"Sculpting And Painting, And Carpal Tunnel Syndrome" Topic

How many have been able to overcome CTS and continue enjoying their sculpting and painting?

CC

Me. Though I still get the few days here and there where my arms act up again, like today.

Have you seen a doctor? How bad is your CTS and is it in both arms? I wear a brace on each arm at night that covers my hands to elbow.

Also when I paint or sculpt I no longer lean against the edge of the work bench as that pinches the same tendons.

The braces helped me not to have surgery. So that is fine by me.

Seriously you can overcome CTS by changing your routine up and watching posture while painting and such.

Matthew

I have CTS, already had ops on each wrist and it looks likely that I will need another in the new year :(

Painting-wise I find the biggest problem is that the fingers claw up after holding the brush for too long, then the pins and needles start.

To get around it I paint in small quick bursts then do something else for a few mins, if it is starting to trouble you, a rubber ball you can hold in your palm and squeeze is good, as that flexing helps the nerves settle back down.

Strangely enough I find making buildings easier than painting as you are forever changing hand positions etc.

Painting the smaller 15mm means that my hands get stiff quicker. Still a choice and I like the scale.

From a painting view, I have more problems keeping my focus since my heart condition arose than before. That makes it harder to complete a project than the other.

Like FreddBloggs, I paint in short bursts, maybe an hour at a time. I know the warning signs for how much is enough. Stop periodically and do something else (also good for the back and neck, and eyes). I haven't overcome it, so much as learned to live with it. I can't paint in a brace, as the ones I have immobilize the thumb.

I used to have quite a few problems but I started using an improvised arm rest made out of a silicone keyboard hand rest and some wood to elevate my hands and rest my wrists on while I paint. This has stopped all of the inflamation that I use to experience when painting detail ad smaller figures.

First off: CTS is a specific condition; it is often misdiagnosed (both through "self-diagnosis" and by professionals); and the medical community tends to rush to extreme, irreversible, and ineffective measures, instead of considering self-care, good ergonomics, and other therapies. Rant over.

Repetitive motion *may* lead to CTS or other injury, or may simply result in considerable discomfort and temporary loss of function, but it can be easily prevented. Proper support, short work periods, frequent breaks: all help.

Possibly the best thing you can do is learn the same self-care techniques and good ergonomics that massage therapists use to avoid hand injury. (Most new therapists don't learn these, and burn out fast, frequently developing CTS or a thumb joint injury. Others do, and seem to be able to work forever…)

This is probably the best reference in the industry:

saveyourhands.com/index.htm

But as this is not a plug, you could look for it at a library, or find an experience local massage therapist and spend 15 minutes learning how he or she warms up (yes!) and does self-care between sessions. Any therapist I know would be happy to share their techniques, as would I, if you ever run across me in person so I can show you.

Also, if you search for "hand exercises for arthritis" om YouTube, you'll find some good videos (and some funky ones) on hand stretching to prevent CTS. I'd particularly note this one:

link

It sounds silly, but eye exercises are also important when painting for long sessions. And Rudy, you may want to explore the related "eye yoga" exercises to help regain acuity and focus.

Again, there are books on the subject:

link

"Take Off You Glasses and See" is one that I have used personally with some success--only "some" because I don't keep at it!

Laugh if you like at the idea of holistic vision correction. But at least consider some eye exercises to use when you take a break to stretch your hands. Your eyes need it too!

New Age Allen

I "cured" my carpal tunnel through massage therapy and strength training. It used to be very bad but I've been pain free for 8 years now. I also make sure that I have ergonomic keyboard and mouse pads. They help a lot. I am now impressed by heller or rolfing therapy. I've seen people avoid surgery by using these (me included).

Wow. Of course, the doctors I've seen have been trying to push surgery, but I really, really appreciate your comments above and will try to put them into practice immediately.

Both hands have been falling asleep (to the point that the brush or sculpting tools fall out of my hands), plus the pain has become unbearable.

I feel I'm missing out on two of my favorite hobby activities and would hate the idea of never being able to resume.

Again, I thank you for the great tips.

CC

Mine got to the point where I was nearly crippled with pain. I have a pretty high pain threshold (not always a good thing), but I couldn't even pick up a cup of coffee or grip a steering wheel anymore. I wouldn't have opted for the surgery right away, but the neurologist suggested I was nearing a state of irreversible damage.

Nine years post-op, I only have problems if I really overdo it with physical labor or unnatural stresses. For painting, I built a special workbench that supports my elbows at proper height and also forces me to sit up straight.

WRT eye strain, one of the best things I ever did was purchase a digital kitchen timer for the workbench. I typically set it for 45-55 minutes and, as it's designed for cooks, it gives warning beeps when at 10 and 5 minutes before zero. This allows me to finish up anything that's necessary before I take a break. During said break I make sure to do some brief eye exercises as well as stretching.

