Both my wrists are feeling a lot of pain and limitation etc from drumming. Can anyone give me any real pointers on getting the doctors to look at them? Buggers won't believe a word I say.

Honestly, if it's gotten to the point where you have CTS, you're probably going to have surgery to clean out the carpal tunnel. I had a friend years ago that had it and it seemed to work out for her.

That being said, if it hasn't gotten to the point where surgery is needed, then you should probably enlist the help of an expert to make sure your computer is properly situated. Stop using a laptop if you're using one and use a desktop that can be adjusted for proper ergonomics.

I've occasionally had my hands feel like they want to lock up when I use the keyboard/mouse far more than normal for a few weeks at a time...

As for making them look at them, I am not sure. They are suppose to look at conditions seriously, although they might believe you are after specific prescription drugs and think you're too young (although I've heard some 10 yearolds with lungs/hearts deteriorated as bad as 60 yearolds...)


If you want to consider a nutritional solution, I think something high in Omega 3&6 is suppose to help. Soaking them in hot water (maybe 100 degrees, no more than you'd take a bath in), maybe some add Epsom salt.

I have carpal tunnel in both wrists. I experience numbness in my fingers, pain in my elbows, and pain around the wrist area. I have found using a wrist brace helps immensely, especially when I sleep. They have a test to check for carpal tunnel, it's called an Electromyogram, I was not a fan of the test as it involves being poked with a needle but it does ascertain whether or not you have carpal tunnel.

I have already been in 3 times asking them to atleast check me for it. I got a tap on the wrist and "yeah that might need surgery" and shoo'ed out the door. Going go bother them again this week but it's driving me nuts. I can barely play anymore thanks to the bloody thing. Yeah that is good advice there. I'v been wearing braces etc whilst trying to work on the positioning of my PC parts. With my back/neck issues, this is like icing on the bloody cake lol.

I personally have more trouble with my neck than my wrists. One good reason to get a proper diagnosis is that sometimes numbness in the hands isn't actually CTS, it's just a pinching of the nerve and going to a chiropractor to get the alignment fixes causes it to go away.

For me, I tend to like to have the keyboard in my lap when possible. Now that I think about it, I should really get one of those wireless keyboards with a track pad on it for my non-gaming computer use.

That being said, the OP is a drummer, so it probably will wind up being CTS eventually, even if it's not yet there.

Yeah the drumming has been driving it bonkers for years but I was always thought it a apart of my neck issues. Oops haha.

For interim relief, try a paraffin wax bath to see if it will help.

Stop jacking-off and you should be fine .

I would first say, be careful of diagnosing RSI as carpal tunnel. Are you actually sure it's that, because there are other forms of RSI, that require other forms of treatment. Carpal tunnel is almost the "bogey man" of repetitive strain injury as it's permanent damage to the ligaments.

What is your current layout of your PC (possible a picture would help). If you're using a laptop without a main screen then that's first call for your neck problems. When I was at a firm that was very "hotdesk" oriented, every time I went laptop only I stared getting neck pain. So I'd go and requisition a stand and usb keyboard, pain went away in no time.

As for arms and hands, forearms for me tend to be tend to be incorrect typing practices. I find I stretch for the keys while holding SHIFT (just did it then) rather than hitting caps lock. That's one of the killers for the typing, it holds your little finger in place on the SHIFT key, forcing an unnatural stretch with the rest of your hand. That tends for me to be felt in my forearms, and across the joint of my index finger.

For your wrists, it's most likely keyboard and mouse setup that you need to focus on. It's positioning and elevation that matter. Those wrist supported mouse mats worked quite well for me, but the best solution is to go ambidextrous on the mouse. It sounds extreme, but if you are scared about this (and you should be), then start using your mouse in your off hand. It is very difficult at first, and easy to think you'll never get it, but after about 2 weeks you're capable (though a lot slower), and from there you build pretty fast. It's the ability to just switch hands, when one is hurting, that has saved me from having to leave the programming profession. As they say, a problem shared is a problem halved.

I am not sure of anything, I am going with what the professionals have told me. But I need to start drilling them for more information but I don't know much myself. Hence why I am asking from experienced people, obviously. :)

thanks for the advice. That is what the wife is for. :D

Surgery must be the last option.
First of all, do the right exams to verify if your problem is really carpal tunnel (one was electromyography, I think).
To avoid such issues, anyway, you'll need to start doing pauses and stretching exercises.
An anti-inflammatory like the arnica will help to reduce the pain in the worst cases.
Btw, find a better doctor lol.

The surgery involved is pretty minor and does a good job of getting you back to normal. In the meantime, there are wrist braces that you can get that help while you're sleeping, if that's proving an issue. I take it that you've given up drumming for the time being at least?

Generally speaking with doctors the best thing to do is be persistent. You could have a cancerous growth the size of a football hanging from your forehead and they'll shrug it off the first time you go to see them. Keep at them until they just want you off their case.

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I also find an ambidextrous trackball to be a lot easier on my wrists. You really only need minimal finger movements (basically no wrist movement), they seem more precise than a mouse, fit into a very small space (the trackball base doesn't move around), and an ambidextrous version means you can still switch hands.