upgrading low end bike

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I have carpel tunnel syndrome and even the bike I have makes my hands go numb because of the angle.I started to get carpal while temping as an assembler for a lock company. I was biking to work at the time too. I did not get a real medical diagnosis, but the underside of my wrists got really sore especially when I moved my fingers.

I tried the alternative health solution and it worked. They say carpal has a lot to do with inflammation. They also say all the food you eat is either pro- or anti-inflammatory. I cut back on the burgers and salami sandwiches because saturated fat and corn oil (fry grease) is very pro-inflammatory. I also ate more veggies and fruit, and took fish oil and had olive oil on my spaghetti, two powerful anti-inflammatory oils. It worked; though maybe I just got used to the job, I guess.

Well, I did not upgrade the mountain bike. I may still do a few things at my leisure.

I sold a guitar and went out and bought a Giant OCR3 with the money.
Fast bike, and economiclly priced!

And I found that with drop road bike handle bars, it allows me to place my hand to where I have very little Carpel Tunnel pain!:)

Sure, you can get service replacement stuff for a 7 speed cassette system, but what do you do about a wheel?

Last time I tried a 9-spd body bolted straight on to a hub that originally came with a 7-spd body, so I think it's safe to assume that the reverse is also true. (required a seal replacement though). And since I ran 8-out-9 sprockets on a 7-spd body before that I'd be inclined to think that a few spacers would let you use a 7-spd cassette on a 9-spd body w/o any particular modifications. Maybe you'd need to play around with the axle spacers a little to get the wheel alignment right without re-dishing the wheel.