Nerve Damage
By jdsimpkins - updated: 9 years, 2 months ago - 3 messages
I took a typing class when I was a freshman in high school. Just one class that was half a semester long. It taught me the proper way to type and to this day, I'm thankful I took it.
I've spent SO MANY hours on the computer. My posture sucks. For years, I'd sit at a table/desk and prop my elbows on the table in front of my keyboard.
I have never wen to the doctor but I know this is the cause of the lost feeling in my left hand. Not the whole hand, but primarily the pinky and ring finger. It was VERY bad for several years. It was to the point that one day, I was trying to get something out of my left pocket and couldn't figure out why I couldn't reach it. Looking down, I realized that my pinky finger was on the outside of my pocket, prohibiting me to dig deeper.
I have become aware of the times I'm propping my arms like that and try to stop it as much as possible. The feeling in my ring finger is almost at 100% now but the pinky finger is still pretty numb. The feeling is there but there is also a very noticeable tingle.
Long story short, over the years, I've had to teach myself to type without using my pinky on the left hand at all. I've gotten pretty good at it! I still average 60-70 WPM. :)
The moral of the story though, is to NOT prop your elbows on your desk! This can result in permanent nerve damage!
By toddhicks209 - posted: 9 years, 2 months ago
You say you have spent so many hours on the computer. Maybe you should take more breaks.
By kaikaikaikaikai - posted: 9 years, 2 months ago
What you're describing sounds like cubital tunnel syndrome. It's an impingement of your nerve, and the numbness you still feel is likely to be caused by inflammation or scar tissue, not permanent nerve damage! I would definitely see a professional about this. There are other conservative methods to reduce strain of the elbow anti-inflammatory medication that might help. Since you've been having this for so long, you might require surgery, but if you can still move the pinky there is a good chance to regain full control of your left hand!
By jdsimpkins - posted: 9 years, 2 months ago
Thanks for the insight guys. I may very well go get it looked into. I'd probably opt to not have surgery if that was the only way to fix it. I've gotten used to it and I really do hate going to the doctors!
