Harvard Study: Carpal Tunnel Not Caused by Computer Use

December 15, 2005

  • December 15, 2005 at 7:50 am
    Been there also says:
    Like or Dislike:
    Thumb up 0
    Thumb down 0

    I have spent over 30 years working in occupational health. For many of these jobs, I worked with large populations that had high repetative wrist duties. Why is it that only a small percentage get these problems? Why is it that people who use predominanently one hand get bilateral carpal tunnel?

    I have had both of my wrists operated on for carpal tunnel. Neith of these was caused by typing. Both of my siblings and my father have had carpal tunnel that was surgically treated and has never come back (if the diagnosis is truly Carpal Tunnel and the surgery is done correctly, there should not be anything that would cause a reoccurance.)

    Issue I have is we forget that 50 years ago we had a good list of risk factors for carpal tunnel (predominantly female, over forty, over weight, or with medical issues such as thyroid or diabetes disease.

    Today, we don\’t look at these, we look at if the person types.

  • December 15, 2005 at 1:34 am
    RSI sufferer says:
    Like or Dislike:
    Thumb up 0
    Thumb down 0

    OKAY, so the official diagnosis of \”Carpal Tunnel Syndrome\” is not caused by computer use, but RSI is. Most people refer to the RSI symptoms of the hands & wrist as carpal tunnel, whether it actually is or not. And they are caused/exacerbated by computer use. I spent 15 years of my life as a mainframe techie before moving to a pc and never had any problems untill I began to use that pain-inducer –> the mouse.

    So the correct headline should have read \”Carpal Tunnel Syndrome should not be considered an RSI\”.

  • December 15, 2005 at 2:31 am
    compnurse says:
    Like or Dislike:
    Thumb up 0
    Thumb down 0

    Actually, the headline is correct. The diagnosis and treatments have been incorrect, according to this report. Surgeons make a lot of money performing carpal tunnel release surgeries when symptoms could have resolved with either correct ergonomics, or correct therapy. We see this on a daily basis and only those who truly have median nerve compression (severe) have positive results from the surgery. A lot of people are made worse. A lot of women have this condition (CTS) due to being overweight, hormones, smoking, ect… Sometimes things just happen to people, but it is human nature to try to blame someone or something instead of themselves.

  • December 15, 2005 at 3:54 am
    Been there, have you? says:
    Like or Dislike:
    Thumb up 0
    Thumb down 0

    Makes me wonder how many of the persons involved in the research and report have or had carpal tunnel. My bet would be 0.
    Until I started using a laptop computer, I did not have any problems with my wrists or hands, even after 10 1/2 years of working in a factory doing very repetitive type work that would surely have led to RSI (based on the report). I tried the physical therapy, anti inflamatory medication, you name it. Until I had surgery on both hands almost 9 years ago, I was in agony and did not sleep more than an hour at a time because the pain woke me up. More importantly, I have had no problem since having the surgery for carpal tunnel.

  • December 15, 2005 at 4:01 am
    compnurse says:
    Like or Dislike:
    Thumb up 0
    Thumb down 0

    See it everyday, actually. Then, obviously, you had true Carpal Tunnel Syndrome or median nerve compression which was relieved by surgery. You are not the majority. I don\’t know your situation. Obviously, you still use the computer, so if CTS is caused by computer use, why have you not have any other problems. Sometimes you just never know…. I am very glad that you have not had any other problems. Once case does not prove anything and I am sure that Harvard is fairly thorough with their research.

  • December 16, 2005 at 2:06 am
    Don says:
    Like or Dislike:
    Thumb up 0
    Thumb down 0

    Any bets the study was funded by the computer manufacturers???

  • December 16, 2005 at 2:12 am
    CTS Sufferer says:
    Like or Dislike:
    Thumb up 0
    Thumb down 0

    Wow!! While they may be saying the computer doesn\’t cause CTS but the way you hold your hand & wrist does contribute.

    Just had CT surgery & trigger finger release on middle finger of left hand 5 weeks ago caused by contact stress from using mouse with roller ball & computer.

    Have been told need surgery on right hand as well.

    I agree with the last comment. Sounds like study done on behalf of computer mfgs.

  • December 16, 2005 at 3:09 am
    RSI sufferer says:
    Like or Dislike:
    Thumb up 0
    Thumb down 0

    Even though the specialist I went to said that I have CT in my right wrist, he said that surgery may not alleve my problems. I also suffer from tendinitis in that same wrist/forearm. I have been through PT twice now and found that I can manage the pain myself with a wrist brace, proper posture, ice & ibuprofen.

  • December 16, 2005 at 3:34 am
    ergo specialist says:
    Like or Dislike:
    Thumb up 0
    Thumb down 0

    Sounds like it\’s tailor made for the computer makers who\’ve been hammered by CTS suits, and wrongly so, I believe, but might have some repercussions for comp claimants. In my experience about half of early-onset complaints are easily resolved just by adjusting keyboard angles. Most people need a board that slopes slightly down in back and most people have just the opposite configuration. The prevalence of badly designed, misused equipment is part of the problem. I don\’t recommend adjustable, under-the-desktop keyboard trays, which instead of eliminating CTS, have prolonged it due to their many shortcomings. Keyboard trays are to workstations as window air conditioners are to homes, a compromise add-on that does a so-so job overall. People think that they won\’t have problems if all their desks have them, which keeps them from looking for the better alternatives. A better widespread solution would have prevented more cases.

  • December 17, 2005 at 7:33 am
    compnurse says:
    Like or Dislike:
    Thumb up 0
    Thumb down 0

    Seems to me like everyone of you continue to use the computer which usually involves a mouse. Most people do not use bilateral twin mouses. What did you all do screw up one wrist with a mouse, then switch, so now surgery is going to fix everything? Ridiculous. If you did sqats constantly all day, your muscles would be very sore, that does not mean you an issue with your nerve or a work-related injury. IT is the same concept. Like I said some people are more prone to actually nerve entrapment, but most claims are total crap.



Add a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*