It's so funny that I saw this as I opened up KT, as I was at that moment thinking I've been on the computer too much today-- I have that pinched-nerve feeling in my neck/shoulder. I have thought about correlation so much that I am sure that for me there are two causes: putting my elbow up even an inch (on the arm of a chair,)and raising my hand up to the mouse, which in turn raises my shoulder slightly. It feels much better if I have the mouse and pad down on my lap; of course I have a desktop, not a laptop. For me, it all has to do with raising my shoulders, even a little. My 2 cents.

sorry my computers acting up..again. i usually set the laptop on my lap that relieves some of the pain but everything has to be just so or omg it hurts like the devil, so i know exactly how you feel, and a pinched nerve is absolutely no fun especially in your neck!

You can't get carpal tunnel in the shoulder.
Mainly because the carpel tunnel is an area in your wrist that is surrounded by the carpels, the small bones in your wrist.

I had it in both my wrists. I waited for years to have mine checked. By the time I finally went, I would wake up several times a night and it felt like my arms all the way up to my shoulders were on fire. Working on a computer aggravated it...which I do on a daily basis. Don't wait to have it checked. The surgery for it is a breeze and it is day surgery. I went in on a Tuesday...was back to work on Thursday for the first one. The second one I had on a Friday and was back to work on Monday. AND I was working on my computer when I went back to work. The relief was immediate and I couldn't believe I waited so long.

If this is what you have, find a good hand surgeon, that goes thru the palm of your hand. You will have to have a couple of stitches, but you will be amazed at the relief. There is a surgeon here that advertises going thru the wrist and you don't even need stitches, however, my doctor says that is a new procedure and he doesn't think highly of it.

I'm guessing, of course, but since you've said that different sitting positions can relieve the problem, I'm thinking it's an ergonomic problem. It could be that your PC setup ... the height of your desk/table, the distance your chair is from the desk, even how you sit in that chair, is not right for you. It's really important that all of this be correct 'for you' or you can suffer damage.

I had to change my chair height and the distance from my keyboard when I got bifocals ... because I found myself tilting my head up, in order to look through the bottom part of my glasses to read the screen. It only took a week or so before I started having horrible headaches at the base of my neck. I corrected my physical position by lowering my chair a bit, so I could look at the screen straight-on again and it only took a couple of days for my headaches to go away.

You can google ergonomics and find out all sorts of good information on how to set up a PC arrangement that will be good for you.

Please have it checked out. Stoney has also given you good advice. In the mean time, try icing your shoulder for about 20 minutes and see if you get some relief. I have arthritis in my right shoulder, so I get some of the same trouble. I had PT and both the dr. & the threapist told me ICE ICE ICE! 20 min on, half an hour off. That was when it was really bad. I couldn't open jars, lift a pan off the stove with food in it, could hardly lift my arm to wash my hair....

Tami

I wonder if your chair needs to be higher. Or your mouse lower.

I have a Rotator Cuff problem in my left shoulder it is painful. I can't lift my arm over my head. It also will keep me awake, I sleep on my left side but this shoulder keep hurting and I have to change positions and I don't sleep well. Hope you'll be better soon.

I forgot to mention that I am using a laptop with an additional keybord on a USB port and a seperat mouse also. I can not use the keyboard and mouse on the laptop with the desk setup that I have here at home. I can use it for a little while in the motor home because the table is at a different level than my desk. I don't like to use it in my lap.

Tami

I would suggest you see a specialist for the neck. You need to determin what is causing your pain. The ergonomics could be the problem and you can try the suggestions made even though you will see a doctor. I get arthritis flair ups in wrists, hands, one elbow, one shoulder. It all stems from the discs in my neck. PT helps lots but takes time and costs big money.
Hope you find the cause and a solution soon.
Jean

I have (had) CTS for many years and experienced the same pain and situation as Vicki. I couldn't do anything that required my hands to be in the same position for any more than a minute or two - hand sewing, cross-stitch, etc... My hands would go absolutely numb. Also if I used my hands for any length of time the pain would be awful. I had absolutely no strength in my hands, not even to open a jar.

I had surgery on both of my hands this summer and all I can say is that it has been life-changing. I can do all the things I want with no pain or discomfort.

If you opt for surgery, find a good surgeon. He should send you for a thyroid test as thyroid problems can imitate or increase hand pain. I was told that the success rate is about 75% or so. It is truly worth it.

You're probably sitting with your head a little forward, rather than sitting with your head aligned over your shoulders. Sitting the wrong way can cause shoulder pain. I had the same thing, saw the dr. who gave me this exercise to do many times a day. Stand up and reach your arms straight out behind you with the palms up, Now try to lift them up as high as you can and make your shoulder blades almost touch each other. Hold the position with tension for five seconds. I did this 5 times a day doing twenty of the exercise in each session, Within three days my pain was gone, Now I just do it a total of 30 liftings a day. Good luck.

thank you all for the answers, and yayagirl ive tried those exercises (think a friend told me about it) works for a little while mostly if i hold my arm over my head for a while relieves some of it. i wouldve gotten back sooner but neice needed info on a report for school on cocker spanials and we got side tracked lol. they have 3 computers in her house but i guess she likes my laptop because its on the bed (which no doubt is part of my problem) and tv is in front of bed lol so she feels comfortable here and can use the net and cover up but of course i watch her like a hawk...i may be a dingy but heck shes 12 i have to lol im sure most of you know that...kids! but anyway thank you for taking the time to answer..i guess ill try ice, heat really aggravates it! and omg i hate cold!