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One woman’s habit of wearing a hairband around her wrist led to a painful nerve condition.

Lisa McLennan, 47, an artist who lives in British Columbia, Canada, suffers from carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).

Ms McLennan suffers from the painful condition in both hands, she said it has always been worse in her left – and she did not know why until a chance encounter, shares Yahoo.

“I injured the tendon in my thumb and [the doctors] checked me for carpal tunnel syndrome,” she said.

“I was in a shop a few days later telling the woman who worked there how my left wrist was more severe than my right and she pointed to my [hair] elastic and said ‘stop doing that then’.

“I was like ‘pardon me’ and she explained that a neurologist had told her not to do it because it can cause issues.”

She said her symptoms include circulation issues, damage and inflammation – and when she isn’t using her left wrist it goes numb.

Of her hair band use, Ms McLennan said: “It was just a habit, it was always on my wrist whenever it wasn’t in my hair.”

“I’m so aware now that I shouldn’t be doing it but I’ll be cleaning the house, find an elastic and put it on my wrist, then I think, ‘oh no, what am I doing’. I have taken to using a hair claw instead, so I don’t put the elastic on my wrist.”

Ms McLennan warned: “Don’t do it”.

“Just don’t. Whether it causes issues right now or not, it’s an easy fix, an easy, proactive way to save yourself pain later,” she added.

We have shared a warning previously not to wear hair ties around your wrist after one woman ended up in hospital with a painful infection. Read more on her story HERE.

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  • only an issue if the band is too tight around the wrist.

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  • This is something I’ve done for years, with no issues. From what I’m reading, it seems to be a problem if the hair band is too tight. So maybe just avoid tight one

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  • Interesting article. I wear a hair tie around my wrist all the time and never knew it could cause problems. Will have to be diligent in remembering not to put it on my wrist out of habit.

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  • I’ve done this a few times not thinking but I didn’t realise it would cause problems. I’m now very vigilant on where my hair ties go. Only problem is now I keep losing them or forgetting where they are

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  • I’ve heard this was bad for you. I am guilty of this on the odd occasion with one elastic but then I remember to take it off.

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  • I’ve done this once or twice and not for a long period of time because… it gets too tight!! So a timely reminder.

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  • Mine always gets too tight and honestly irritates me all day, I feel claustrophobic and need to take it off. Not good!

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  • I accidentally do this too often. My girls probably as well

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  • I don’t believe it causes the problem rather it may make it worse if you have it really tight and for too long, I use those really soft ones that are thicker and it is never tight if I put it on my wrist and only for a short time.

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  • Have never done this – maybe that’s why I haven’t got any problems with my hands. Such an interesting article and worthwhile knowing too.

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  • Great article and good to know. I’ve been wearing one on my wrist for 20+ years. Time to break the habit.

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  • the body is such a marvellous thing, funny how little things like this can cause such big problems! but thanks for the food for thought to break a very old habit of mine :)

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  • A good reminder. My daughter always has a hair tie on her wrist in case she asked to tie her hair up at school.
    I’ve carpal tunnel syndrome in both wrists myself, not caused by hair bands.

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  • So my people do this and once it’s habit it’s harder to stop. Makes sense but it’s not something you would think of.

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  • A great reminder

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