Because I knit a lot, I would get pain in my wrists and thumbs until my co-worker told about ergonomic mouse pads. I have one at the house and one at work. It has a raised ledge to rest your wrist on while you are using your mouse. Made a big difference to me. Even if I use a laptop, I still use a mouse instead of that pesky track pad.
I was having hand joint pain (all of the joints!) and wrist somewhat too...I thought it was some kind of carpel tunnel issue that was flaring up again (I've dealt with it in the past, often if I used a 3/4" air impact wrench too much/too long) but I finally figured out that it was from sleeping/laying on my hands in weird positions...once I made a conscious effort to not lay on my hands in any way, the issues started to subside. Just recent it started up again a bit...then I realized what was going on...sleeping on hands again
I think I picked that up as well this past spring tossing splits. Hurt like heck trying to flip splits with that arm.
X2...fortunately it is OK now that I have not had any epic hoarding sessions lately...probably have to be somewhat careful in the future that things don't get too flared up again though
I had that same problem first of the week, used the smaller saw for half a day cutting limb wood at waist height, then used small and bigger saw out of a boom truck that evening taking down a huge oak limb and dead pine tree. Couldn't hardly put the saws on the tailgate with my left hand when we were done that night.
Is this ergonomic pad just a regular pad with something to rest your wrist on? I've been considering one. I have a pad for the keyboard and that helps tremendously.
I wore wrist braces for a number of years before finally breaking down and opting for surgery. No more pain in either hand or arms since surgery. I had suffered for years.
I had tennis elbow and golf elbow in the same elbow from tossing splits into the back of a dump body for several weekends in a row. Really over-did it one afternoon. Took almost a year to be able to toss splits again. (with left arm) Support brace helped a lot. I declined the corticosteroid shot(s) although there were several nights of pain I was going to call to get one in the morning and then felt better in the morning. There are strengthening/stretching exercises you can do and I found they helped a LOT.
I got tennis elbow trying to pull two stringy splits apart. It took way too long to heal. Yesterday afternoon I was making some pie crust, and as I got started I remembered why I usually buy them instead of making them which is better, and cheaper.....I could instantly feel the carpel tunnel irritation. My wife jumped in and took over for me so I was able to avoid a flare up.
Sounds like no knitting or quilt making for you this winter either....................................
Anyone ever try them there voodoo miracle copper infused braces that former pro football players claim make them better than new? Never been diagnosed, but I play a doctor. After running the old manual silver hand stapler when I insulated my garage by myself, it took me a year to not gave pain in my rt elbow. 3 years on, any time I really work out that arm it flares up and the best relief I get is by putting a Velcro strap/brace thing just above the elbow. Thinking it must be some kind of tricep tendonitis. I'm also a big user of turmeric, as it has basically replaced my Aleve usage except on really bad days. Another nice thing is with turmeric being a spice/food is that on bad days you can take more and not have as big of concerns with going over the dosage the way ibuprofen/tylenol/aleve you should watch your dosing, since after all turmeric is food.