CC – Check this out:
link

I went through the entire Hellerwork course and it has alleviated much of my foot pain. It's a wonder why traditional doctors do not look to massage therapy to manage pain. It has literally changed my life. It's not cheap, but I've actually saved money by seeing a Heller therapist as I now don't have to buy orthotics and special shoes. Plus, I can walk the dog now. I was very skeptical at first, but I'm now a convert.

As a computer support professional I've been aware of repetitive motion injuries for many years (the early Microsoft Mouse packages had a ReadMe file on the driver disk about workstation ergonomics, not sure if they still do).

Nevertheless about 7 years ago it was bad enough that I couldn't open those darn Citadel paints that would get stuck shut due to dried paint on the jar threads.

Immediately I fixed that problem by switching to a brand with an easier to open jar design (Coat D'Arms which have flip tops … still have and use that same set of paints). I also stopped shaking my paints and now stir them to mix them, which works better anyway.

Also I set up my computer desks according to ergonomic guidelines (nowadays my work makes us do an online course annually to check up on our setup). There was a brief period (2-3 weeks) where I wore wrist braces when I sleep. This helps a lot in healing as it imobilizes the joints for 8 hours. I also did a little less late night computer sessions (e.g, online games and other mouse-intensive activities) for the same period.

I still get twinges now and again but it's never gotten to where my lifestyle was impacted enough I needed to see a doctor.

Steve, if you "cured" it, you may not have had it! Yet. But it sounds as if you had been well down the road to it, and you turned around. That's great. And even patients who have been diagnosed with CTS can achieve very beneficial results with massage therapy. It's a lot tougher once a surgeon has had his way, because surgically relieving the ligament generally doesn't last, and the surgery makes it just about impossible for the ligament to stretch and relax afterwards.

And I'd like to hear more success stories like yours. I'm a little shy of Hellerwork (it's a trademarked system, but many other well-rounded therapists can achieve the same results) and Rolfing is just too much pain! Some people like that, or "need" it to feel results. The mysteries of the mind-body connection…

But a good, perceptive massage therapist who has been exposed to and trained in a variety of techniques can appear to do amazing things (it's the body itself doing the amazing things, actually). The real breakthrough is when the client realizes how much he or she can do himself. That's always been the most fun for me: teaching the client preventive stretching, reciprocal inhibition and post-isometric relaxation to relieve acute muscle tension, and other self-care. There's no money in that, though!!!

I'm sure you're right, Allen. With regard to the Hellerwork, I have numerous problems with my feet. One was that my toes were arthritic and curled under my foot. By manipulating the fascia, my Hellerworker had them straight within half-an-hour and they are still straight to this day. Ten years of podiatrists couldn't do that. I still have some pain, but it's much more manageable now. Now, I don't even wear any orthotics or special shoes. And yes, it was extremely painful. My psoas had fused to one of my quads. The pain from her massaging that nearly made me pass out, but my leg is much straighter. I had very duck feet and now I walk like a normal person. It was a transformative experience.

Hi guys … quite a few of my friends have got/had CTS. A few things have helped, acupuncture and the like but lately a few of them have had real relief using a POWERBALL. It's a gyroscope based wrist arm excerciser … one mate felt a lot better and could type for longer after one session. Might be worth seeing if you can borrow one to try – mind you they are not too expensive anyone (9-16 pound over here)

Rich J

I find that I have some of the symptoms of CTS with my hands, numbness in my fingers and hands, unexplained pain, and such. I can usually mitigate it with stretches and frequent short breaks, but I can't do it for 4-5 hours like I used to do anymore either partly due to being a parent, and partly due to the pain and problems. I've also developed "trigger finger" in my right hand – which is where a finger joint locks in a certain position and will not "unlock" without assistance or pain. Very annoying!

>>>instead of considering self-care, good ergonomics, and other therapies. Rant over.<<<

Very tempted to take up where you left off. Suffice it to say take (_many_) breaks when painting, etc., avoid professional people with scalpels and use a lot of the common sense that Allen, et al, are offering here.

Speaking from the trenches, both wrists and a couple of (trigger) fingers over the last decade. Still pursuing the hobby albeit at about 30% the rate of 20 years ago.

I'm going to check out all the links above, much more in favor of mind-body therapy when possible…

>>>Speaking from the trenches, both wrists and a couple of (trigger) fingers over the last decade.<<<

Sorry, a bit unclear, surgery on all the above…

Brilliant on the plantar fascia, Steve! I had an occupational therapist as a client here for a couple of years; her posture was all off, and she insisted that we needed to work on the glutes. I took the time to watch her gait, foot function, and stance, and then explained why we would likely be better off to start with the plantar fascia, and then work up, as everything *else* adjusted.

She agreed, and we worked once every other week for almost two years. Instead of painful "deep tissue" work on the hip flexors and extensors initially (and she needed both: it wasn't the glutes, it was that the iliopsoas was waaay too tight, so she was out of balance), we just did a little foot massage, followed by gentle relaxation work on the rest of the lower body.

