Ask Me Help Desk - Is this carpal tunnel?

Hi!

I work a lot on the computer, and hang out on it some in my spare time. Last Sunday, I noticed that my right wrist was sore on the outside (the pinkie finger side, where that little bumpy bone is). I figured it was from mousing too much, and that it would go away with some rest and time away from the computer. However, it's now almost a week later, and it's still bothering me. So my first thought was "carpal tunnel syndrome". However, when I read up on the symptoms, it seems like this is the exact opposite of carpal.

Carpal tunnel: Affects the palm and the first three fingers. Doesn't affect the little finger.

Me: Fingers and palm fine. The little finger is a little tingly, and slightly colder-feeling than the others. Sore/tingly around that little bumpy bone on the wrist pinkie-side. Tingly feeling radiating up the outside of the arm to the elbow. Bending the wrist in certain directions causes sharp pain to go with the tingles, and it hurts to carry heavy things in that hand. And rubbing the outside of the arm from wrist to elbow will decrease the amount of tingling for as long as I do it.

So, is this carpal with really aberrant symptoms, or some other problem? I'm going on vacation starting next Friday, so my current plan is to baby it through next week (pain killers, limiting the mousing, etc.) and then see if a week away from the computer does any good. If it doesn't, then I am going to get in touch with a doctor and see what they say, but I'd like some thoughts on what I conditons I should be considering.

NO its not Carpal tunnel for the reasons you describe.

You may have a pinched nerve in the elbow due to inflammation - the so called funny bone.

Pad / cushion that elbow - you may be leaning on it while on the computer.

Grace and Peace

I agree with the answer above. You may be leaning on something with your elbow. Also, I have had similar symptoms to yours when my mousing arm was somewhat elevated when I was on the computer for many hours at a time. Now, when I use the computer, both my arms are in a hanging down position. There is much less fatigue for me that way.

If you are still having trouble with your wrist after a few days, then you might want to consider having your wrist or wrists adjusted by a chiropractor who actually manipulates your bones. Having them adjusted really helps me, because one of things that I do is that I am a professional pianist. The bones in the wrist can become displaced due to working by typing and mousing on a computer also. If you have never tried a chiropractor, you might like to give one a try. Just a thought.

Well, I'm definitely not resting on the elbow. But I do have a gel wrist rest for the mouse, and my wrist tends to rest on that, with the elbow pointing down in space. So it may be that I need to elevate the arm more. (Part of my problem is that I am proportioned oddly, so it is hard to find furniture that accommodates both really long legs and a relatively short torso. I wind up with the keyboard and mouse either being too high or too low.) But I got the mouse wrist rest because without it, I have the sharp desk edge pressing into the underside of the wrist, and that really hurts!)

And I will talk to my chiro about it.

I've had similar symptoms and found my mouse arm seems "locked" while I'm online.

You can try using a different approach angle with your elbow by moving your chair up or down with varying distances from your desk. And, so your hand will use a different grip (you didn't mention if you're using the same 'puter), you may also use a totally different mouse or switch to a trac ball version.

Quote:

Originally Posted by froggy7

And I will talk to my chiro about it.

I am glad that you will be doing that! :)