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Finger, Hand and Wrist Pain

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If you are anything like the majority of society, you probably spend a large portion of your day using electronics. Tablets, computers, phones, TVs, and game consoles are a large part of our days. Injuries from the use of these products are common, and in some cases, can cause serious harm to the body. If you want to reduce your chances of having a finger, wrist, and hand pain from electronic devices, try some of these helpful tips.

Injuries you can get from electronic devices

  • Ganglion

Did you know that using electronic devices on a regular basis can lead to ganglion? A ganglion is a swollen cyst that forms, often along joints, that have seen too much stimulation. If you already have weak joints, then ganglion is a possibility. It will surface as a boil-like mass under the skin. Typically, the ganglion is not seriously harmful, but its foes look ugly.

  • Carpal Tunnel

We’ve all heard about carpal tunnel. You can easily get carpal tunnel from typing, using a mouse, touching a screen over and over, or doing anything else respectively with your fingers. Carpal tunnel is rarely dangerous, but it can sometimes require treatment.

  • Repetitive Stress Injuries

A repetitive stress injury is anything that comes from repetitive movements. Texting, typing, and holding an electronic device can all lead to repetitive stress injuries.

  • Muscle strain

Using electronics can quickly lead to muscle strain in the neck, back, eyes, hands, and joints. While rarely serious, muscle strain is still not good for the body.

Prevention

Preventing injuries from electronic devices is not that hard for the most part.  For computers, take breaks every hour or so to rest your eyes and hands. Flex your hands between typing sessions to increase circulation. Rest your wrists and hands-on a soft surface to reduce stress. For phones and tablets, use different fingers to type or text. Position the tablet or phone a comfortable distance away from your eyes. Take breaks every hour or so. Stand up and walk around a couple of times an hour to restore circulation. Sit in a comfortable place while using the device. Overall, simply use common sense, and if you notice the pain starting, change position, or do whatever you have to do to reduce injuries.

When to see a doctor

Most screen-related injuries are not serious, but some can be. Talk with a doctor if you feel anything such as:

  • Chronic pain that won’t go away or gets worse
  • Stiffness in the joints or loss of feeling
  • Sudden sharp pains
  • If stretching, changing positions or making other small changes seem to make the problem worse or don’t make it better

If you follow these steps, you will have an easier time with electronics use and will reduce your chances of seeing injuries. Electronic devices have brought a wealth of beneficial changes to the world, but if we also do not take care of our bodies, then the risks associated with the devices are greater than the benefits.