Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

     Carpal Tunnel Syndrome affects the wrist and is caused by repetitive hand
movement. Several players have retired from this injury.
     The carpal bones are your wrist bones. Tendons for your hand pass through
a narrow tunnel between these bones. The Median Nerve also uses this
tunnel, and if the tendons become irritated and swell, the nerve is pinched.

Symptoms include:

- Pains in the wrist or forearm
- Numbness of the thumb, index or ring fingers
- Difficulty holding small objects (pens, scissors...)

Causes include:

- Repeated movement (clicking, typing, knitting...)
- Strain on the wrist (vibrating tools, hammers...)
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Diabetes or an underactive thyroid gland.

     There is no simple cure. In extreme cases surgery is used to relieve pressure
on the nerve. If swelling is the problem, a splint is worn or a local steroid injection
given. Several treatments exist for people with diabetes and arthritis.
     The best cure is prevention. When playing minesweeper, use a mouse that is
large enough for your hand. The mouse buttons should be easy to press. Take care
not to rest all your weight on your wrist. (Sit tall enough so that your forearm rests
at right angles to your body and the weight hangs from the shoulder instead of
your wrist. If this is uncomfortable, support your weight on your elbow by
resting it on the arm of your chair). It may help to break during sessions.
     As with minesweeper, everything else comes down to luck! You can easily
replace a mouse, but you can not replace your hand...cheaply!