Activities That Make My Carpal Tunnel Pain Worse

Introduction:

Dealing with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) can be a challenge, especially when trying to navigate daily activities that can easily aggravate your symptoms. Over the past two and a half years, I’ve learned that certain activities, which seem innocent enough, can make my pain flare up quickly. In this post, I’ll share the top activities that worsen my Carpal Tunnel symptoms and how I’ve adjusted my routine to avoid them as much as possible.



1. Typing on the Keyboard

Typing for extended periods is by far one of the most aggravating activities for my Carpal Tunnel. Even typing continuously for 15-30 minutes can trigger sharp pain in my wrists. Since my work involves a lot of typing, I’ve had to be extra mindful about taking frequent breaks and adjusting my posture to reduce strain.



2. Using the Mouse

Like typing, using a mouse for long periods causes strain in my wrist, making it one of my top aggravating activities. Whether it’s for work or browsing, it doesn’t take much for my wrist to start aching, so I make sure to switch to keyboard shortcuts when possible or take breaks often to stretch and rest.



3. Scrolling and Texting on My Phone

Spending too much time scrolling through social media or messaging on my phone flares up my symptoms. The repetitive motion of swiping and typing on a small screen can put a lot of stress on my wrists and fingers, so I try to limit my phone usage during flare-ups or take breaks to rest my hands.



4. Playing Sports (Like Table Tennis)

Although I enjoy playing sports, certain activities, like playing table tennis, have caused significant flare-ups in my symptoms. The constant back-and-forth motion, combined with gripping the paddle tightly, seems to strain my wrist, leading to pain and discomfort for days afterward.



5. Sleeping on My Stomach

I’ve always been a stomach sleeper, but I’ve realized that sleeping with my hands to my side while lying on my stomach aggravates my symptoms. The pressure on my wrists and arms while sleeping in that position contributes to flare-ups, so I’ve been gradually trying to adjust to sleeping on my back to relieve some of the strain.



6. Cutting Hard Vegetables

Simple tasks like chopping hard vegetables, such as potatoes, can trigger wrist pain. The repetitive motion of holding the knife and applying pressure to cut through tough materials tends to flare up my symptoms, so I’ve learned to pace myself or ask for help when preparing meals that require more effort.



7. Lifting Weights (Especially Over 5 lbs)

Lifting weights that put significant pressure on my wrists, especially exercises like chest presses, tends to make my symptoms worse. I’ve found that anything over 5 lbs seems to trigger pain, so I’ve been cautious about using lighter weights or avoiding certain exercises that require excessive wrist strength.



8. Treetop Adventure Park

One of my worst flare-ups occurred after visiting the treetop Adventure Park. The treetop adventure involved a lot of hanging, gripping, and supporting my body weight with my hands, which put intense stress on my wrists. I ended up with significant pain for 2-3 days after the experience. In hindsight, it was definitely one of my worst decisions, but it was a learning moment for me.



Conclusion:

These are the main activities that have caused flare-ups in my Carpal Tunnel symptoms. As frustrating as it can be, learning what aggravates my condition has been crucial in managing my pain. By adjusting my habits and avoiding certain triggers, I’ve been able to reduce the severity of my flare-ups. In my next post, I’ll share the products, activities and habits that have helped relieve my pain.



Warm regards,
The Carpal Guy

Location: United States

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Disclaimer

This blog is based on my personal experience with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. I am not a medical professional. Please consult a qualified healthcare provider for diagnosis or treatment advice tailored to your situation.

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