An unfortunate side effect of the computer age is the growing prevalence of carpal tunnel syndrome. This condition, which affects the proper functioning of the fingers and hands, is caused by the repetitive use of fingers and hands in improper positions. The culprit, of course, is the computer keyboard. The condition arises when a major nerve, the median nerve, is compressed at the point where it passes through the carpal tunnel, a narrow passageway of bones on the underside of the wrist. The result is pain, tingling, and numbness in the fingers or hands. The condition particularly affects the thumb, index, and ring fingers. Complete loss of sensation in the fingers can also occur.
If you are beginning to suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome, the first thing you can do is purchase an ergonomic keyboard. Such keyboards are usually split, with keys separated into two or three groups and splaying slightly outward; they are often adjustable. With a normal keyboard, the hands must be aligned at a 90 degree angle with the desktop, forcing them to angle away from the forearms. With an ergonomic keyboard, however, the hands and forearms can stay aligned, putting less stress on your wrists. Many of these keyboards are also angled upward in the center, such that the index finger is higher than the pinkie. You can try different configurations to see which feels most correct. Any ergonomic keyboard will take some getting used to, and your typing speed may never be the same, but you may save yourself a great deal of pain.
Acupuncture is one common treatment for carpal tunnel, though it doesn’t work for everyone. Traditional acupuncture theory holds that pain can be caused by blockages along energy pathways in the body, called “meridians”; by inserting thin needles into specific points, these areas are unblocked, and the flow of energy is improved. Contemporary theory holds that the needles release natural pain-relieving chemicals in certain areas, both improving circulation of body fluids and balancing the nervous system. For carpal tunnel treatment, needles are usually inserted in the hands, wrists, and arms; needles may also be inserted in the upper back and neck, along nerves that run from the spine down the arms to the hands.