And sure enough, once foot function came back to normal, everything else gradually fell into line without strenuous work. The client was happy with the noticeable, constant progress. I'm still on her holiday e-letter list.

"And yes, it was extremely painful. My psoas had fused to one of my quads. The pain from her massaging that nearly made me pass out, but my leg is much straighter."

Yeah, I hate that. I do not like to work directly on the psoas: it's deep, and it's intrusive, and even with the best draping, it's a little too close to breaching the comfort zone for a lot of people. And when it's tweaking, it hurts!

I don't like to cause pain, and I'm lazy, so I tend to go after it by letting the client work, using the muscle-energy techniques I mentioned above. Works easy, works fast, no pain. But I've never seen a psoas fused to a quad (sounds very rare), so that might take some thinking about.

Jovian1, I know there are some good therapists in Montana. Check some out: look for those with ABMP or AMTA membership. Your state does not license massage therapists, so I would look for one who has taken the de facto "national" certification exam which many other states use as a basic professional qualification for licensing; look for the letters NCTMB after the therapist's name. I think you could get some relief from your symptoms.

Allen

"First off: CTS is a specific condition; it is often misdiagnosed (both through "self-diagnosis" and by professionals); and the medical community tends to rush to extreme, irreversible, and ineffective measures, instead of considering self-care, good ergonomics, and other therapies. Rant over."

Not sure I agree with this, I had an issue which I believed was either RSI or carpal tunnel and the Health service here in the UK was considerate and did not jump to any conclusion.

I had nerve conduction tests to see if there was nerve damage and blood tests to rules out any muscular illness. They discussed posture, referred me to a therapist etc.

I changed to an ergonomic mouse, learnt to use both hadns (I have two mice on my PC, one on each side so I swap often). I paint in smaller amounts of time, and I invested in a news office chair that addressed keeping my back straight.

Turns out it was a trapped nerve between my shoulder lades which was making my hands feel numb. That eased with time thanks to the advice I got from the medical profession.

David
tabletopreview.com

"Not sure I agree with this, I had an issue which I believed was either RSI or carpal tunnel and the Health service here in the UK was considerate and did not jump to any conclusion."

Yep, it's a different health care system! You had a very positive experience. Frequently, it *is* the radial or the ulnar nerve (not the median, as in CTS) that's entrapped, usually somewhere other than the wrist, as in your case. (Often easily relieved by massage, too!) But sufferers feel pain or tingling in the hand, and jump to conclusions (that's self-diagnosis).

Allen

Okay, spooky. Not CTS related, but yesterday I was looking into eye exercises, and I was a bit bewildered by the plethora of books on the subject. Then I read Allen's post above.
Allen: you recommend the "Take off your Glasses and See" then?

I've had some improvement using it, but as I said, I tend not to stick with it and then have to start to again after a while! Any eye exercises you do are probably a good thing.

Allen

Well, another year has passed, and things have gone from bad to worse. So, in 24hrs I go into surgery for all three of these:

Carpal Tunnel surgery
link
Cubital Tunnel surgery
link
Elbow tendon surgery
link

Got butterflies in my stomach already.

Dan

Hi Dan,

If you really have CTS, meaning you have a pinched median nerve, then you are well to consider the surgery. CTS surgery is one of the most common out patient surgeries done on this continent, and (unlike what you may hear here) the epidemiology shows that the surgery is very successful. The epidemiology also indicates that a proper diagnosis is paramount (big surprise). I would recommend a second opinion on your original diagnosis. Success rates are about equivalent for Open and Endoscopy methods. Endoscopy has a smaller scar and general faster healing, but has, conversely, slightly more chance of post-op complications, such as temporary parasthesia. Your MD's should be telling you all this.

Ralph

Ralph,

Thanks so much for that. I needed a little reassurance, from someone outside of the doctor's office. Means a lot, really.

Dan

Off to the hospital . . .

Dan

Just add a story of mine, for a few of you suffering. I had what I thought was Carpal Tunnel for several years- an inevitable by product of working in video games. Had a brace and everything. Years.
A massage therapist friend managed to fix it in one session- turned out to be shoulder related, not carpal tunnel at all. I now have no problems at all, work in graphics, sculpt and paint. Regular massages where enough for me.
Moral of the story is get checked by a doctor- dont assume. Hope that helps someone.

Hi all,

I guess this explains why I'm still so sore after the 3 surgeries were done two weeks ago. I find it intriguing, though not everyone may appreciate the graphic nature of the surgery videos.

Anyway, enjoy . . .

Carpal tunnel surgery:

link
link

Cubital tunnel surgery:

YouTube link

Tennis elbow (tendon) surgery:

YouTube link

Dan
PS. Thank goodness for pain meds!!!