Choosing the right vitamins

T

TLaude

New member
Need a little bit of help here.

Working on a computer all day, my hands tend to get sore and some days, I will get small cramps. This only leads to more issues because when I'm out cruising on my motorcycle, my hands really start to cramp up.

I'm curious to know if taking some vitamins to make sure my body is getting the proper amount of nutrition it needs. I realize I can simply eat the proper foods to make up for this, but it is not quite that simple with my job, therefore, I'm seeking some insight on how to get my body more of what it needs.

Vitamin A, B, C?

What should I look at getting?
 
I take the multi vitamin for women by viactiv, its chewy and taste like a tootsie roll o.o only 20 calories. i enjoy taking it since i dont have to swallow it whole like a pill i hate taking pills
 
I picked up a bottle of Centrum Performance while I was at the store today. I will start taking them and see if I notice any improvements.

As far as water goes.. I know I don't drink enough. Probably about 60oz's per day. Some days more, some less.
 
TLaude said:
Need a little bit of help here.

Working on a computer all day, my hands tend to get sore and some days, I will get small cramps. This only leads to more issues because when I'm out cruising on my motorcycle, my hands really start to cramp up.

I'm curious to know if taking some vitamins to make sure my body is getting the proper amount of nutrition it needs. I realize I can simply eat the proper foods to make up for this, but it is not quite that simple with my job, therefore, I'm seeking some insight on how to get my body more of what it needs.

Vitamin A, B, C?

What should I look at getting?
Click to expand...

I have that problem with the bike - I have long fine fingers and my hands are not that strong plus I have left hand wrist injury which can cause me a lot pain using the clutch. My husband is an experienced rider and even he can struggle sometimes with his hands (and he has strong hands). We also do a lot of keyboard work as well.

We both take a range of vitamins including a multi vitamin and glucosamine for joints (plus I take 'women' vitamins) but I don't think the vitamins make much difference when it comes to hands cramping.

This is what we have learned when it comes to bikes...

- I am getting the clutch on my learner bike 'eased'
- Hands are prone to getting cold on the bike so under gloves and good quality over gloves help
- Hands bruise easily so make sure the palm of the glove is well padded (but less padding on the fingers or you lose sensation for control)
- If it is particularly cold then heated gloves really help
- Wind protectors over the handle grips look stupid but also help
- If you do any sort of weight training always wear gloves (limits bruising)
- Massage your hands when working in the keyboard - stretches the ligaments and eases any internal bruising
- And, if you can tolerate it, strengthen the hands with hand grips (I hate them because they really hurt)

Nothing really solves it but these practical tips have helped.
 
Spinner1964 said:
I have that problem with the bike - I have long fine fingers and my hands are not that strong plus I have left hand wrist injury which can cause me a lot pain using the clutch. My husband is an experienced rider and even he can struggle sometimes with his hands (and he has strong hands). We also do a lot of keyboard work as well.

We both take a range of vitamins including a multi vitamin and glucosamine for joints (plus I take 'women' vitamins) but I don't think the vitamins make much difference when it comes to hands cramping.

This is what we have learned when it comes to bikes...

- I am getting the clutch on my learner bike 'eased'
- Hands are prone to getting cold on the bike so under gloves and good quality over gloves help
- Hands bruise easily so make sure the palm of the glove is well padded (but less padding on the fingers or you lose sensation for control)
- If it is particularly cold then heated gloves really help
- Wind protectors over the handle grips look stupid but also help
- If you do any sort of weight training always wear gloves (limits bruising)
- Massage your hands when working in the keyboard - stretches the ligaments and eases any internal bruising
- And, if you can tolerate it, strengthen the hands with hand grips (I hate them because they really hurt)

Nothing really solves it but these practical tips have helped.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info! I was looking at glucosamine last night. My dad takes it for his joints it says it really helps. I may have to pick up a bottle.

As for riding the bike, my clutch is pretty easy, i wear padded gloves, and I have fairly strong hands. I'm thinking it also has to do with me being in a position I'm not used to. Beings it is a sportbike, when riding, your upper body weight is put on your arms/wrists when riding.
 
