My data point: much like GP, I experience discomfort if I wear my (smart/big) watch while programming. Also if I wear a small watch too tightly.

I get a sensation in my pinky that's a lot like what you feel with a pinched nerve.

I just take the watch off if I'm going to be using the keyboard for any period of time. Gaming especially bothers it.

Notably, I rest my left wrist on the laptop body underneath the keyboard area. If I kept my wrists perched in the air, I doubt I would have any of this going on at all.