Repetitive Stress injury question

[Marinerbaby]

If anyone has dealt with this before do the tablets really help? Is there anything that can help? I just got a Wacom tablet and hope it will do the trick. So far it has had some issues with CS2 (my brushes disappearing and error messages) but after downloading a few updates it is less of a problem. I am having major issues in my hand and am hoping a tablet will help. I have a ton of work I need to get done for clients but the pain is horrible and have a bunch of other shoots already scheduled.

Honestly if someone said standing on my head would help I would be editing upside down.

 

[Kelly Grannell]

Yikes! I know the feeling. The first thing to do, which I don't think you can do, is to let the internal swelling goes away (no, not by taking meds, but by actually resting).

Next put pebbles in a large bucket and 'write' the alphabet with your wrist slowly

Then start playing badminton, it WILL hurt like heck for the first several times and you may only be able to play no longer than 5 minutes. That's fine. Keep playing until your wrist get tired, and stop for at least a couple of days, then play again. Repeat as necessary until you can play about 30 minutes non stop.

Then start using your mouse again, or tablet, or whatever way you choose to use.

I used to be professional session musician. It's been about 8 ro 10 years (can't remember) since the last time I actually made money as a session musician and I still can't do it. But now at least I can play up to 1 hours (depending on the type of song I play) for my own enjoyment.

do NOT undergo the surgery. I of course don't know about the necessity of you using the wrist for your work, but in my case (playing music) if the surgery failed, I won't be able to play music ever again.

Even with photography, the most I can do with Sigma 18-125 lens and vertical grip is a 10-hour session.

 

[zumbergc]

I've heard of a couple things that may help strengthen your wrists.

If you have hand weights or a body bar (light bar maybe 6-10 pounds). You dont' want to do this with heavy weights. Start light if its individual hand weights 3-4 lbs.

One if your sitting in a chair, with your feet firmly on the ground. Put the back of your forearms on top of your quads (top of legs), hands facing up with the bar or weights in your hand. Then just using your wrists, do some little curls. Just with the wrists, you don't use the rest of your arm. Think bicep curls for the wrists?

The other one is like a motor cycle looking motion. Think old style with the big harley type handle bars.
If your doing a bicep curl and your at the top of the motion. Except your hands are facing down away from your body. Then slowly do the opposite motion of the other exercise. You start with your wrists straight, then slowly tilt them down, and back up.

If your in lots of pain, maybe try some advil, but maybe take a break and ice the area to help with any inflamation. Ice is way better especially if you have any stomach issues as the advil (or other nsaid) will upset.

Some other things. Play the piano in the air to relax your fingers, and wrists. Close and open your hands. Plus, don't forget to take breaks every so often. You will probably need to take more breaks since your having lots of problems.

If you got some $$$$. A good massage therapist can help those tired hands, wrists, forearms. But you have to find someone good, who can look for any trigger points or knots in your hands, forearms.
Also if you have any neck pain, shoulder pain issues, they sometimes can reflect pain down into the hands. Again a good massage therapist will ask you if any of your fingers hurt and which ones.

Good Luck,
Connie