Does a carpal tunnel flare-up from scooping cookie dough count as a sports injury? Asking for a friend.
A little over a year ago, I was officially diagnosed with carpal tunnel. I had an inkling that it was coming down the pike. When you’re eating dinner, and your hand goes numb while you hold your fork, something’s definitely up.
What hasn’t helped? Spending the last 28 years working on CAD. I should have known that chicken was coming home to roost. Sitting in front of my computer was bound to have some consequences. Or, as the doctor who did my nerve test put it: “You have 56-year-old desk arms.”
Thanks for that.
And I got what he was saying. I am getting older. And yes, I spend a lot of time in front of a screen. Perhaps one of the downsides of architecture schools no longer teaching how to draft by hand is that I ended up with carpal tunnel. It wasn’t a giant shock.
However, I was a bit taken aback this past December while making Christmas cookies. One night, I decided to tackle two recipes back-to-back. Not the smartest choice, as it turns out. After scooping nearly 100 cookies—and telling James in the middle of it that I was fine—I awoke in the wee hours of the morning with my arm on fire, from my fingertips to my shoulder. I don’t recall signing up for that.
One steroid pack later, along with some stern admonishment from my doctor, and everything cleared up. No need for another visit. No need for surgery. All was well and right with the world.
Then Christmas came.
I am now the owner of multiple LEGO sets, including the Titanic. Only 9,090 pieces. That shouldn’t be a problem for someone with carpal tunnel, right? In the past, I’ve noticed my fingertips getting a little numb while working on LEGO sets. I’m not sure if I was trying to do too much at once or if I had slept on my hands at a weird angle the night before. Hard to say.
But I don’t know that I can go back to my doctor and tell her I’ve hurt myself playing with LEGOs. I’m not 12. I’m an adult. First cookies, now LEGOs? If I’m going to hurt myself, shouldn’t it be from doing something more adult?
Our friend Greg plays softball. If he gets injured, at least he has a good reason.
Plus, how is it going to look on the forms at the office?
Problem? Carpal tunnel flare-up. Cause? LEGOs.
Does my insurance even cover LEGO-related injuries? I suppose that’s no worse than having a cookie-related injury.
Luckily, sleeping in wrist braces and knowing which stretches to do has helped a lot. My doctor also sees surgery as a last resort rather than jumping straight into the operating room. Thank goodness! I wouldn’t know how to handle projects already underway.
Plus, there are way too many LEGOs to assemble. I just need to remember: slow and steady wins the race. But if anyone at the doctor’s office asks, my injury is “sportsball” related, and they can figure out what to put on the forms.
