Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Computer Use
A condition wherein there is pressure on the median nerve or the nerve located in the wrist is called the Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. This nerve is responsible for supplying feeling and movement to the hand. Continued pressure on the nerve can lead to weakness, numbness, tingling, and eventually muscle damage in the hand and fingers.
Symptoms
There are a number of symptoms manifested by Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. These include weakness of the hand/s with a tendency to drop objects, pain that extends from the wrist up to the arm and shoulder or down towards the palm and the fingers, and tingling or numbness of hand or fingers usually excluding the little finger. The feeling of numbness becomes more frequent as the condition progresses.
Advanced or long-term cases exhibit an obvious wasting away of the muscle under the thumb. The condition can be confirmed by a health provider by performing simple physical tests. These may include tapping over the median nerve which should cause pain to radiate from the wrist to the hand, or bending of the wrist all the way for about 60 seconds which should result in weakness, numbness, or tingling.
Causes
There are also various reasons being pointed to as being responsible for causing Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. People who were born with small carpal tunnel tend to develop this condition. Factors such as alcohol abuse, obesity, retention of extra fluid during pregnancy or menopause, bone fractures, rheumatoid arthritis, infections, and cyst or tumor on the wrist can all possibly contribute to acquiring the syndrome. Another cause is the repetitive hand and wrist motion specifically while using vibrating hand tools.
In a typical office environment and even in home offices, one of the tasks that is usually performed by people in a consistently continuous manner is the use of the computer. There has been much concern about the connection of developing Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and computer use. Although there remains no conclusive evidence of a connection between the two, health professionals have been forthright in their preventive advises.
Prevention
Aside from avoiding too much repetitive hand and wrist movements, equipment and tools that are designed to prevent hand and wrist injury are highly recommended. Frequent computer typing requires using ergonomic aids that are meant to improve posture of the wrist. Some of these are typing pads, padded mouse pads, split keyboards, and keyboard trays. It is also important to ensure correct hand and wrist posture when typing.
Wrists should not be bent upwards when typing. Therefore, keyboards must be positioned low enough to avoid this awkward hand position. There should also be breaks in between typing to relieve hand and wrist stress. Computer users must stop typing when hand or wrist pain as well as fatigue sets in.
Treatment
Mild cases can be treated by medication such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or corticosteroid injections. Wearing a splint can also help relieve symptoms. Rest and hot or cold compresses can be very helpful in easing the pain and discomfort.
Advanced cases will require surgery that is done for the purpose of cutting the ligament pressing on the nerve. The success rate for carpal tunnel syndrome operation is quite high although the healing period may take months. Proper treatment prevents complications. Treatment that is provided too late may not be able to prevent permanent, irreversible damage.
My Say
Advances in technology can sometimes result to undesirable medical consequences. Even with the absence of conclusive evidence that regular computer use alone can cause Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, many manufacturers of hand held and operated devices have already come up with advisories. This is with regards to the possibility of acquiring the condition specifically with the failure to observe proper body and hand posture as well as excessive, strenuous, and continuous use of hands and wrists.
KC Campbell
That is one reason I always take breaks while on the computer.. Ako pa naman kung maka-tupe, parang article lagi sinusulat.. Hehehe.. A maximum of 1 hour is what I give myself when I need to do some typing.. Then, I take a long break, and come back again.. And I don’t wash my hands right away after I’ve used the computer for a while.. Ayoko lang.. Hehehe..
Teresa Martinez
You’re right in taking good care of your hands.
raine
Carpal tunnel is quite common to office employees. Several of my officemates already experience it so our company made an awareness campaign regarding it. for prevention I use a mousepad with wrist support, i forgot what it’s called 🙂 thanks for sharing
Teresa Martinez
I commend your company for taking the initiative to protect their employees against the risk of CTS.
Anna
Thanks for sharing, we sometimes forget proper posture as we go about our blogging and online tasks.
Teresa Martinez
Oh yes, we do that sometimes. Timely reminder for us to always observe proper posture.
Cheerful
hi, thanks for sharing about this…known about it before but don’t have deeper knowledge until i read you detailed post. 🙂
Teresa Martinez
Thanks, glad you found it useful.
