramp me up like a regular keyboard does.
I have several Logitech Wireless KB's for surfing and research. The MK700 & 710's.
Back in 2004 I fell asleep in my office chair for a few hours with my forearms on the arm rests.
When I woke up BOTH hands were COMPLETELY NUMB!!! I freaked out!! It took almost 24 hours for me to even have pins and needle feeling in them!! (Think about trying to wipe your ASS when you can't feel your hands. )
Called the Doc and by the time I got to him 4 days later I could feel my thumbs, forefingers, and middle fingers as normal. But the Ring and Pinky fingers of both hands were still pins & needles.
The Doc told me that I had Pinched the Ulnar Nerve in both arms and he prescribed Elbow Braces for me. Told me to NOT let my forearms rest on chair arm rests anymore and to be sure to NOT bump my elbows on anything while the nerve was healing.
During the day I wore them normally and at night I turned them around so that my arms would be STRAIGHT out when I slept. I also had the wrist braces like what Guerilla posted up that I wore on both hands at night.
It took me 6 months to get rid of the pins & needles. (Never would have thought that a few hours of squashing a nerve would take that long to recover.)
But having my arm bent to talk on the phone would put those fingers to sleep again within 5 minutes. Had to keep switching hands.
The Doc wanted to do the surgery where they re-route the nerve so that it is essentially longer and no longer gets stretched thin when bending the elbow and/or wrist.
I decided against it. A golfing buddy of mine suggest this: FLA OrthopedicsGAYGel-Band Professional Grade Black Arm Band | Walgreens
I bought two of them and ONLY used these from then on for about another year.
After that I stopped using anything.
I've been using Gel Wrist pads on my desk ever since as well. Similar to this:
In a pinch away from my computers I've taken the thick wetsuit-like mouse pads and rolled them and then taped them to use as a wrist rest. (No Guerilla, the Burrito Mouse Pad Roll puts NO PRESSURE to speak of on the wrist. Yes, the GEL pad does put "some" but NOT like just being on a HARD DAMN DESK!!)
I put EXTRA padding (By the way of Memory Foam.) on the arm rest of my office chairs while the nerve was healing. No way could "I" go all day at the computer without resting my arms on them from time to time.
It actually took about 3 years for me to get back to "almost" normal. Once in awhile I'll get the numbness along the lower half of my forearm in line with my pinky and then my whole pinky and half of my ring finger will go numb for a few minutes to an hour. But it will go away and then it'll be fine for months at a time.
Thanks to having been arrested back in the 1990's and the Handcuffs being so tight that I lost all felling in both thumbs for almost a year and recovered, I was hoping that this too would heal on it's own and it seems to have done so.
At least good enough for an Old Fart like me.
Lulz
You might want to try a Trackball or a Vertical Mouse for awhile to let your wrist and forearm tendons & ligaments work differently.
If you lay your arm flat on your desk with the elbow at the edge of the desk and the whole forearm supported with the palm of your hand in a mousing position, there should be a gap about three inches long and about a half an inch high from the heel of your hand along the length of your wrist where your wrist doesn't even touch the desk. ie, no pressure at all. Jamming something into that gap does then apply pressure that normally would not even be there.
I hate arm rests. They only add more pressure to your arms and encourage you to slouch and support your upper body weight on them, ultimately causing shoulder shrug and problems in the shoulders and neck. If you remove the arms from your chair and use a keyboard tray then your arms hang at a natural angle without any pressure at all and it also keeps your from slouching as much.
I would look into one of these if it where me...I own one... use it for lower back pain...amazing
iMRS 2000 Website: Considering the iMRS PEMF? Learn more here.
iMRS 2000 Website: Considering the iMRS PEMF? Learn more here.
Also, my friend swears by his vertical mouse.
I got this mouse in the office now (well the wired version) and I can say that wrist pain in my mouse hand has decreased significantly. Then I go home and game on a regular mouse, wrist pain comes back. So it's totally the mouse that's reducing the pain... does take getting used to though.. plus its super light
Also, I suggest you get a mechanical keyboard. It could be ergo, but for me the mechanical part was much better for me than the non-mechanical ergo. I have this:
I will say, there is a huge geek vanity thing to it also. I get a big kick when someone new comes to my desk, sees the keyboard, does a double take and says:
"That keyboard has no markings!"
It also totally discourages friends and family from touching my computer. Someone will ask, can I check x on your computer? They then look at the keyboard and mouse and realize they will check it latter, or ask me to check for them. So no one else's fingers touch it.
That is some crazy psycho shit when you have to remove letters off of your keyboard to keep people away...
But with all seriousness how does a "mechanical" keyboard feel, compared to a regular keyboard? Currently i have a G15 logitech gaming keyboard, i've had it for 6 years, it's time for an upgrade!