Comments on: Can I get Social Security Disability if I have carpal tunnel syndrome? http://californiasocialsecuritylawyerblog.com/2009/04/01/can-i-get-social-security-disability-if-i-have-carpal-tunnel-syndrome/ Published by Geri Kahn, San Francisco Bay Area Social Security Disability Attorney Wed, 02 Jun 2010 02:47:11 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Vicki L. http://californiasocialsecuritylawyerblog.com/2009/04/01/can-i-get-social-security-disability-if-i-have-carpal-tunnel-syndrome/#comment-269 Vicki L. Fri, 04 Dec 2009 04:12:39 +0000 http://californiasocialsecuritylawyerblog.com/?p=359#comment-269 I had carpal tunnel syndrome a couple of years ago, and ended up typing with the eraser end of a pencil. My thumb hurt so bad I couldn't even touch the spacebar. It is caused by a nerve getting pinched in the wrist by the bones surrounding it. I went to a chiropractor who massaged/squeezed the wrist a certain way to take the pressure off the nerve. The pain stopped, but then it would start back up, and I discovered the repetitive motion that was causing the problem, actually 2 of them. Slowly turning microfilm rolls on a machine while researching old records, and rolling the wheel on my mouse. My chiropractor showed me how to "fix" my wrist when the nerve gets "caught". It's fairly easy once you figure it out, just a certain way of squeezing. Also, I bought a mouse with a big ball on it which creates different dynamics with how my wrist moves. Problem solved, for now at least. If the bones get deformed from arthritis and close the nerve opening, surgery may be necessary. I had carpal tunnel syndrome a couple of years ago, and ended up typing with the eraser end of a pencil. My thumb hurt so bad I couldn’t even touch the spacebar. It is caused by a nerve getting pinched in the wrist by the bones surrounding it. I went to a chiropractor who massaged/squeezed the wrist a certain way to take the pressure off the nerve. The pain stopped, but then it would start back up, and I discovered the repetitive motion that was causing the problem, actually 2 of them. Slowly turning microfilm rolls on a machine while researching old records, and rolling the wheel on my mouse. My chiropractor showed me how to “fix” my wrist when the nerve gets “caught”. It’s fairly easy once you figure it out, just a certain way of squeezing. Also, I bought a mouse with a big ball on it which creates different dynamics with how my wrist moves. Problem solved, for now at least. If the bones get deformed from arthritis and close the nerve opening, surgery may be necessary.

]]> By: Tim http://californiasocialsecuritylawyerblog.com/2009/04/01/can-i-get-social-security-disability-if-i-have-carpal-tunnel-syndrome/#comment-102 Tim Thu, 02 Apr 2009 23:09:14 +0000 http://californiasocialsecuritylawyerblog.com/?p=359#comment-102 You've probably read this by now, but on the off chance that you haven't, this is from the mayo clinic site's alternative therapy section on CTS: "Supplements of vitamin B-6 may be helpful for relieving the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. And from a different source: "Many physicians and nutritionists consider vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) to be the gold standard of natural supplements for treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome. An estimated 40 to 90 percent of carpal tunnel syndrome patients may experience significant improvement through the use of vitamin B6 if it is taken during the beginning stages of this condition. Taking 25 milligrams of vitamn B6 (pyridoxine) three to four times daily has been shown to reduce the swelling associated with carpal tunnel syndrome". However, note that taking more than 100 milligrams of B6 is not recommended without doctor supervision. Too much pyroxidine causes neurological problems such as numbness or tingling in the hands and feet and decreased motor skills." I've found myself edging toward cts-like symptoms (including strange shooting pains starting from the wrist and traveling into the forearm) at varying points. The only thing that seemed to be helpful in those instances was making the keyboard off-limits for a time and, when I was working, making my keyboarding time sporadic and duration-limited. Good luck on it. You’ve probably read this by now, but on the off chance that you haven’t, this is from the mayo clinic site’s alternative therapy section on CTS:

“Supplements of vitamin B-6 may be helpful for relieving the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome.

And from a different source:

“Many physicians and nutritionists consider vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) to be the gold standard of natural supplements for treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome. An estimated 40 to 90 percent of carpal tunnel syndrome patients may experience significant improvement through the use of vitamin B6 if it is taken during the beginning stages of this condition. Taking 25 milligrams of vitamn B6 (pyridoxine) three to four times daily has been shown to reduce the swelling associated with carpal tunnel syndrome”. However, note that taking more than 100 milligrams of B6 is not recommended without doctor supervision. Too much pyroxidine causes neurological problems such as numbness or tingling in the hands and feet and decreased motor skills.”

I’ve found myself edging toward cts-like symptoms (including strange shooting pains starting from the wrist and traveling into the forearm) at varying points. The only thing that seemed to be helpful in those instances was making the keyboard off-limits for a time and, when I was working, making my keyboarding time sporadic
and duration-limited.

Good luck on it.

]]> By: Gordon Gates http://californiasocialsecuritylawyerblog.com/2009/04/01/can-i-get-social-security-disability-if-i-have-carpal-tunnel-syndrome/#comment-101 Gordon Gates Thu, 02 Apr 2009 22:47:21 +0000 http://californiasocialsecuritylawyerblog.com/?p=359#comment-101 Geri, So sorry to hear about this. Please go easy on the typing! I have had clients disabled only by carpal tunnel syndrome, but they weren't experts in Social Security disability law or Immigration law, so they had quite a different vocational profile! Take good ergonomic care, Gordon Geri,

So sorry to hear about this. Please go easy on the typing!

I have had clients disabled only by carpal tunnel syndrome, but they weren’t experts in Social Security disability law or Immigration law, so they had quite a different vocational profile!

Take good ergonomic care, Gordon

]]>