Engkantadang Malikot
This is quite scary for us, bloggers.. Especially to the ones who usually stay at it all day long. This is a good reminder po.
Teresa Martinez
This is indeed a good reminder to all of us who tend not to notice the length of time we spend on the computer.
Dez
I used to feel the symptoms before, so did try my best to keep in mind the tips to prevent and be aware more since I spend most of the time in front of the computer and type.
Teresa Martinez
Most of us do spend a lot of time on the computer so we need to take preventive measures.
Journey Ni Ikoy
I think I am beginning to feel this kind of pain and yes from computer use at work and even at home. I should lessen my time using the computers and give time for my hands to relax =)
Teresa Martinez
Our body usually tells us its time to rest but sometimes we simply don’t listen.
msculitRia C
I had CTS when I was working in the Philippines as an Exec. Secretary. Those long reports, never-ending reports and more reports caused my CTS. It was painful and mine reached to the point that I could barely move my right arm bec of pain.
I was put into a sling for half a year and did physio-therapy for 8 months. And usage of my right arm and hand was reduced to prevent relapse. I didn’t want to end up being operated.
So, in this day and age, we have to really limit our usage of the computer and the repetitive clicking of the mouse, and even those gaming consoles and the smart phones and tablets. All these unnecessary hand and wrist movement can strain our nerves and muscles.
Teresa Martinez
Hearing from someone who actually went through the experience should be a wake-up call to those who regularly use their hands for work.
Rovie
I remember once office mate have undergone operation due to this. This post is a good reminder for all of us especially now that every household has their own laptop or desktop computers.
Jennie
This is a scary thing for us who work online. I have been very conscious ever since I heard about our risk to CTS.
Teresa Martinez
Knowing the possibilities can help us prevent it from happening to us.
papaleng (@papaleng)
Mareng Tere, wala namang takutan.. LOl But I too at times suffer from this ngalay thing. Thanks for sharing the things one should do in case this thing occurs.
Teresa Martinez
Sa totoo lang, natatakot din ako. Our hands our very important in our writing activities.
Chubskulit Rose
My husband always warns me with that, especially when I continuously works on the computer..
Teresa Martinez
The risk can be more real for us than we expect it to be so we just need to be careful.
Mhie@travelentz
I’m thankful with advance technology especially here in US, all their medical equipment is impressive,of course you pay to have a better coverage 🙁
Teresa Martinez
You certainly have an advantage in that area. I hope someday Filipinos here can have better health coverage.
Jam Kuh
sometimes i felt this kind of “ngalay” so i rest for a bit.. im afraid those are just one of the symptoms?
Teresa Martinez
Probably, it might be a start but avoiding abuse of the body specifically our hands will help prevent carpal tunnel syndrome.
Rossel
I’m beginning to experience the hand weakness. Sometimes I can’t even open a bottle or wring the clothes as hard as I used to. I think I should start taking precautionary measures before it will lead to carpal tunnel syndrome.
Teresa Martinez
I have to admit that I am feeling some wrist discomfort myself so we all need to be careful.
Mary Jane Tauyan Fitzsimmons
Great tips that people needs to be inform in such way that more people now not to forget that those kids also in their age gets addicted with computers xx
Teresa Martinez
The right preventive information can help regular computer users from suffering its negative effects.
Gemma|My Dailies
There are also gadgets that are ergonomically manufactured, that could help out in preventing strains in using the computer.
Teresa Martinez
That is something consumers can also consider.
marri
CTS is a very in demand illness nowadays. People are exposed to gadget using and handling almost all day. Anybody can suffer from this syndrome so, we have to be cautious.
Teresa Martinez
Yes, even gaming devices can cause carpal tunnel syndrome when used extensively and without observance of proper posture for the wrist.
franckxethee
I think computer can really cause carpal tunnel syndrome as the prolonged use of keyboards and mouse can really create a sting in the wrist.
Teresa Martinez
I also think there is truth in this as I know of several people who have been operated on for carpal tunnel syndrome and the common factor among them is that they all use the computer for the most part of their working lives.