Three years ago, when I was pregnant with my daughter Amira, I developed carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). I was crying buckets of tears because my suffering was madly unbearable. I had to seek the help of a hand surgeon in Singapore to help manage or treat the numbness and tingling feeling in my hands and wrists. After consulting my hand doctor, I still encountered some symptoms, but somehow, the best ergonomic practices made everything more tolerable and manageable.
Recently, I have been taking care of my hands more than ever because these are my bread and butter. The good news, though, is that I found five ways to help mitigate the symptoms of my debilitating condition. If you have carpal tunnel syndrome in Singapore, you might want to consider these ways!
SETTING A TIMER TO REMIND YOU TO TAKE BREAKS
From thumb arthritis, trigger finger, hand infection, and de Quervain tenosynovitis, to carpal tunnel syndrome, it is vital that you take breaks every hour that passes while you’re working. According to my hand surgeon in Singapore, I should get up, rest, and move my hands for at least 15 minutes every four hours of working. Untether yourself from your device, whether a laptop, desktop computer, mobile phone, tablet, or anything else aggravates your symptoms. The time-tracking app I utilised is Toggl. It enables me to hustle in short sprints with repeated breaks.
USING A VOICE-RECOGNITION SOFTWARE
When I had carpal tunnel syndrome in Singapore, it was very challenging to type and use my keyboard. I almost thought it would be impossible to get back to work. As a writer, I have tight deadlines to meet. And as I said, my hands are my bread and butter. Thankfully, speech recognition software is available on my laptop. I used the voice typing feature to help accomplish all my tasks without further risking my wrist and straining it.
INVESTING IN AN ERGONOMIC KEYBOARD OR KEYBOARD TRAY
An ergonomic keyboard has got to be one of the best investments if you have carpal tunnel syndrome in Singapore. According to my hand doctor, anything stimulating neutral postures can be helpful to my condition. Invest in an ergonomic keyboard to keep your wrists positioned more comfortably, angled, and neutral. If you ever find your keyboard at a high level, get a keyboard tray or adjustable desk to set the height appropriately.
GETTING AN ADJUSTABLE LAPTOP STAND OR MONITOR ARM
Another recommendation from my hand surgeon in Singapore is to get an adjustable monitor arm or laptop stand. Poor shoulder, wrist, and neck posture can negatively impact your wrist. To keep it from bending down, I purchased a monitor arm. I also adjusted my desktop monitor display about two to three inches above eye level.
UTILISING A COMFORTABLE MOUSE OR MOUSE ALTERNATIVE
There are several mouse alternatives you can find in the market. One tip I can share is to find one that fits and is more ergonomic for your needs. A vertical mouse is a piece that works well for my carpal tunnel syndrome in Singapore.
If you’re looking for a hand surgeon in Singapore, I highly suggest Dr Jacqueline Tan from Advanced Hand, Wrist & Nerve Centre. Work with her by booking a schedule on their website!
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