Hand "cramp" At Work

[pastafreak]

I work 3 days a week,and I usually have to dish up meals for about 25 clients. I pick up the plates with my left hand,holding up as I dish out the main + veg. Sometimes my hand will start to cramp after 9-10 plates. It's not painful,but my fingers curl inwards and it takes a few minutes to relax my hand. I had a brief word with the Dr at work,and he thought it might be RSI. If so, is there anything I can do to prevent it,or lessen the effects? I also seem to have stiffness/arthritis in area below my thumb.

[EDDIE51]

Sounds like RSI to me as well, classic symptoms.

[EDDIE51]

here
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Repetitive-strain-injury/Pages/Treatment.aspx

[jno]

my toes do that. That's not RSI, it's just cramp. I'm not saying the same is true for you but you could try medicating for cramp - magnesium tablets and bananas maybe? - and see if it makes a difference.

[TheChair]

The logical solution would seem to be to place the plate on the counter while you dish up.

[Sqad]

Difficult one.....I agree it does sound like RSI, but how to treat it.....I have little to offer.
Magnesium and bananas are just that...."bananas." and i have little faith either scientifically or emotionally.
I think that I agree with the post of the Chair.

[jno]

magnesium and bananas have reduced my cramps to near-zero, Sqad (from about once a month). I don't think it's coincidence. That includes curled-up-toe cramping as well as the middle-of-the-night calf cramps that have me inadvertently kicking my OH out of bed.

[Sqad]

jno...well you can't say better than that.

[jno]

OH is quite pleased too.

[Scarlett]

I'd mention this to your boss quick before it becomes a real problem; health and safety and all that should ensure that you don't damage yourself at work. Putting the plate down sounds good, and they should look into making that workable.

[Eleena]

Hey pasta x
I have the same at the moment. Just had a blood test to see if my thyroid has gone underactive to rule that one out ( I have a thyroid disorder) .. pins and needles/ cramping can be connected. His gut feeling though is that it's rsi like you, connected to my job. He gave me wrist exercises to do, flexing it back/ forward as comfortably as it will go for 10 seconds when you have time to do It.. It does help x

[Eleena]

I wonder if a wrist brace would help you pasta? Google images of wrist brace x