Any suggestions for painful hands/wrists from typing?
Posted By: Sheryl on 2005-11-04
In Reply to:
My hands are always freezing cold. I wear fleece "wristies" to keep warmer. I have pain in both hands all day from typing. One wrist has a ganglion, and both wrists have some arthritis showing on x-ray. I rub capsaisin on hands/wrists. Still the pain persists. Pain relievers (Advil, etc.) do not help much. Prescriptions from doctors did nothing.
I was wondering if other heavy typers out there might have found some helpful things to alleviate hand/wrist pain. I even purchased "warming cream" which is supposed to help increase circulation to the hands, but it did nothing. I have several keyboards that I have tried also.
THanks!
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Therapy for hands and wrists that keep me typing. sm
With a medium-weight rubber band around your fingers and thumb, stretch your fingers and thumb out as wide as you can against the rubber band. Bring fingers back in then stretch them out again, repeat 10 times 2 to 3 times a day.
If you maintain a daily schedule with this you will definitely feel a difference. Hope this helps!
What do you do when your wrists ache and your hands weigh a ton but you have to keep typing?
I know I have read posts on here before regarding this topic but I can never find them in the archives. Besides a different keyboard, is there something you can take like a vitamin or different foods that will help? I have noticed that if I eat potatoe chips, my hands are stiff the next morning. Is there a certain brace or splint you can buy that you can wear when not working or do you even wear these when working? I thought I saw some magnetic splint somewhere. I am not like this every day, just some of the time but when I am, it is very frustrating.
Also wear Handeze. They keep wrists and hands
warm with some tension, not too much though, but helps with carpal tunnel also, being that they are elasticized. I bought mine through craft catalogs, such as Herrschner's and Mary Maxim. Can buy them through the catalog or online.
Painful fingers from typing
I experience sore, aching fingers each day from typing. Because of this, I cannot do more than 1000 lines a day. Ibuprofen helps somewhat. I do not know what is wrong. The knuckles appear a bit enlarged and upon waking in the morning each finger appears swollen. I am a thin person. I wear fleece gloves with no fingers all day while typing for warmth. This is more than just an annoyance but rather something that gets bad enough that I have trouble concentrating on typing because all I can think of is the pain. The doctor I saw was no help at all. Anyone else having this problem?
I've been shopping around for some fingerless gloves to wear while typing. My hands get very SM
VERY when I'm typing, especially in the fall and winter months. I've tried the the carpal tunnel gloves an they just drive me nuts. I really just need something soft and warm so my hands stay warm. Any suggestions? I've been looking at the Wristies website and I've about decided to buy a pair, but I wanted to get some opinions. Anyone use Wristies? How do like them?
Any other suggestions would be appreciated. I have to take numerous breaks throughout the day to warm up my hands and it's really irritating.
Thanks!
Tired of typing 8 hours stright everyday..my hands hurt!
I can't take much more of this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My job makes me work an 8 hour shift straight. My hands are so sore and tired.
I hate my life right now. 
My hands get cold, and typing with cold muscles is like (sm)
running or other exercise when not warmed up. I wear thin, warm gloves with the fingertips cut out to keep my hands & knuckles warm. For muscle pains in the shoulders, neck, biceps, etc, try Flexall cream - I find it to be VERY effective. Also try slight changes in chair height, keyboard height and angle, and monitor height. I found if I enlarge the print on my screen, it keeps me from hunching forward to try to read it. (CTL + scroll up or down on mouse wheel to make print bigger or smaller. It will not affect the size of the finished product.) Frequent "mini-breaks" to do other chores: filing etc. if in an office, quick household task if working at home, also helps relieve repetitive stress. A few months ago I thought my typing days were numbered due to various pains & arthritis; now I can work pain-free for up to 11 hours in a day. Good luck! :)
Of course it's painful (sm)
Having needles poked into your skin tends to be painful. It's worst over bone, though. See link for the most comprehensive and honest FAQ I know of concerning tattooing. One idea I liked -- use a Sharpie to draw your design and live with it for a few days/weeks to see if you really like it.
I've a nice purple dancing bear on my ankle.
