I've been having pain in my hands for about two months now. I've always been a heavy computer user and I used to be able to take breaks or shake it off, but now it lingers and pops up quickly when I type or use my phone. It will occasionally flare up other times when I use my hands, or when I'm not using my hands at all.
I saw a doctor and she basically said there was nothing that could be done. Very helpful... I've reduced my computer use by 95%. My boss has supported me at work by bringing someone in for me to train which has reduced my typing load, but that time is coming to an end and I'm afraid of what comes next.
I also saw a hand occupational therapist who said that I didn't have carpal tunnel, and that my hand strength and nerve response was normal. She thought with rest it would go away but it hasn't. I also saw a naturopath doctor, I appreciated that she at least took the time to talk to me about my concerns in detail. The pain is not usually severe, but I am constantly worried about making it worse or doing permanent damage. The naturopath suggested thoracic outlet syndrome and recommended several stretches and activities that I've tried. She didn't think that I should be concerned about permanent injury, that my situation was not yet that severe. I feel like I have poor coping mechanisms for pain, it's easy for me to get very "doom and gloom" that this will never get better. Reading stories of others suffering for years has given me some perspective on that!
I came across the mindbody perscription and read it. My first thought was that it was too good to be true, I am a natural skeptic. A lot of the success stories have spoken to me though. I think it's odd that both of my hands reached this condition at basically the same time. I was so concerned with keeping my hands immobile and I was just miserable for weeks. I would try to support my wrists in a neutral position while sleeping, and it was difficult to sleep. After reading the book, I decided to just let my hands be positioned however they naturally would, and the next morning I was way more rested. I'm trying to keep these things in mind.
I'm at the point a lot of people seem to talk about, I can intellectually appreciate that TMS is possible, but the "gut" belief is tough, especially given how strong my fear is of permanent injury. I understand that is exactly the kind of distraction the brain is trying to accomplish with TMS. I hope this program will help me!
I saw a doctor and she basically said there was nothing that could be done. Very helpful... I've reduced my computer use by 95%. My boss has supported me at work by bringing someone in for me to train which has reduced my typing load, but that time is coming to an end and I'm afraid of what comes next.
I also saw a hand occupational therapist who said that I didn't have carpal tunnel, and that my hand strength and nerve response was normal. She thought with rest it would go away but it hasn't. I also saw a naturopath doctor, I appreciated that she at least took the time to talk to me about my concerns in detail. The pain is not usually severe, but I am constantly worried about making it worse or doing permanent damage. The naturopath suggested thoracic outlet syndrome and recommended several stretches and activities that I've tried. She didn't think that I should be concerned about permanent injury, that my situation was not yet that severe. I feel like I have poor coping mechanisms for pain, it's easy for me to get very "doom and gloom" that this will never get better. Reading stories of others suffering for years has given me some perspective on that!
I came across the mindbody perscription and read it. My first thought was that it was too good to be true, I am a natural skeptic. A lot of the success stories have spoken to me though. I think it's odd that both of my hands reached this condition at basically the same time. I was so concerned with keeping my hands immobile and I was just miserable for weeks. I would try to support my wrists in a neutral position while sleeping, and it was difficult to sleep. After reading the book, I decided to just let my hands be positioned however they naturally would, and the next morning I was way more rested. I'm trying to keep these things in mind.
I'm at the point a lot of people seem to talk about, I can intellectually appreciate that TMS is possible, but the "gut" belief is tough, especially given how strong my fear is of permanent injury. I understand that is exactly the kind of distraction the brain is trying to accomplish with TMS. I hope this program will help me!
