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What can I do about it? I don't think it's going to get better because I use my hands every day for typing and video games. Even if I stopped using my computer for weeks or heaven forbid gave up video games for a month to end up at the tender mercies of boring television shows I'd still have my job to consider. 4 days a week I have to lift bags of groceries. including those damn 24 bottle packs of water that are heavy. And sometimes they make me go out and do shopping carts regardless of how many times I told them that I cannot. On Sunday they had me do it for about 45 minutes. I don't know what to do. I wear bandages when I work sometimes but the ache goes up my neck and back a bit. It's not that bad, but it makes me nervous that it might get worse. On Friday I will go to the free clinic about it and maybe they'll give me naproxen.
Posts: 9942 | Registered: Mar 2003
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Carpal tunnel pain doesn't usually go into the neck and back. It's rare to have the pain radiate up to the shoulder, even. Getting it looked at is a good idea.
The carpal tunnel wrist splints may be worth trying, if they think it IS carpal tunnel. Other things that may help include physical therapy, weight loss, and behavioral changes. Hypothyroidism often makes carpal tunnel worse, btw.
Posts: 1990 | Registered: Feb 2001
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You could try asking a physical therapist about it. When I was in high school, I started to develop a repetitive strain injury from lifting weights in PE. The physical therapist I see occasionally for my back was also able to alleviate some of the pain in my arm.
Posts: 3546 | Registered: Jul 2002
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Here is a good Carpal Tunnel FAQ for ya. Apparently treating it is about immobilization, anti-inflammatory drugs, and changing the way you do the repetitive motions that caused it.
I was surprised also about the pain going beyond the forearm. My sis-in-law is a massage therapist and I have learned much from her about "trigger points", tension stored in the muscle that can cause "referred pain". I'll bet you could use a good back massage! But then, who couldn't?
Posts: 7050 | Registered: Feb 2004
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