Yes. It was a little painful but had great
results. I started seeing the most improvement after my 4th treatment.
painful knees
 I know this is not a doctor's office, but was wondering if any one is having trouble with their knees and if anyone has any advice. From sitting in a chair with my knees bent, they are really starting to kill me. Thank you. 
painful knees
Thanks for the feedback.
painful knees
Thanks for the feedback. I have had Lymes Disease and it might be a flair-up of the fibromyalgia. It is also in my spine. I really think I need to start walking and exercising.
not painful and very quick procedure but...sm
But......a person needs multiple sessions and that's where it gets very expensive. The plastic surgeons I work for did it and the one who does not own the practice charged me 50%. I went twice and didn't go back and yes, the chin hairs recurred. It is nonpainful and fast procedure FYI.
Painful bruise on forearm
Please don't tell me to call my doctor - I don't have one in this area, just moved here a few weeks ago. I will be calling to get established next week.
I have a bruise on my forearm about 1 inch below the antecubital fossa. It spontaneously appeared 2 weeks ago, is about 1 inch long and wide (not exactly circular). Normally, my bruises heal VERY quickly and are gone in 3 days or so - this is around for 2 weeks now and hurts - the pain is constant although rather low level.
I am not on a blood thinner and do not take aspirin products. The only med I take is a thyroid replacement pill every day.
I'm not a wimp, and I'm not asking for sympathy or sarcasm but since this is a new occurrence for me, I'm wondering whether I should mention it to the doctor's office when I set up my establishment appointment.
P.S.: I had a sister with leukemia, undiagnosed until after she bled to death.
Thanks for any information you care to share. 
I agree my painful is shameful...
But as far as being full-time MTs in this area with benefits and being paid hourly this is "good". Yep, that's how badly this profession is going down the tubes.
The only place I can work other than this and make more money with benefits is the hospital and they expect even more production from you, with harder jobs that I am not experienced with.
I took the paycut becuase I get to work from home (they released me to work from after one year).
I had bad wrists from the get-go
I have had two ganglion cysts removed from my left wrist and one removed from my right wrist. Also, in August 2005 I had sugery for DeQuervain's in my left wrist. It was after this that I finished my schooling and became an MT. Maybe I'm asking for more trouble, I don't know. But this was what I really wanted to do, so I'm willing to take the risk. I have been having trouble with my wrists since I was in the 6th grade...so I guess I'm used to it. So far, things have been OK for me. I haven't had any trouble, even from the most recent surgery. I try to take at least 5-10 minutes every hour and stretch my fingers and wrists, and just give them a "breather". I know I will end up with trouble in the future, however. So, I feel your pain.
i have telangiectasia on face. laser treatment - very painful...but works
what could be more unsightly that broken veins on the face? well, lucky me, i have them. eveyr few years go in for treatment. electrical zaps to destroy broken blood vessel. Hurts like the dickens though. Can't use pain relievers because it causes constriction of blood vessels, they told me.
My ankle pops. It's not painful, but occasionally it will get stiff and then pop very loudly.
x
And sore wrists. Have you tried any of these?
Smart Gloves. Google them. They're wonderful. About $20 bucks apiece but well worth the money.
Carpal tunnel type straps. Wal Mart. $10 bucks apiece.
I have both and I alternate.
I ended up with numbness in my right index finger, but after buying these, it just went away after a few weeks. My fingers and wrists have some discomfort on occasion, but nothing like they were before.
One more thing, and I know people that do this, if you do "pound" the keyboard with your fingertips, relax those hands, elbows and shoulders and just tap. If that doesn't work, you may want to get a better keyboard.
Good luck! 
sore wrists
I use Oregano Oil on my wrists and the tops of my hands. Sometimes it hurts to lift fingers and I run the Oregano Oil along those bones.
Invest in some wrists splints soon. ;) nm
good for a while, until your wrists give out.
nm
Rings on 5 fingers, bracelets on both wrists. nm
.
Sorry! Wrists at 180 degrees in same flat plane as
s
I have arthritis in my wrists and thumbs, and find - sm
it works just as well to make my own. I buy cheap, thin, snug-fitting gloves, then cut out the fingers so that about 2/3 of each finger sticks out. That way all knuckle joints, base of thumbs, and wrists are warm, and when they're warm, they rarely hurt & I can type faster.
personally, I cannot type unless my wrists rest on
something, and my right hand is more "pegeon-toed" inward than my left.
