Occupational Hazard? - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

11/12/2011 08:07:07 PM · #1

About a month ago I noticed a vague pain in my right wrist. I hadn't fallen or hit anyone recently, so it was a bit of a mystery, but not very painful. Over the course of the following weeks, however, the pain got worse, until one day last week I was barely able to turn my hand with the palm facing up. It was very sharp, and at the outer edge where the hand and forearm meet. I saw a doctor who could find nothing wrong. The next day, in discussing it with a friend, he mentioned that a friend of his had had the same thing. Then he remembered that his friend was also a photographer, and a doctor had figured out that the way he was using his camera had caused it!

Well, my D700 is quite a bit heavier than my D90, and I've been using it a lot. Not to mention that my 80-200 is a tank. So I made a point of observing what happened when I lifted my camera and BINGO! I've given myself Photographer's Wrist! I've been treating it with naproxine and ice and it's much better. Who knew??

Melethia

Canon EOS-80D

11/12/2011 08:16:11 PM · #2

LOL! Beats having a sore wrist because you got hit by a dog while riding your bike years ago... You may want to look into a lightweight wrist guard kinda thing. We ain't gettin' any younger.... :-)

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

11/12/2011 08:35:13 PM · #3

I'm testing Mike's camera wrist strap. Seems to help a lot.

BrennanOB

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

11/12/2011 09:04:59 PM · #4

Between construction, photography and to much time on the computer my wrist can flare up with carpal tunnel syndrome from time to time. When it hurts the rational thing would be to quit all those activities, but where is the fun in that? I find if I wear a wrist brace while sleeping it gives the wrist enough of a chance to heal. It seems when sleeping I tend to bend my wrist enough to impair blood flow and slow up the healing of the daily insults. If it really gets tweaked, wearing it while operating the mouse is a good idea.

Strikeslip

Canon EOS-5D

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS

11/12/2011 09:07:49 PM · #5

Exercise is a great preventative. Stretching too. Squeeze a stress ball. Put weights on the end of a line and wind them up a hockey stick, both directions.

wrist exercises - 1

wrist exercises - 2

You don't need to use weights or anything fancy. With a bucket you can fill it to exactly the weight you want with sand, water, or beer.

Message edited by author 2011-11-12 21:15:16.

MelonMusketeer

Nikon D7000

Nikon MF 50mm f/1.4

11/12/2011 09:52:19 PM · #6

Vitamin B Complex will help the nerves. I was on the way to having carpal tunnel, getting numb fingers and wrist pain. The vitamin took care of the problem within a week.
I also take Glucosamine Chondroitin with MSM pills for the joint problems that have bothered me for the last 45 years. I discovered it a couple of years ago, and it makes a huge difference for me. My right wrist is weak too, from a couple of incidents in my teen years, and from playing drums for about 20 years.
Exercise to strengthen the muscles is probably the best thing though. At times when you can use one, a ball head monopod that can hook into your belt will help a lot too, as it holds up the weight of the camera and lens, so you don't have to support it with your wrist and shoulders. It's a little cumbersome at first, but sure beats holding up four or five lbs of camera and lens for hours at a time.

Ozzie

Nikon D90

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 24-120mm f/4G ED VR

11/12/2011 10:49:03 PM · #7

I've noticed that I get a sore wrist when holding the NikonD90 for an extended period of time, with the 18-200 lens. Hmmm!

MelonMusketeer

Nikon D7000

Nikon MF 50mm f/1.4

11/12/2011 10:57:57 PM · #8

Did you ask your Dr if this was more common with Nikon or Canon users? : )

Pentax DA 18-135mm F3.5-5.6ED AL [IF] WR DC

11/13/2011 12:26:19 AM · #9

This is a ligament strain on the outer wrist, not CT. I have no pain or inflamation anywhere else, no fingers are affected. To find the cause, I used my camera as I normally do but in slow motion. The problem is right in how I lift it from where it hangs - a sort of tweak of an area that I clearly need to strengthen. Thanks for all the exercise links. Slippy, I'm not much of a beer drinker, but tequila might just be the ticket.

@ Waddy - I think the problem is common with L-lens owners, too :-)

tnun

Ricoh GR III

11/13/2011 12:39:48 AM · #10

it all seems like good advice. not to neglect cold pack followed by hot pack. one sure fire thing that I use for my wrecked achilles tendons (both!) is traumeel gel (gel, not ointment) and the traumeel tablets: the stretches alone were NOT enough. haven't had to use it on the wrists yet although I have 2 sets of wrist braces: weeding sometimes traumatizes the left wrist in the same way the camera (and mouse) does the right one!