Re: OT - trouble typing - not a good thing

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Posted by jolynn on October 15, 2001 at 05:36:23:

In reply to: Re: OT - trouble typing - not a good thing posted by Rupal on October 13, 2001 at 05:56:29:

Oh, boy, does that sound familar! My discomfort started years ago, but
I never really noticed it. After I had my two children it got much
worse. At one point I couldn't sleep for more than an hour or 2
without my hands waking me up in burning pain. I put up with this for
several years before I finally just couldn't take it one more day. I
would be in tears!!

I went to the doctor and she had me do a copule of simple tests. one
was simply to put my elbows at shoulder height, put the backs of my
hands together, wrists touching, fingers down, forearms at shoulder
height. The question was, how long before they started to tingle or go
numb. The answer, less than 15 seconds-this is not so good.

She sent me of to be tested. I had advanced carpul tunnel. Moderate
nerve damage in my right hand and more severe in my left. They set me
up with the softest most comfortable splints- well, as much as
splint as can be-and I was able to sleep better. It did take some
getting used to, but 4 to 5 hours of sleep at a time was wonderful!
They also tried physical therapy. This only helped for a few days at a
time.

2 and 1/2 months later I had a release done on my left hand and the
other a couple of months later. The nerve damage took a little over a
year to completely heal-this was 18 months ago. now if my hands fall
asleep it is because I was sleeping wrong and cut of the circulation!
I have full use of my hands with no apparent loss of strength (if you
don't do the exersizes you may lose some strength).And best of all, I
can do all the things that caused my pain without pain-especally
sleep!

Try getting used to the splints. Are yours padded? do they have the
velcro straps? these help to make them more comforable. If it keeps
getting worse, have it checked for nerve condition. If it goes too far
the nerve damage may not be able to be undone. If they suggest the
relase, it is worth it! Mine was a 'closed release' done with a small
camera with a blade attached. It involved a 3/4" cut and 3 stitches.
It was outpatient so I was home that afternoon.

Sorry this got so long, but I don't want to see others suffer through
what I did if is the same thing. I hope your hands get better! your
art (and quality of life) should not be lost!

take care
jolynn-I'm a bit of a mother hen, also!
: Don't worry - I visited the doctor and I'm being careful with my
: hands. I purchased some dictation software, but I'm not very good
at
: it yet, and my writing quality is still *really poor* when I use it.

: It's funny how different my writing is from my speaking style.
:
: I talked to the doctor and because my symptoms were "nonspecific,"
he
: diagnosed me with tendonities. I was wearing a hand brace at night
: for awhile but I found it really uncomfortable. Now I try to sleep
: in a steady position so that my hand doesn't go numb at night, and I
: try to stretch my hands as much as possible.
:
: I'm surprised at how quickly this problem happened to me. At one
: point I was doing tons of henna and computer work; suddenly my hand
: goes numb one night while I'm asleep. Then it just becomes really
: painful to use my hands. Things have been getting better lately but
: I in turn must remember to use my hands as sparsely as possible.
: Thanks for the advice; my professor also recommended acupuncture to
: me. So it works well?
:
: ~Rupal

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: Oh, boy, does that sound familar! My discomfort started years ago, but : I never really noticed it. After I had my two children it got much : worse. At one point I couldn't sleep for more than an hour or 2 : without my hands waking me up in burning pain. I put up with this for : several years before I finally just couldn't take it one more day. I : would be in tears!! : : I went to the doctor and she had me do a copule of simple tests. one : was simply to put my elbows at shoulder height, put the backs of my : hands together, wrists touching, fingers down, forearms at shoulder : height. The question was, how long before they started to tingle or go : numb. The answer, less than 15 seconds-this is not so good. : : She sent me of to be tested. I had advanced carpul tunnel. Moderate : nerve damage in my right hand and more severe in my left. They set me : up with the softest most comfortable splints- well, as much as : splint as can be-and I was able to sleep better. It did take some : getting used to, but 4 to 5 hours of sleep at a time was wonderful! : They also tried physical therapy. This only helped for a few days at a : time. : : 2 and 1/2 months later I had a release done on my left hand and the : other a couple of months later. The nerve damage took a little over a : year to completely heal-this was 18 months ago. now if my hands fall : asleep it is because I was sleeping wrong and cut of the circulation! : I have full use of my hands with no apparent loss of strength (if you : don't do the exersizes you may lose some strength).And best of all, I : can do all the things that caused my pain without pain-especally : sleep! : : Try getting used to the splints. Are yours padded? do they have the : velcro straps? these help to make them more comforable. If it keeps : getting worse, have it checked for nerve condition. If it goes too far : the nerve damage may not be able to be undone. If they suggest the : relase, it is worth it! Mine was a 'closed release' done with a small : camera with a blade attached. It involved a 3/4" cut and 3 stitches. : It was outpatient so I was home that afternoon. : : Sorry this got so long, but I don't want to see others suffer through : what I did if is the same thing. I hope your hands get better! your : art (and quality of life) should not be lost! : : take care : jolynn-I'm a bit of a mother hen, also! : : Don't worry - I visited the doctor and I'm being careful with my : : hands. I purchased some dictation software, but I'm not very good : at : : it yet, and my writing quality is still really poor when I use it. : : : It's funny how different my writing is from my speaking style. : : : : I talked to the doctor and because my symptoms were "nonspecific," : he : : diagnosed me with tendonities. I was wearing a hand brace at night : : for awhile but I found it really uncomfortable. Now I try to sleep : : in a steady position so that my hand doesn't go numb at night, and I : : try to stretch my hands as much as possible. : : : : I'm surprised at how quickly this problem happened to me. At one : : point I was doing tons of henna and computer work; suddenly my hand : : goes numb one night while I'm asleep. Then it just becomes really : : painful to use my hands. Things have been getting better lately but : : I in turn must remember to use my hands as sparsely as possible. : : Thanks for the advice; my professor also recommended acupuncture to : : me. So it works well? : : : : ~Rupal
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