Masturbation With Repetitive Stress Injuries

executive summary
Dear Ann,
I have a repetitive stress injury similar to carpal tunnel syndrome, and my doctor told me that vibration only makes the pain in my hand worse.

hot facts
Don't chuck your vibrator just yet. You might have just as much trauma from using your hand.

Repetitive Stress with Masturbation

Ask the Sexpert

Repetitive Stress and Masturbation

Dear Ann,
I have a repetitive stress injury similar to carpal tunnel syndrome, and my doctor told me that vibration only makes the pain in my hand worse. This means I can't hold my trusty Hitachi any more. Unfortunately, that's my favorite way to orgasm. Any suggestions?


Dear Reader,
You seem to have one of the more trendy diseases these days -- more and more people pounding the keyboards are developing some kind of repetitive strain and, yes, vibration can make things worse.

But don't chuck your vibrator just yet: You might have just as much trauma from using your hand. Masturbation is, after all, a repetitive activity. Still, you don't need to eschew orgasms altogether. Instead, why not try modifying how you use your toy?

You have several options with your Hitachi. First, simply throw it down on the bed, then throw yourself down on top of it (not too hard!). You'll be face down on the bed. Turn your Hitachi on and position it so the head is over your clitoris and the shaft fits between your legs. You can use your thigh muscles to clench the Hitachi more tightly or loosely. What a workout -- with a little practice, maybe you can learn to turn it on or off with your thighs. You can also try holding your Hitachi in place by sticking the head through the legband of tight-fitting panties, or even buttoning it in to your 501s.

If you'd like to try something different, check out a remote vibrator, or other hands-free models like the Micro-Butterfly Vibe. These hold the vibrator in place directly over your clit, and have either a remote control or an attached non-vibrating control pack so your hand won't come in direct contact with any vibration.

Above all, keep in contact with your doctor -- though it might be difficult to talk to your doctor about sex, it'll be better for your health in the long run. And a valuable learning experience for your doctor, too.

~Ann Whidden