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I think every game forum needs a thread like this.
Please post your experiences with pain or injury from playing games or using computers in general.
I would like to focus on three things:
1) Diagnosis. Listing symptoms to help people determine if they are at risk.
2) Prevention. Suggest ergonomic hardware that minimizes problems.
3) Treatment: What helps the pain? Stretching, wrist-braces, exercise.
[doublepost=1468511536,1468511466][/doublepost]Diagnosis.
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Carpal tunnel syndrome: (RSI)
Diagnosis: Characterized by numbness and tingling in the hand and fingers (little-finger, ring & middle-finger mainly) Palm is affected as well. Weakness and loss of dexterity may also result. Tendons get inflamed from excessive use leading to swelling then scar-tissue. Hands tend o curl inward while sleeping causing symptoms in the morning. Nerve-conduction tests can help confirm diagnosis of CTS. Made worse by some gel-pads (or gel-gloves) vibrating tools and pressure on the carpal valley that is between the two meaty pads at the base of the palm. Cycling and tool use may contribute.
Prevention: Avoid gel or soft foam pads that focus pressure into the carpal valley. Take regular breaks every hour and stretch. Wear wrist braces in bed to keep your wrists in a neutral position while you sleep. Avoid marathons of computer use...vary your activity. Try different hardware. Trackballs, ergonomic keyboards, vertical mice etc. *Learn advanced build-mode to save clicks.* Raise your handlebars on your bike or swap them out with cruiser handle bars for a more upright posture.
Treatment: Massage therapy, Chiropractic, Self-massage, Stretching, Cool packs or Chillo. Carpal release surgery is simple and proven if the symptoms get very bad. [In Canada this was covered by medicare and took about 25 minutes.] ART (Active Release Technique).
Trigger finger: Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI)
Diagnosis: The tendon gets swollen at a finger-joint and gets stuck. Pain, swelling stiffness and loss of dexterity. The finger will lock-up snap open (or closed). Caused by mouse-clicking or hovering middle-finer over wheel (or using scroll-wheel).
Prevention: Take breaks often. Self massage and cool packs help. [My trigger finger caused loss of use in my right hands for months. When I finally had a doctor look at it it was pretty far gone. He said it would get better on it's own or I would need surgery. After a year without surgery it has mostly gotten better.]
Treatment: in spite of my doctor's skepticism getting treatment from a massage therapist helped tremendously. Self massage and cold packs reduce swelling. Stretching also helps. Contrast-therapy: alternating heat & cold for about 15 minutes each.
Please post your experiences with pain or injury from playing games or using computers in general.
I would like to focus on three things:
1) Diagnosis. Listing symptoms to help people determine if they are at risk.
2) Prevention. Suggest ergonomic hardware that minimizes problems.
3) Treatment: What helps the pain? Stretching, wrist-braces, exercise.
[doublepost=1468511536,1468511466][/doublepost]Diagnosis.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Carpal tunnel syndrome: (RSI)
Diagnosis: Characterized by numbness and tingling in the hand and fingers (little-finger, ring & middle-finger mainly) Palm is affected as well. Weakness and loss of dexterity may also result. Tendons get inflamed from excessive use leading to swelling then scar-tissue. Hands tend o curl inward while sleeping causing symptoms in the morning. Nerve-conduction tests can help confirm diagnosis of CTS. Made worse by some gel-pads (or gel-gloves) vibrating tools and pressure on the carpal valley that is between the two meaty pads at the base of the palm. Cycling and tool use may contribute.
Prevention: Avoid gel or soft foam pads that focus pressure into the carpal valley. Take regular breaks every hour and stretch. Wear wrist braces in bed to keep your wrists in a neutral position while you sleep. Avoid marathons of computer use...vary your activity. Try different hardware. Trackballs, ergonomic keyboards, vertical mice etc. *Learn advanced build-mode to save clicks.* Raise your handlebars on your bike or swap them out with cruiser handle bars for a more upright posture.
Treatment: Massage therapy, Chiropractic, Self-massage, Stretching, Cool packs or Chillo. Carpal release surgery is simple and proven if the symptoms get very bad. [In Canada this was covered by medicare and took about 25 minutes.] ART (Active Release Technique).
Trigger finger: Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI)
Diagnosis: The tendon gets swollen at a finger-joint and gets stuck. Pain, swelling stiffness and loss of dexterity. The finger will lock-up snap open (or closed). Caused by mouse-clicking or hovering middle-finer over wheel (or using scroll-wheel).
Prevention: Take breaks often. Self massage and cool packs help. [My trigger finger caused loss of use in my right hands for months. When I finally had a doctor look at it it was pretty far gone. He said it would get better on it's own or I would need surgery. After a year without surgery it has mostly gotten better.]
Treatment: in spite of my doctor's skepticism getting treatment from a massage therapist helped tremendously. Self massage and cold packs reduce swelling. Stretching also helps. Contrast-therapy: alternating heat & cold for about 15 minutes each.
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