Isn't decorating cakes hard on the wrists and
I wouldn't be able to handle not making more money when I need to.
This board is not know it all and neither are the people who post here. MT is not going away. There are too many physicians and/or clinics that still use tapes. Come on, let's be realistic. There are changes and cut in pay, but do you not think the physicians are feeling the crunch as well? They only get paid a certain amount from insurance companies. They've been told not to prescribe certain meds. It's not just MT, everyone is feeling the pressure of higher prices.
It's a shame you've never found a company that truly appreciates your work! Good luck with the cake stuff! I hope people don't quit buying cakes because of the price of food rising! The economy is tough, very tough!
Oh, that is funny. What a visual...an MT with Frankenstein scars at wrists from
lol
Tip on Aching Wrists/Target Laundry Detergent!
Okay, I have hesitated sharing this one for a long time now, cause I know, absolutely know, I will get flamed somehow, cause its sort of silly, but its not silly to those of us whose wrists and/or arms are shot from this "career". I have really bad wrists now AND elbows - actually if your wrists hurt, chances are your tendons are aggravated right up to your elbow, too, though the pain might not localize there. At any rate, I also found my wrist would hurt with some "ADLs", mostly laundry. No matter what size of detergent I bought, they were always heavy, and the motion of pouring deturg into the cups really hurt my right wrist. Sometimes I could even hear an audible "pop" on that motion of holding this heavy bottle and pouring. My physical medicine guy said it was the motion of that with the weight on top of typing that wreaked havoc on my wrists, and that even lots of women who don't type have popped their tendons out using laundry detergent! Well, this is SO stupid, but...a few months ago I went to Target and saw their brand "Method" laundry detergent. Its super concentrated and fits 32 loads in a tiny bottle. Plus, its like those mouthwash dispensers where you just hold the bottle upright and squeeze and a tiny bit of the detergent fills in a tiny cup at the top. You fill to the line, which takes all of 1 second, and that's all the detergent you need! Plus, this stuff is awesome with the laundry. Prior to that, only Tide could get my kids clothes clean. This stuff is the BEST, and it smells great! Its about $6 for this bottle, which I would have thought expensive, but the savings on my wrists are priceless! My carpal tunnel and elbow tendonitis have nearly completely healed. It was just this stupid combo of motions that did my wrists in! For those older MTs like me, who've been at this for over 20 years, try it! It might help!! Again, I see a sports med guy, and get injections occasionally. I used to have to wear wrist braces, etc. I was scheduled for surgery until I started using this silly Target laundry detergent! Now, no more pain! Isn't that so weird? But neat?
Also work on eScription. Make more. Easier on wrists. sm
It's editing work, and the reason I personally make more is that I'm a slow typist but a fast reader and "punctuator." The eScription software is very easy to learn.
what keyboard would best help with arthritis in my long fingers and wrists
Doc says I do not have carpal tunnel syndrome or cubital tunnel syndrome, I have osteoarthritis. Most painful in the long fingers and the wrists of both hands. I have tried the ergonomic keyboard and just can't seem to adjust. I do use the A-style keyboard layout and love it. Anyone have one they use that is not as abusive to the arthritis. Thanks in advance.
Mine are on a beanbag wrist rest. Need wrists at 90-degree angle
s
Typing. This is NOT typing, it is transcribing. There is a BIG difference. sm
Transcription includes typing, but so much more.
hands down by the....
LINE!!
I am currently getting paid per report on one acct and per line on another and hands down...per line always adds up to more money.
From years of experience, there is at least one MT that will tend to skip the longer reports when being paid by the report - if this weren't the case then it might be about the same but just from years of experience it seems there is always one bad apple in the bunch that spoils it for the rest.
When being paid per line, at least when they skip reports they don't want to do - it just means more lines for me and more $$$.
Hands
Does anyone else have problems with puffy, stiff hands during the hot weather. Never bother me in the cold but this heat kills my speed and accuracy. Anybody have any home remedies that helps. I feel like the Pillsbury Dough boy with regards to my fingers and hands. Please don't tell me it is old age setting in.
Thanks.
