Do your hands suddenly hurt all of a sudden while typing?

by Jensha
18 replies
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Mine does.
I'm actually posting this in hopes of finding some people who are having the same experience who may have known what it's called.
The only thing I know is carpal tunnel which is what I'm very scared of having.
But right now I don't think I have that, I do feel that I have something minor.
Even right now when I'm typing this, there are painful stings in my hands as if I'm being poked by an electric rod. It's still manageable right now but I'm afraid that this may be a symptom of something big.
Anyone know about this?
  • Profile picture of the author travlinguy
    I've usually got a morphine drip running so I don't notice the pain.
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    • Profile picture of the author Kay King
      Could be carpal tunnel - could be tendonitis - could simply be you are holding your hands in unnatural position - keyboard too high, etc. You can't get an accurate diagnosis on a forum.

      When my hands began seriously hurting I switched to ergonomic keyboards and it solved most of the problem.
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  • Profile picture of the author seasoned
    Carpal tunnel is VERY easy to diagnose! There is a tunnel at the bottom of your wrist in about the middle of it, right where the wrist joins the arm.

    The reason for the tunnel is that your hands couldn't be very strong if the muscles were there, so the bigger muscles are in your forearm, and the tendons run through that tunnel. If you can smoothy make a firm first without any pain, tingling, or funny feelings there, you probably DON'T have CTS. If you can't do that, BE CAREFUL! GET REST! It COULD heal. If it gets too bad, it may just get progressively worse, and you likely have heard the horror stories.

    Steve
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    • Profile picture of the author Jennwith2ns
      Another common warning sign of carpel tunnel is having numbness/tingling in your hands. After using my hands, even for typing for 20 minutes (and I type ALL DAY) they start tingling. It's similar to when your foot fell asleep and is starting to wake up.
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      • Profile picture of the author seasoned
        Originally Posted by Jennwith2ns View Post

        Another common warning sign of carpel tunnel is having numbness/tingling in your hands. After using my hands, even for typing for 20 minutes (and I type ALL DAY) they start tingling. It's similar to when your foot fell asleep and is starting to wake up.
        Yeah, I forgot about that. That tunnel has NERVES also!

        Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author jpboxersox
    Try to buy an ergonomic keyboard and mouse. It adds comfort and put less stress on the hand muscles.
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  • Profile picture of the author laurencewins
    Carpal Tunnel, tendonitis or simply typing too much without a break.
    You need to stretch your muscles regularly and take breaks.
    I also have an electric massager and that really helps a LOT.
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  • Profile picture of the author Jensha
    WAA!!! What the hell! I just saw the pictures of a hand that is being operated for carpal tunnel syndrome! What the F! I can't believe there is such thing!

    Kay King, I am usually typing with the keyboard a bit high, close to the level of my chest when I'm sitting.

    Are always supposed to type with the keyboard lower?

    Thanks for all your replies.

    Oh god seriously I'm panicking now.

    Not to mention I have another serious problem to attend to.
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    • Profile picture of the author ozzie2012
      Sometimes part of my hand becomes numb while I'm typing. It's usually because I've cut off the blood flow while resting my wrists on the edge of the desk while I'm typing.
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    • Profile picture of the author Patrician
      Originally Posted by Jensha View Post

      WAA!!! What the hell! I just saw the pictures of a hand that is being operated for carpal tunnel syndrome! What the F! I can't believe there is such thing!

      Kay King, I am usually typing with the keyboard a bit high, close to the level of my chest when I'm sitting.

      Are always supposed to type with the keyboard lower?

      Thanks for all your replies.

      Oh god seriously I'm panicking now.

      Not to mention I have another serious problem to attend to.
      What they teach in corporate ergonomics is your wrists should be level with your keyboard. not higher and not lower -

      Your wrist should be resting flat on the mouse pad or desk top...

      I also use wrist band/pillow thingies - makes the pressure on the wrist way way better.

      Additionally your eyes should be level with your monitor - not higher not lower.

