Are you having problems with your thumb or wrist? Do you have unexplained discomfort or pain? Is your thumb or hand getting tired easy. Do you have pain while typing, using a pen, utensil or scissors? These are just some ways that tell you that you might have a joint problem with your thumb, or even carpel tunnel. It is very important not to let this condition go on with out having a doctor look at it. It is extremely important to have your hand and thumb looked at so that you do not end up wearing out a joint in your thumb or hand that helps you function.
If you are unable to get into your doctor right away, the first thing you should do is get yourself some type of splint that will help eliminate the pain and help keep your hand and thumb from getting so tired. It will also protect your hand from any further damage. You can find these products online, at Wal Mart, Walgreens, stores that deal with athletic equipment and supplies. Make sure that you get a splint that is well fitted to your hand. Try several on and make sure they are not overly tight, and that you feel comfortable in it. You do want them to kind of fit like a glove. It is amazing on how much relief you can get from one of these splints for your thumb and or your wrist.
Many of us sit for hours at the computer and just keep typing away and eventually it starts catching up with us. If you have your keyboard to high, or you have your mouse on a higher level, these will all contribute to the condition. Repetition also will cause these problems as well.
Once you have seen your doctor he will prescribe your treatment which might include physical therapy to strengthen the hand or thumb. Your physical therapist will most likely fit you to a splint. There are purchased splints and then there are splints that they can make you by molding plastic to your hand. I had one molded to my hand to protect the basal joint of my thumb as it was 1/2 out of joint. This helped alleviate the pain and give me back use of my hand and thumb. But the physical therapy did not work for me, as I did not go to the doctor when I noticed the discomfort and pain. The doctor said most women don’t go to the doctor when they are having problems. You know how we all fall or twist something and we just figure it will get better and it does. Well after years of this going on and injuries over the years, one has a tendency for arthritis to form in those damaged joints. If we would have gone to the doctor right away, we could prevent many of the problems with out joints that we end up with, but who know that when we were younger that these conditions even existed.
So I decided to write about it as it has impacted my life so much.
It is also important to know that this also happens to children and teenagers, and anyone that plays hand held games or plays video or Nintendo games. These are repetitious games, with the same movements over and over again. Many teenagers are finding out they have the same worn out joints as those in their 40’s and 50’s. So if your child or grand child is playing these games way to much for hours on end, it is important to let them know about these problems that can occur. It is best for them to play for awhile, and then get up and get away from the computer or games and do something else for awhile. Limit there time.
The same goes for us adults. Do not sit at the computer for hours on end. Get up and move around, and use your hand and thumb doing something else. Give it a rest every 20 minutes to 30 minutes. Take a break. It will help save on doctor bills, your joints, and help prevent therapies and surgeries and recovery time.
This article may not seem important to you. It is a topic that has controlled my life for years. I just wanted to make people aware and let them know there are ways to help prevent further damage.
