Numbness in back of hand.
 

Hi everyone.

I know this doesn't replace a doctor but considering my case and what my mom has been through before I'm a bit skeptical about doctors in this field (at least from where I'm from).

Sorry in advance for the long post but I thought I should give you all the information I have.

So I'm 29 Male and I work a lot in the computer, I'm also a very skinny guy (always been). Due to some life changes I now started working at home so some things changed, like my working environment and daily routine, even eating habits. Yet, just on the third day being at home I got some wrist pain. It has happen before (happens like 2 or 3 times a year) and I assumed it had something to do with the different desk, chair and hands position. The pain went away in the next day and I got one of those mouse pads with foam to try to alleviate a bit (at work I had one of these too).

Then after a week the pain came back after some intensive use of the PC accompanied with some numbness at the back of the hand. I gave it some rest but neither was going away after two days I started searching for what it could be. My mom got a surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome once and the symptoms seemed similar. I learned a few stretching exercises and completely left the computer for the next days and after a week the pain slowly went away. I now feel like the pain is almost completely gone. It only hurts a little if I spend 2 or 3 hours without any rest. And I eventually got those gloves/splints and it seems to be a bit more comfortable to stay on the PC for longer.

Yet the numbness never went away.

So, I never got any numbness in my fingers, which seems to indicate that it's not carpal tunnel syndrome. The numbness exists in the total back of my hands (both btw) and sometimes extends a bit to the forearms (like half). I've tried different positions at the desk and even on the bed to see if any difference of the rotation, position or weights of the arms and hands made any difference in the numbness but nothing works, the only time that the numbness gets better but not completely gone is when I'm doing some activity like walking, doing exercises and even washing dishes o.O, but as soon as I rest, either in a chair or in bed it slowly increases no matter what position I'm in. Also, at night my house gets really hot and the numbness increases as well.

This numbness sometimes feels like needles or burning sensation and in the worst cases it's super distracting and infuriating so I get up and start walking or doing something just to calm it down a bit. When sleeping the numbness decreases but never goes away completely (at least considering how it feels when waking up).

So what are your thoughts? I've been searching for specialize doctor in my area but I'm not even sure what to look for, just going to hospital is too expensive for me.

thx

Since it seems timed with the work changes , I'd keep looking into that scenario..

Do you still take regular breaks at home? do walking or stretching?
Also slouching/hunching posture can cramp nerves & blood flow up in the neck/chest areas pinching them and causing problems down the arms/hands.... and if long term it can end up a chronic condition called Thoracic outlet syndrome.. (TOS)

Look up ergonomic desk set ups and compare yours to those suggestions..it can even be monitor /keyboard angles - any tightness/discomfort in your neck at all?

A few simple things to try - many times a day -
http://www.neurotalk.org/members/100-albums422.html

More info on TOS & various RSI symptoms-
http://www.neurotalk.org/thoracic-ou...rps-short.html
http://www.neurotalk.org/thoracic-ou...les-polls.html
http://www.neurotalk.org/forum24/

The splints for carpal tunnel are not really for use while you are working.
The splint are to align your wrist in the proper angles when at rest..

thx for your reply and the information.

I do as many breaks as was doing before at the office, which is not many, but I'm not always glued at the keyboard since my line of work leads me lots of pondering so I'm constantly "stretching" at the chair, putting my hands at the back of my head and stuff like that, but not exactly stopping and doing exercises so that could be something to improve.

Something I forgot to say before is that since it started I only work about 2 or 3 hours a day, I basically forced myself to "half-vacations".

I do have a really bad posture when sitting I have to admit that, I start sliding down the chair, this is something I have to force myself to correct for sure. I didn't know though that it could trigger something on the arms and hand, but I guess it makes sense.

At the desk I never felt anything on the neck but I do if work from my laptop at the bed (which now I've been doing more of).

Regarding the glove/splint maybe I don't actually have what I think I have? well, the glove as a splint that can bend a little on the back of the hand part and a bead "sack" at the wrist area, so I can rest my hand and have it straight while on the PC.

Thx for the info links