Try switching to a Wacom tablet and using the stylus as a mouse. Get a small one. I think they have one called "Bamboo" that retails for under 100.00.

http://www.wacom.com/bambootablet/

A less expensive option to try are Handeze support therapeutic gloves. Read about them at the link. I loved them and used them until I switched to a stylus to relieve the hand pain I had from using a mouse. I use a computer as a graphic designer up to 16 hours day. Not much typing.

Here is a link that might be useful: Handeze gloves

If it's truly carpal tunnel then buy one of those braces made for that condition and take ibuprofin.

It may not be that though. I had wrist tendonitis, which is an inflammation of the tendon running from the thumb through the wrist. Wowee did that hurt. The pain is right below the base of the thumb. There is a test you can give yourself to see if that's what you've got called the Finkelstein test. Make a fist, with your thumb inside the fist. Turn your fist so the thumb joint faces the ceiling. In this position, flex your fist down toward the floor. Did you just scream in pain? Then you've got wrist tendonitis.

You don't want to wear a CP brace for wrist tendonitis. There is a specific brace that holds your wrist perfectly straight, so you don't flex it. The CP brace will aggravate it.

In the end I got a shot of cortisone and that fixed it.

You should find out what's going on before treating yourself although ice and ibuprofen are good. And rest.

There are wrist support gloves that you can wear while using the computer when it's really bad, the fit tight and have velcro that wraps around the wrist. The best thing I've found is to wear the rigid wrist supports at night. At the end of a long day I put those on, put a pillow under each arm and go to bed that way, no pain in the morning. They have both types at Walgreens.

Definitely get a doctor to check it out. It could be something else including tendinitis. I had tendinitis on the pinky side of my hand ages ago. Treatment (anti-inflammatory drug, hot and cold packs and some physical therapy exercises) helped it a lot, but I also had to figure out what I was doing that annoyed it. In my case, part of the problem was banging the return key on my computer too hard, especially when working under time pressure. I blame it on growing up with a manual type writer - I was putting about the same force into hitting the return key that I would have used on the return lever! I had to learn to type with a lighter hand.

For a while, I had to wear a wrist brace at night to keep me from sleeping in a position that irritated it.

During the day, make sure to take breaks. On the home computer setup, you may find a trackball helps (regular size not the tiny blackberry size). The laptop and blackberry are harder. You could get an external small wireless mouse for your laptop if that helps.

Try taking breaks every 15 minutes or so (may be easier said then done, sorry).

Watch how you sit - your body, arm and hand position, then try to switch it up. If you use armrests stop, and if you don't use them, start. Practice using your left hand for your mouse and trackball. (Or right if you're a lefty.) Take an anti-inflammatory. If ibuprofen doesn't seem to help, try naproxen. Soak your hand and forearm in Epsom salts in warm water. Take breaks and sadly - don't do anything unnecessary like play games, chat on forums :-(

I agree, make sure it IS carpal tunnel before you start doing anything to alleviate it.

My carpal tunnel is pretty much controlled by wearing a brace at night, it has a flat metal insert that keeps me from bending my wrist at all. NSAIDs help if you need them and my old doc gave me some exercises that help a lot.

For a while it was so bad I didn't even drive with my right hand and couldn't even pick up a coffee cup. Now I still drop things regularly and have some bad days, but the exercises helped more than anything else and I get away with only wearing the brace at night when I sleep.

Annie

Another thing that helped my tendonitis was switching the mouse clicks, so right click became left and vice versa.

Run cold water over sore wrists and hands for the fastest relief from soreness. It only takes a minute or two under the water tap to see if it will help you. If you have enough swelling to pinch a nerve then you may have a minute of intense pain as the cold water takes the swelling down. Repeat the cold water every hour or two until the pain is gone. Calcium supplements help me survive working in a factory. I'd be crippled without my daily calcium pills.

If it hurts you should see a doctor. Pain is telling you something. If the pain returns you should probaly see a doc. Taking asprin will help a one time thing but you should get professional help if the problem continues. Nobody wants to see you put a bandaid on a real injury. LOL!... did I mention see a doctor? Cold running water for soreness and doctors for pain... only you know if it is just sore or really serious.

Gina is right about different chairs. I have two chairs for my computer and swap them back and forth every few days. My cats love having their own chair right next to me. I have a split keyboard and refuse to use anything else for more then a couple minutes.

Hope you feel better soon!

: )
lyra