TLaude said:
Thanks for the info! I was looking at glucosamine last night. My dad takes it for his joints it says it really helps. I may have to pick up a bottle.

As for riding the bike, my clutch is pretty easy, i wear padded gloves, and I have fairly strong hands. I'm thinking it also has to do with me being in a position I'm not used to. Beings it is a sportbike, when riding, your upper body weight is put on your arms/wrists when riding.
Click to expand...

Yeah, that is true. My husband switched from Sprint to Harley's for that exact reason! A lot of people don't get that riding in that position is a serious workout!!!

And yes, glucosamine works for me too. When I go off it my knees can get a bit stiff (I ride a spinner bike - a lot) and when I go back on it again - no knee discomfort so I do believe it works.
 
Spinner1964 said:
Yeah, that is true. My husband switched from Sprint to Harley's for that exact reason! A lot of people don't get that riding in that position is a serious workout!!!
Click to expand...

I went the opposite direction. I didn't find riding cruisers fun. Picked up a rocket, and I absolutely love it.
 
I take a multivitamin & something called "Reservatrol" somethin like that...but its heart health and is similar to drinking red wine everyday without the alcohol.
 
I've worked in IT for years, and I'd guess that your problem is less about vitamins and supplements and more about ergonomics. Those symptoms are pretty common among people who type for a living, especially if they didn't have keyboarding classes that focused on proper positioning.

I'd suggest frequent stops to stretch your hands. 30 seconds every 15 minutes is my target and I have a little gadget that plays a tune every 15 minutes. If I'm too far into code or data to stop for one, I make sure to stop for the next and do a longer series of stretch/rest. I sign the digits 1-10 on each hand and rotate my wrists in a circle and I'm good for another 15 minutes or so. If I stop to think, or to read something - I stretch or make sure to take my hands away from the keyboard for a rest. I also moved my workspace around so that my wrists don't rest on a wrist rest/desk/laptop skirt while I type and so that my wrists are straight and slightly flexed. I use a center-ball trackball, which keeps me from squeezing a mouse too much, and I know my limits, I can't click continuously for more than a few hours, even with breaks.

Building wrist strength (wrist curls and reverse wrist curls) seemed to do more good than building grip strength and kneading stress balls was easier for me than the grip-strength devices, because my fingers were too short for most of them. I don't know about motorcycles, but those techniques helped a lot when I was holding my bicycle handlebars too tightly as well.
 
You may also want to consider Vitamin D. It can impact muscle weakness and fatigue, and especially if you're inside all day on the computer, there's a good chance you're not getting enough of it! (It's the 'sunlight vitamin' - your body can generate it if you're out in the sun). Can't hurt to take some :D
 
dawnball said:
I've worked in IT for years, and I'd guess that your problem is less about vitamins and supplements and more about ergonomics. Those symptoms are pretty common among people who type for a living, especially if they didn't have keyboarding classes that focused on proper positioning.

I'd suggest frequent stops to stretch your hands. 30 seconds every 15 minutes is my target and I have a little gadget that plays a tune every 15 minutes. If I'm too far into code or data to stop for one, I make sure to stop for the next and do a longer series of stretch/rest. I sign the digits 1-10 on each hand and rotate my wrists in a circle and I'm good for another 15 minutes or so. If I stop to think, or to read something - I stretch or make sure to take my hands away from the keyboard for a rest. I also moved my workspace around so that my wrists don't rest on a wrist rest/desk/laptop skirt while I type and so that my wrists are straight and slightly flexed. I use a center-ball trackball, which keeps me from squeezing a mouse too much, and I know my limits, I can't click continuously for more than a few hours, even with breaks.

Building wrist strength (wrist curls and reverse wrist curls) seemed to do more good than building grip strength and kneading stress balls was easier for me than the grip-strength devices, because my fingers were too short for most of them. I don't know about motorcycles, but those techniques helped a lot when I was holding my bicycle handlebars too tightly as well.
Click to expand...

I don't do it near that often, but I do stretch my hands a few times a day.
 
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