Repetitive Strain Injury

[dfc05]

Yes, it's another medical help thread!

Seeing as people here are presumably on the computer a lot, has anyone ever had serious repetitive strain injury (RSI) before? And possibly know how long it lasts/what to do to make it stop? This includes stuff like carpal tunnel syndrome and other nerve disorders.

The ring and pinky finger on my right hand started hurting yesterday for no apparent reason. I can't uncurl them or apply any pressure (e.g. typing, drying them off with a towel, putting on gloves) without dull pain, which seems to have gotten a little worse and slightly tingly. I've resorted to typing with only one hand and having retarded-looking handwriting since I'm right-handed. I can't wash my hair very well and I haven't even attempted to clean my dishes.

After reading stuff online, I'm thinking this may be from too much computer use, not enough sleep, bad sitting posture, falling asleep in uncomfortable positions, or hauling around bags of groceries and textbooks last week which gave me really bad neck/shoulder pain (maybe a pinched nerve). Basically I do everything wrong D:

I'm going to the clinic tomorrow and hoping they don't have to inject me with anything. It would suck if this is permanent damage. I feel semi-crippled right now.

 

[Letters]

Only RSI I get is from drumming. Wrist, fingers... Basically all I do to make it go away is to just stop doing what I'm doing that makes it hurt. Whether it be taking a break, changing technique, whatever. The worst I've ever had it was in my wrist, where it was hurting for a few days even without playing at all, but I was still able to do everything else pretty much normal. What you have sounds terrible in comparison. ;(

As far as computer use, I do remember my hands getting this tingly, numb-ish feeling when I was playing World of Warcraft 12 hours a day a few years back, but that's it. And that was only because my desk was too high for my chair if recall correctly!

 

[Maestro]

I've never had issues, but I've heard of the problem.

Try getting something to apply pressure constantly, it might help. When I get tendonitis I get a pressure band to ease the pain.

 

[Danimal]

in before masturbation joke.

 

[Stigmata]

I've begun to get the warning signs of carpal tunnel. My wrist grinds a little, and after four hours of Borderlands (poison of choice right now) my middle and ring fingers start to hurt. But I fix that up by shaking my hand wildly and doing some wrist rotation stretches every 20 minutes while I'm on the computer.

 

[Hurricane]

in before masturbation joke.

Damn you...

 

[dfc05]

The doctor said pretty much the same things (aside from the masturbation jokes...)

I'm supposed to take breaks from working and do finger-stretching exercises. My neck muscles might actually be in worse condition (in her exact words, "they're in spasm!") so I have hot compresses and neck stretches too.

I'm thinking about installing some RSI software that forces me to take breaks except I'd rather not have it be obtrusive and disable my computer... which kinda defeats the purpose of having RSI software .

 

[Dinnesch]

If you have a Wii throw it away.

 

[VirusType2]

Only thing I can suggest is for you to scrutinize the ergonomics of your computer desk. The height of your keyboard/mouse is pretty important. You might try lowering it and/or raising your chair.

Scrutinize.

When I was a carpenter, I had to hammer the **** out of something for a long time - nails into concrete. And after a couple of hours, I could not open my hand. It was pretty worrisome for me, because - what the **** - can't open my hand anymore - but it went away that day.