Stiff hands - Arthritis?
Stiff hands - Arthritis?
Author
Discussion

james_tigerwoods

Original Poster:

16,342 posts

214 months

Tuesday 20th January 2009
quotequote all
The last couple of days in the office have been uncomfortable for me as I think the temparature has dipped quite a bit. The problem I have is that when it gets cold in here, my hands go stiff - more along the top joints and I can feel them getting colder and colder.

Now, I'm not sure if this is a circulation issue, or my seating position (I use a laptop), the temparature in here or the fact that I've been in IT for 12 years and this is the onset of RSI (which I doubt as I know what that feels like - I think)

What my question is - Is is possible that this is the onset of Arthritis (am I too young at 30-odd?) and if so (or even not) what can I do to improve/reduce this? (My seating position isn't really that bad - honest)




SpydieNut

5,897 posts

240 months

Tuesday 20th January 2009
quotequote all
it's the bad aids - sorry about that.

BigLepton

5,042 posts

218 months

Tuesday 20th January 2009
quotequote all
Better call an Ambiwlans straight away. . . . . .

james_tigerwoods

Original Poster:

16,342 posts

214 months

Tuesday 20th January 2009
quotequote all
SpydieNut said:
it's the bad aids - sorry about that.
Well, that didn't take long smile

james_tigerwoods

Original Poster:

16,342 posts

214 months

Tuesday 20th January 2009
quotequote all
BigLepton said:
Better call an Ambiwlans straight away. . . . . .
I am, however, surprised that wasn't the first response hehe

garycat

4,940 posts

227 months

Tuesday 20th January 2009
quotequote all
If you work in IT there's a good chance you hold your arms tensed using the keyboard, mouse etc. This causes stiffness in the shoulder/neck muscles which puts pressure on the nerves from your hands making them ache and feel stiff.

So, get a good massage on your neck/shoulders from a physio/osteopath and see if that helps. Check your working position is ergonomic too.

Arthritis is very uncommon on 30 y.o.s

BigLepton

5,042 posts

218 months

Tuesday 20th January 2009
quotequote all
garycat said:
If you work in IT there's a good chance you w@nk too much. This causes stiffness in the shoulder/neck muscles which puts pressure on the nerves from your hands making them ache and feel stiff.
  • EFA

GreenDog

2,261 posts

209 months

Tuesday 20th January 2009
quotequote all
Stop using the viagra soap

HTH

captainzep

13,306 posts

209 months

Tuesday 20th January 2009
quotequote all
BigLepton said:
garycat said:
If you work in IT there's a good chance you w@nk too much. This causes stiffness in the shoulder/neck muscles which puts pressure on the nerves from your hands making them ache and feel stiff.
  • EFA
Hmmmm.

OP?

Have you taken the boxing gloves off that your Mum makes you wear during the night?

james_tigerwoods

Original Poster:

16,342 posts

214 months

Tuesday 20th January 2009
quotequote all
captainzep said:
BigLepton said:
garycat said:
If you work in IT there's a good chance you w@nk too much. This causes stiffness in the shoulder/neck muscles which puts pressure on the nerves from your hands making them ache and feel stiff.
  • EFA
Hmmmm.

OP?

Have you taken the boxing gloves off that your Mum makes you wear during the night?
Of course hehe

It's those funny blue tablets that I've got from Miguel that might be the problem

Or not!


TpdNotts

879 posts

220 months

Tuesday 20th January 2009
quotequote all
I've had this problem for a good couple of years. I spend alot of time at the desk and computer and type a hell of a lot. If I get cold my fingers get achey and stiff. I'm not sure what it is but I have then had hand pain and was given a steroid injection in my hand which helped with the finger pain. However, as you may read in my topic on here, I've since got pain up my arm and into my shoulder/neck and just been diagnosed with arthritis in the neck. I'm not sure whether that was affecting the fingers but either way, have it checked out. Buy a wheat bag that you can heat in the microwave and rest your hands on, positioned on your lap when you get cold hands. It really does help. And check your posture/workstation.

teresa.

mybrainhurts

90,809 posts

272 months

Tuesday 20th January 2009
quotequote all
Isn't this the first sign of Bubonic Plague...?

james_tigerwoods

Original Poster:

16,342 posts

214 months

Thursday 5th February 2009
quotequote all
Slight ressurection - I've been to the Doctor who has said that given my symptoms and other things (long chat preceeded this), it looks like just poor circulation on my part - aggravate by the cold.

There's not much that can realistically be done apart from try to ensure that my hands don't get cold in the first place (a bit difficult in this unheated office) and to try an aspirin a day. There are other things that can be prescribed, but these are more in the extreme and have side effects.

Note to self - hand are cold already!


My OH showed me these - http://www.therapygloves.co.uk/index.php?pac=198G - which strike me as a bit OTT, but if I have to wear gloves in the office, they might as well not restrict my keyboard access that normal gloves would.

Unless these gloves are a waste of time (opinions?)