Hands
I tried Glucosamine with chondtritin and it did not help with any of my aches. But then I was told by a chiropractor to try MSM Glucosamine after I was T-boned and had terrible hip and buttock problems. Tried 2 to 4 did not help much and gave up -- I give up easily. But the past several months tried again at 2 twice a day and after a couple of days it helped not only with my hip but my hands have not ached all summer/fall now. Really helped and I now take only 2 or so and not every day. Vioxx also helped but they took that off the market. But this helps tremendously. But you should check to see if by chance you have Raynaud's or something in your hands or low thyroid. Good luck.
is there something i can use to help my hands....
to be smoother. i have been using baby powder, but have already went through 2 keyboards...is there a transcription something i can buy? also, how about my hands freezing....what can i do about that?
Female..hands down !
I swear, every account I've ever worked had one problem dictator.. always female ! One REFUSED to use macros, even on normals.. and she would always make sure she made every report unique, so that we couldn't sneak away with using a macro for her. Another one spoke a hundred miles a minute. I remember my first day with her. She said something several times in her reports and I went crazy trying to figure it out.... lumbar spine ?? supine ?? Turns out she was saying "skip a line" !!
Obviously not for his face, but maybe his hands?
x
Hands On Transcription
Does anyone have any info on Hands On Transcription? They say they pay daily. Thanks
not sure what you are looking for exactly but for my aching hands sm
i have a mixture i make. it leaves your hands for soft and smooth and feels great too. take table salt and mix in essential oil. i love to use peppermint as it leaves a "cooling sensation" afterwards. just mix it until the salt is moist, not drowned. rub it is (preferably over the sink as it will make a mess), rub deeply or massage and it feels great. then rinse hands with warm water and it leaves your hands so soft and feeling great as the oil is left on your hands.
hang on with both hands - and don't let go
some swear by, but I think my hands are too big.
Voc. Rehab. let me try one out when they were helping me get my ergonomics together, and I knew right away I could never get used to it. I have rather "fat" fingers, though, and I think that was part of it. If you have longer, thinner fingers, it might be right up your alley.
You can rent one (which can then be applied to the purchase price, I think?) for awhile from this site to try it out, rather than outright buying it.
http://www.sforh.com/keyboards/kinesis.html
http://www.keyalt.com/kkeybrdp.htm
hands down..hourly
Hands down, if I had to pick one, my best
resource for medical terms is The Surgical Word Book. Boy that book is awesome. For meds, Quick Look Drug Book is The One! Online, the only site I really frequent is Dr. 411. Now, most of my coworkers are going to know who I am, as I am always singing the praises of these!! Oh well. It won't be any surprise to them how miserable I am at work - we all are. 
I am MT/ME and ME is easier on the hands...
I love ASR (automated speech recognition) aka editing as it's easier on the hands for some (me!!). It does pay 20% less per line but I'm very fast with editing. I like it a lot but to each his/her own opinion on it.
Good luck!!
Insuring hands??
I apologize if this sounds foolish but has anyone ever heard of a Transcriptionist insuring their hands in case they were in an auto accident, etc?? Is it even possible??
Cold hands
Does anyone else have freezing hands as they type? It's worse of course in the colder weather. Are there any gloves or similar products out there that we can wear while we type? Any ideas are appreciated! I freeze all the time, in warm weather or cold, but my hands are what I need to be warm to keep transcribing. I need a space heater that doesn't cause my electric bill to go sky high, but haven't found one of those either.
My hands are always cold too.
I have seen gloves with the fingertips cut out, but do not know how comfy they would be to type with.
I sit with a heating pad on my back cause I have arthritis in my hip and when my hands get cold I just put them behind my back to warm them up.
There are also those heat packs you can squeeze or rub together to warm up your hands.
You would think after typing and typing our hands would stay warm with all this exercise, but NO.
Keep Warm.
Warm Hands
Or how about a heated wrist pad for in front of your keyboard?
http://www.raynauds.org/offers/ThermalRest.cfm
Vonage the best hands down! I never
have trouble with them, either service or billing. No hidden charges, no monthly surprises. My bill is $32 every month for unlimited LD, plus I love their voice mail features, being able to access calls and messagers on line, their privacy settings - all calls can go right to voice mail if you want, etc. They are a miracle to me. Verizon, on the other hand, were skunks to me - my bill was always a nightmare each month, and though I had every Freedom Plan available, it was always a 3-digit bill. Service was great - billing was not.
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