At work we have been required to do quite a bit of computer work lately, and I have notice my wrist and arm?

Question

ache all the way up to my elbow, espically on the top of my arm. My hand and fingers are also stiff and swollen. It seems to get a bit better after the weekend off, but it wont go away. Any ideas whats wrong or what to do to make it feel better?

Answer 1

Laugh if you want but my mother was having the same problem from playing bridge and I was having it from doing computer work. I went with her to the doctor and he explained what was happening. Is your keyboard up on a desk such that your arms rest on the edge of the desk. If so the pressure of your arms on the edge of the desk may be pinching off the nerves. Either raise your chair up and try to make sure that the only part of your hand that rests on the keyboard is your palms.

Answer 2

I do computer animation and a few years ago I noticed the same thing. As soon as I sat down at the computer and put my hand on the mouse I would begin to get a tingling sensation in my wrist and fingers, it felt like my whole hand was going to sleep. I was able to solve this in a sort of interesting way, and mybe you can do the same thing. You do not need surgery or vitamins or any other crap like that. You need different activity. Here's what I did.

I began doing home repairs and renovations in between computer jobs, installing ceramic tile floors, ripping out and rebuilding whole bathrooms, all sorts of small construction jobs that involved somewhat strenuous physical labor, all of it totally different than sitting at a computer all day.

Within a matter of weeks the pain and tingles in my hand had disappeared. I think the key is to become involved as much as possible in physical activities that involve extensive use of your hands and arms in some radically different way. Now even when I sit down at the computer it is no problem, because half the time I am using my hand, wrist and arm in a completely different way. You could try the same thing, any physical activity that gets you away fromthe constant hand-on-mouse posture. it might mean spacing the computer work out to every other day, or only for part of the day, and the rest of the time doing something else. Your employer has to go along with this, otherwise you will become a disability case.

Answer 3

It could be the beginning of carpal tunnel, as many posters will tell you. But you need to also think about how you use the keyboard. Have you ever really learned to TYPE? They used to have typing classes in high school, where you would learn exactly which finger is supposed to be placed on which key. The idea is to distribute the pressure on all ten fingers, so no one or two fingers do all the work. I think a lot of people use computers in sort of a "hunt & peck" style, so they're overdoing the use of one hand or two fingers. I key correctly, but once on a job I had to key in "Yes/No" answers for a survey and only used my index and middle finger. Before an hour was up, I could feel the tingling and numbness all the way up my arm. Never again.
Try a software course for typing and it might save your arms.

Answer 4

Go to the pharmacy or drugstore and buy a wrist brace. It is not very expensive. Mine was the kind that slips over your thumb and has the wrap straps and is very hard and firm. You can't move your wrist around very well but you can work in it and even sleep in it. I wore mine for about 3 weeks, and the pain went away. I had the same pain you are talking about. I kept it in case it ever happens again.

Stetching your fingers, hands and arms during long periods of computer work can help too. Also, massage can help. I have a link that shows what the brace looks like. I got mine at Walgreens.

Answer 5

Sounds like you have the beginning stages of carpal tunnel or it could just be arthritis of some sort, wearing an arm support will help, they have them specifically for typing on the computer, also take some aleve or naprosyn. Take the aleve about a 1/4 hour before it usually starts hurting, dont wait till it hurts to take it or it wont be effective.

Answer 6

If you're like a lot of kids, you probably spend time sitting at the computer, doing schoolwork or playing games. But whether you're writing a report about aardvarks or zapping aliens, using a computer can be tough on your body. How?

Sitting for a long time in positions that aren't natural for your body can strain your hands, wrists, back, and eyes. Over time, this can result in pain and a kind of injury called a repetitive stress injury.

For more infomation just click on the link below?

Answer 7

Does your wrist and arm hurt all day and all night or just after a long day of typing? Carpal tunnel makes your arms hurt all the time every day etc. It sounds like you are just overusing your muscles which is tiring, but will go away after you stop using them so much. I had this problem when I was doing papers for my MA but after I finished I was fine.

Answer 8

You could have carpal tunnel syndrome. There is a list of detailed treatment options on this page. You can do some exercise or yoga to help with it. When you're not at work, try to stay off the computer to give it a break.

Answer 9

If you work for a big company, maybe someone in HR could check out your workspace. Sometimes the height of your chair, keyboard, and computer monitor can affect you body alignment, which can be the source of your pain. Also, before you see a doctor, have a Chiropractor check your alignment. Poor alignment could be your cause of pain also. If you do have carpel tunnel, a Chiropractor can help that without surgery.

Answer 10

Tendonitis or carpal tunnel. You should ask your employer to make sure that your desk is ergonomically correct and if they refuse to do so you should go to an industrial clinic during work hours and explain what you are feeling to the physician. Document everything because this can turn into a work comp case. Make it known to your employer the pain that you are experiencing, sooner than later.