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Ask HN: Wrist pain and recovery

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21–29 of 29 posts

Re: Ask HN: Wrist pain and recovery

#21
1. Take a break for a week or two. I used the time to learn stuff and write down everything by hand. Every gadget you acquire is for after you have recovered. Don't exercise either ... you'll only worsen the inflammation.

2. Google "wrist pain stretches". Do them religiously, regularly (every time you have a break) and carefully.

3. Alternate ice and hot towels a few times a day. This really improves recovery time.

4. Work on your posture. Check Esther Gokhale's TED talk.

Re: Ask HN: Wrist pain and recovery

#22
Vertical or tilted mice help a lot, and keeping your arm nearly level so you're not bending your wrist a lot. Also, personally I prefer a wider grip mouse for gaming, because I have a tendency to death grip smaller mice, but that's probably only relevant if you game

Re: Ask HN: Wrist pain and recovery

#23

1. Take a break for a week or two. I used the time to learn stuff and write down everything by hand. Every gadget you acquire is for after you have recovered. Don't exercise either ... you'll only worsen the inflammation. 2. Google "wrist pain stretches". Do them religiously, regularly (every time you have a break) and carefully. 3. Alternate ice and hot towels a few times a day. This really improves recovery time. 4…

Stop using the mouse, switch to trackpad centered below your spacebar so it's less wrist movement. Try using your other hand for a few weeks.

Re: Ask HN: Wrist pain and recovery

#24
I've had so many ergo problems. Here's some things I'd suggest:

1. Try different mice, as people suggested

2. Watch the height of your desk. Is your desk too high? Is your wrist kinked? I love my sit stand desk for this, sometimes just moving the surface up or down half an inch makes a huge difference. Keep it moving over time so you don't get locked in.

3. Wrist exercises, both stretching and grip strength. Get a pair of grippers from amazon (https://www.amazon.com/Captains-Crush-Hand-Gripper-Point/dp/...)

Working on strengthening your forearm might help as well.

Re: Ask HN: Wrist pain and recovery

#25
post #8

Before you go on spending on Ergonomic what not setup. Try therapy. Google it first - kind of pain (sharp or constant ) you have , exactly where you have ( thumb side or ulnar side), what movements are restricted by affliction, is it nerves or muscle etc...spend sometime finding what you have. Consult doctor if you have to. Start therapy ...most of the time it's stretching/compressing exercise once or twice a day. Yo…

This is really bad advise.

1) If you need therapy, see a specialist, don‘t just google it. Your google diagnosis is probably wrong.

2) Therapy is a last result, will ease pain in the short term. But the pain will come back if you don‘t stop doing whatever causd the pain in the first place.

Re: Ask HN: Wrist pain and recovery

#26
I had wrist/hand pains twice, especially during using mouse, and in both cases, it was my own fault.

The first time, I think, it was because of me over-using AC during the commute. It would blow on my hands, and it struck me as a possible fault one day. After I changed my behavior, the discomfort started to go away in a matter of days, disappearing completely in a week or so.

The second time, it was due to a standing desk at new day-job. I've noticed that I have a bad habit of leaning on my hands when standing at the desk and putting some stress on them. I limited the time I am standing, and I'm more careful about it now.

My point is: watch your body, watch what you're doing, and think what could be affecting you. There is plenty of possible causes, and it's most efficient if you get a good sense of what makes your body hurt. It might be something more medical too, but doesn't have to be.

Re: Ask HN: Wrist pain and recovery

#28
post #8

Before you go on spending on Ergonomic what not setup. Try therapy. Google it first - kind of pain (sharp or constant ) you have , exactly where you have ( thumb side or ulnar side), what movements are restricted by affliction, is it nerves or muscle etc...spend sometime finding what you have. Consult doctor if you have to. Start therapy ...most of the time it's stretching/compressing exercise once or twice a day. Yo…

This is really bad advise. 1) If you need therapy, see a specialist, don‘t just google it. Your google diagnosis is probably wrong. 2) Therapy is a last result, will ease pain in the short term. But the pain will come back if you don‘t stop doing whatever causd the pain in the first place.

EDIT: replied hastily, you of course said "don't JUST google it"

> 1) If you need therapy, see a specialist, don‘t just google it.

This is rather country (and wealth-profile) specific. In England, often you need to really push GPs to take anything seriously or even do a blood test (in your 5-10 minute appointment). Doing some basic research before visiting can be useful. (I've even done a "yes I'm stupid googling things...so prove me wrong" act).

Re: Ask HN: Wrist pain and recovery

#29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is really bad advise. 1) If you need therapy, see a specialist, don‘t just google it. Your google diagnosis is probably wrong. 2) Therapy is a last result, will ease pain in the short term. But the pain will come back if you don‘t stop doing whatever causd the pain in the first place.

EDIT: replied hastily, you of course said "don't JUST google it" > 1) If you need therapy, see a specialist, don‘t just google it. This is rather country (and wealth-profile) specific. In England, often you need to really push GPs to take anything seriously or even do a blood test (in your 5-10 minute appointment). Doing some basic research before visiting can be useful. (I've even done a "yes I'm stupid googling thi…

I agree, GPs aren‘t always helpful. I was thinking more along the lines of an orthopedist, a neurologist, or a physical therapist — people that have a lot of experience with the kind of problem you have. They can usually tell you in seconds what‘s wrong with your google diagnosis that seemed to fit all the symptoms. That‘s my experience, at least.
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