So far, March has been kind of crappy. Back when I was in graduate school (early 2001), I took a class that was very demanding with the coding, and combined with some poor ergonomics with my PC, I started feeling some pain in my hands and wrists. At the time, I freaked out about it, and went to the University doctor.
At the time, the University doctor gave me a quick diagnosis, told me to take breaks and do stretches, and sent me on my way. A week or two later, I went back to see a different doctor, to get a second opinion. I received this same basic treatment and diagnosis, so I stopped going to the University doctor about this issue.
Up until last week, I managed my hand and wrist problems through improved ergonomics, taking breaks, exercise, and largely ignoring it. But a week ago, the pain that I was experiencing changed, and became something that it really wasn't wise for me to ignore any longer. So, appropriately freaked out, I was motivated to go to the doctor, which appears to have kicked off a journey to figure out what is up with my hands, and how I'm going to manage my interactions with the computer going forward.
This is taking quite a toll on me personally. Computing has pretty much always been my career focus. And outside of my career, I derive a lot of personal enjoyment from tinkering with computers. So my response to typing pain has not been altogether rational. It seems like I can deal with most of my body is changing hardships fine, but when something changes regarding my ability to type. I'd just go into the sky is falling mode. So, going forward, I have to convince myself that I have a future, and then I have to do the leg work with my doctors, etc.. In order to figure out how I'll be able to continue to lead the happy and productive life style to which I have grown accustomed.
One of my former coworkers was suffering pretty badly from carpal tunnel issues a few years ago. On a lark, she gave accupuncture a try, and it did wonders! Obviously this is purely anecdotal, and YMMV, but it might be worth looking into.
Good luck! (I know the "OMG - can't type - hands hurt!" panic feeling... I had a really bad scrollwheel mouse when I started here that was destroying my hand & wrist. Getting rid of it helped immensely.)
Accupuncture and stretching and breaks are great. But you should try to treat the root cause if you can. I recomment trying a Kinesis Keyboard. This is the one I've been using for a painless few years:
http://www.kinesis-ergo.com/advantage.htm
It takes a couple weeks to learn, but you will ultimately type faster with it. The pitted layout is an obvious advantage, but the most brilliant feature is that my favorite key (backspace) is struck with the thumb. It would not be an exaggeration to say that this keyboard saved my career.
I also swear by the mouse pad with the wrist hump.
- Carl
My simple-minded, flipant suggestion: stop typing so much.
I know that we have to do it for work but consider swearing off the computer at home for a while. See if you can take a vacation for a little while too. A five day weekend with no typing or other RSI (is it RSI or carpal tunnel?) inducing activities. No gaming, no blogging, get up to change the channel rather than using the remote, etc. Find a good book or do something outdoors. It's worked for me when wrist pain starts to flare up. If you're sore, don't agervate it.