      ... and breaks every few hours -
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  • Profile picture of the author taskemann
    Lol! I was reading about the Carpal Tunnel Syndrome just before I saw this thread :p

    Yeah, you probably have the Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.. Or maybe nothing at all if you're lucky
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  • Your wrists should not rest on the desktop when typing. That will strain your fingers and hands. Keep the wrists above with the fingers just touching the keys.
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    • Profile picture of the author Jensha
      Originally Posted by taskemann View Post

      Lol! I was reading about the Carpal Tunnel Syndrome just before I saw this thread :p

      Yeah, you probably have the Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.. Or maybe nothing at all if you're lucky
      Thanks. I'll settle to think that it's nothing Or maybe nothing at all and that I'm lucky.

      Originally Posted by Patrician View Post

      What they teach in corporate ergonomics is your wrists should be level with your keyboard. not higher and not lower -

      Your wrist should be resting flat on the mouse pad or desk top...

      I also use wrist band/pillow thingies - makes the pressure on the wrist way way better.

      Additionally your eyes should be level with your monitor - not higher not lower.

      ... and breaks every few hours -
      Thanks! I never really studied should we type.

      Originally Posted by Joe Ditzel View Post

      Your wrists should not rest on the desktop when typing. That will strain your fingers and hands. Keep the wrists above with the fingers just touching the keys.
      Thanks! Will do from now on!
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      • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
        Banned
        Tendinitis is common; carpal tunnel syndrome is much rarer.

        Commoner still is repetitive strain injury but this classification isn't really a diagnosis, per se: it's more a subjective collection of assorted minor syndromes which don't fit neatly into any other category.

        Good luck with it!
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  • Profile picture of the author Corey Geer
    Originally Posted by Jensha View Post

    Mine does.
    I'm actually posting this in hopes of finding some people who are having the same experience who may have known what it's called.
    The only thing I know is carpal tunnel which is what I'm very scared of having.
    But right now I don't think I have that, I do feel that I have something minor.
    Even right now when I'm typing this, there are painful stings in my hands as if I'm being poked by an electric rod. It's still manageable right now but I'm afraid that this may be a symptom of something big.
    Anyone know about this?
    This only happens to me when I'm on one of those 3,000 words an hour typing binge. It goes away after a little while but it's still annoying none the less and slows productivity down.
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  • Profile picture of the author Kurt
    You may want to try voice to text software such as Dragon Naturally Speaking and see if it will work for you and reduce some of your typing.
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    • Profile picture of the author Jensha
      T_T Oh good lord here it is again as I'm typing this. Now it's in my right point and thumb finger

      Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post

      Tendinitis is common; carpal tunnel syndrome is much rarer.

      Commoner still is repetitive strain injury but this classification isn't really a diagnosis, per se: it's more a subjective collection of assorted minor syndromes which don't fit neatly into any other category.

      Good luck with it!
      That's comforting... I guess.

      Originally Posted by Corey Geer View Post

      This only happens to me when I'm on one of those 3,000 words an hour typing binge. It goes away after a little while but it's still annoying none the less and slows productivity down.
      Come to think of it I usually do 2 hours of typing a day.

      Originally Posted by Kurt View Post

      You may want to try voice to text software such as Dragon Naturally Speaking and see if it will work for you and reduce some of your typing.
      Will do check it out. I didn't know such software is available. Is it for free? Is it accurate?
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      • Profile picture of the author seasoned
        Originally Posted by Jensha View Post

        T_T Oh good lord here it is again as I'm typing this. Now it's in my right point and thumb finger
        WHERE is the pain, and how does it feel? If t is in the carpal tunnel, as I described, it is CTS, and you should rest. If not, it MIGHT be a nerve there, but it COULD be referred pain. Check with a doctor.

        RSI in the carpal tunnel IS CTS


        Come to think of it I usually do 2 hours of typing a day.
        If it is forceful, done wrong, or with an injury, that is ENOUGH!



        Will do check it out. I didn't know such software is available. Is it for free? Is it accurate?
        Accuracy depends on how you train it, etc.... It is a commercial product. Many office supply stores sell it, as well as computer and software stores.

        Steve
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