Curse

Fitz Rinley · Jun 24, 2006, 11:35 PM // 23:35

Ok, I started playing Guild Wars last fall. As of a few months ago I started getting little tinglies in my fingers. I thought nothing of it. By last week I began getting tingle all the way tot he elbow and pain in the bicep and lower back. I went and bought a small hand wrap for $7.00 (the $25.00 was too high). I started wearing it anytime I wasn't playing with wet stuff. I have also virtually quit playing GW. I went back to a mouse driven game that is mostly on the opposed hand. In about three to five days I am down to only occasional tingles. Has anyone else experienced a similar occurence?

Fitz Rinley

fiery · Jun 24, 2006, 11:48 PM // 23:48

I actually play GW and anything else I do on the internet, on my laptop on the bed. So i'm lying down and my elbows are leveled, but never noticed tingles, maybe a bit of soreness if I stay in the same position. How do you play? On a desk sitting in a chair or what? I would think a hand wrap is to much just to play a game, maybe take a break or use the tingling hand less.

omny · Jun 25, 2006, 12:05 AM // 00:05

You might want to try sleeping with some kinda wrist support on, with a metal inlay(?) that holds the hand up/back. It helped me, although my symptoms involved less tingling and more pain. I hope my explanation was good enough

EDIT: oops

xnightmythx · Jun 25, 2006, 12:09 AM // 00:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fitz Rinley

Ok, I started playing Guild Wars last fall. As of a few months ago I started getting little tinglies in my fingers. I thought nothing of it. By last week I began getting tingle all the way tot he elbow and pain in the bicep and lower back. I went and bought a small hand wrap for $7.00 (the $25.00 was too high). I started wearing it anytime I wasn't playing with wet stuff. I have also virtually quit playing GW. I went back to a mouse driven game that is mostly on the opposed hand. In about three to five days I am down to only occasional tingles. Has anyone else experienced a similar occurence?

Fitz Rinley

Hey Fitz,

The pain you are describing is associated with the position and placement of your body. Playing games and or sitting behind a pc is not a very natural posture. Add to the fact that most of us don't really own high end chairs or desks, and well the result are exactly what you described. The pain and Tingling you feel is due to poor blood recirculation. As you sit for hours and play there are parts of the body that will start to tingle first. The fingers are usually where this starts, working its way up the arm and so on.
Continued play time and disregarding these symptoms can lead to actual injury. This is one of the reasons Anet (GW) has implemented the little message we get when we are playing that says "You have been playing for 2 hours, please take a break." It is very important that you do not push past the symptoms you are experiencing.

My suggestion to you would be to take a bit of time off games. At least till all the pain and or tingling subsides. If you are into games as many of us are, take the time to research better furniture for your PC. There are many inexpensive chairs and desks out there that you can choose from. In fact, if you look closely, some Internet stores will display the amount of time a chair is meant to sit at per day. Consider your keyboard, mouse and mouse pad as well. Although they don't seem like the type of candidates that cause these injuries they are in fact one of the main sources.
A few dollars well spent will save you a lot of pain in the long run. Literally.

Nightmyth

Divinitys Creature · Jun 25, 2006, 12:40 AM // 00:40

Get a physiotherapist to check it out it sounds like epicondylitis (tennis elbow) and it is quite serious if the pain goes all the way to your back. It involves scarring on nerve tissue and you don't want to get a long term condition. A strap alone will not help enough there are special exercises to follow to help the nerves heal. At the least stop playing games and don't carry heavy objects. I'd say getting the doctor to check is best.

Fitz Rinley · Jun 25, 2006, 01:36 PM // 13:36

Only place I have to sit is the kitchen table and chair. LOL, for years now I have been working up to even being able to afford a real bed-frame and place to put clean clothes. (This is my only outlet for recreation.) So, I probably do not have the recomended place to sit and compute. But this is the first game out of five in 4 years that has done this to me.

Fitz

And somehow this is supposed to be none gaming discussion, when in fact if it is the result of or process of the game it seems germain to the game. But oh-well.

xnightmythx · Jun 25, 2006, 06:23 PM // 18:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fitz Rinley

Only place I have to sit is the kitchen table and chair. LOL, for years now I have been working up to even being able to afford a real bed-frame and place to put clean clothes. (This is my only outlet for recreation.) So, I probably do not have the recomended place to sit and compute. But this is the first game out of five in 4 years that has done this to me.

Fitz

I understand that. Its not easy affording to purchase these things. Worst case just get creative with what you have and make sure you get comfortable. Divinitys suggestion is very important though. You should at least talk with a doctor.

Silent Elvin Ranger · Jun 27, 2006, 02:32 AM // 02:32

I used to get sort of the same thing. But i figured it was like cutting off the circulation of ur finger for about a minute (it turns purple....thats so kool). N e wayz, i figured it might be lack of blood to the arm/fingers (like when u hold ur arm up in the air for a long time). Try playing with ur arms below ur chest/heart area. It allows for easier blood flow.
U may thing im just be talking nonsense, but its what i keep in mind and my hand doesnt tingle.

Mustache Mayhem · Jun 27, 2006, 02:38 AM // 02:38

work out and run it'll fix everything