Hot and Cold Transition Baths have helped my hands feel better.  I fill 2 pitchers, 1 with hot water from the tap, and another with cold tap water plus a few ice cubes.

I dump my arm into one pitcher for 30 seconds, then into the other for 30 seconds.  I repeat about 3-5 times.   This helps by improving circulation to your arm.  I do this every day.

Sit to Stand workstations are starting to become more mainstream. I use one from Workrite.

These allow you to vary your work position to give your back a rest. As they put it: “Ergonomists agree that microbreaks are an excellent way to reduce the affects of repetitive activities. Rather than squirming in your seat late in the day, give your back a rest by standing for a short time. Alternating between standing and seated positions reduces the need for extended workbreaks, increasing employee productivity.”

I try to switch positions every hour or two.

Icing is an important technique to help minimize pain and reducing swelling from an Wrist Pain – Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Again it is a pain-reliever not a treatment or ergonomic technique.

I liked to put ice cubes in a pitcher of cold water and dunk my hand, wrist, and upper arm into the cold ice water.  This gets the entire area iced thoroughly. My hands needed to feel almost numb before they were removed from the ice water. As some put it, when you are numb, you are done. I found that I need to ice longer than I did previously.

Hot and Cold transition baths are also a good way to increase circulation due to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome problems.

This site has some good times on how to make icing work well for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome sufferers.

You can read more about icing and how long to ice from this guide to Repetitive Strain Injury. Wrist Pain – Carpal Tunnel Syndrome takes time to heal, so lay off the computer.

Do you notice that you wake up in the middle of the night more? That is a symptom of an RSI or repetitive strain injury. I was literally sleeping on top of a pillow with my hand right underneath, causing my injury to flare at night.

The Futuro Reversible Splint Wrist Brace is a low cost ergonomic splint that can help you at night.

I used one for a while until I got a custom designed splint from my hand therapy center.

I have found that most of my healing and insight was gained while under care of hand therapists. Doctors just examined my hands and gave a diagnosis and a prescription for hand therapy.

California Pacific’s Hand Therapy in the San Francisco Area has helped me heal, and I can recommend them 100%. They will help you understand your condition and provide a path to healing. They helped with exercises, therapy, ergonomics, splints, and work tips.

Do not delay contacting a hand therapist, the sooner you do it, the faster you will heal.