Hi,
I'm calling upon you guys to help me out - I can see that the OT forum has become something of a councilling place too - not a bad thing at all. Rather than field for pity, I'd like to make this a possible thread of note for people in a similar condition.
Essentially, I think I'm developing some sort of RSI / CTS in my hands and arms due to excessive computer usage. I don't think I'm /that/ bad per se - but lately the majority of my work and personal time has been spent sat in front of a TFT.
Specifically, from my elbow down to the tips of my fingers I'm finding that I'm having tingling sensations - similar to what some people call "my arm going to sleep" or "pins and needles" - essentially I'm assuming its due to restriction of effective blood flow and nerve communication (I'm assuming the tingling is my nerves pinging my brain or something). The tingling is a lot more obvious in my fingers if anything. There is also just a plain dull ache down my arms generally.
Sometimes my hands just feel lumpy or clogged, other times I feel like I have to crack my knuckles just to get rid of the discomfort - and I do this by just clenching my fist. My veins also seem to be a little more prominant than usual - not sure what this is. If I hold my hands in the air for a few seconds it subsides then they are prominant again before long.
I figure that this is some form of RSI so I've ordered a Powerball (see www.powerballs.com) to help cure it as it is a non-impact based excercise device that might help (it certainly sounds good in principle).
I don't really have a lot of time free, nor do I have a doctor registered at the moment so it's gonna be a bit of hassle to sort that out. I've no idea what alternatives there are nor whether I should see some sort of specialist - all I know is that I have to keep typing and I can't afford to stop as I'm self-employed!
So, any advice greatly appreciated...
Ruairi
Full Version: Help! My painful hands!
If you notice that your right arm hurts more than your left (and you have a mouse on the right side of they keyboard), I would recommend looking into alternate pointing devices (if you aren't already using one). I really like TrackPoints now (the little pointing stick that goes in the middle of the keyboard) after using it on my laptop for a while. Compared to a regular mouse, I find it much more comfortable to use for long periods of time. Unfortunately, IBM's keyboard that has one built-in is about $100. 
After getting really used to using TrackPoints, I can hardly stand using anything else, as that would involve moving my hand away from the keyboard to move the mouse. 
After getting really used to using TrackPoints, I can hardly stand using anything else, as that would involve moving my hand away from the keyboard to move the mouse.
In my right hand one of the nerves (thumb area one is radial, pointer and middle is carpal, I'm the pinky and ring one, can't find the name of it) acts up after I use the mouse with my right hand too much. I just use my left most of the time, and switch to the right to play FPSes.
I'm left handed though, so I assume that helped me become comfortable with the switch sooner than most people.
One thing that REALLY annoys me is MS's remote desktop client ignores me switching inputs (ie left click is still left click on the server). So I either need to switch off or set the server to left handed mode
I'm left handed though, so I assume that helped me become comfortable with the switch sooner than most people.
One thing that REALLY annoys me is MS's remote desktop client ignores me switching inputs (ie left click is still left click on the server). So I either need to switch off or set the server to left handed mode
This page has a lot of information on it: http://eeshop.unl.edu/rsi.html
From time to time i also have some symptoms of it, but just by taking enough breaks it usually goes away (and returns with a vengeance if i overdo it again).
From time to time i also have some symptoms of it, but just by taking enough breaks it usually goes away (and returns with a vengeance if i overdo it again).
To be fair, you are *BY FAR* the 'Most Likely Candidate' I know for CTS. I'm lucky; without any back / neck / wrist / eye / anything problems, I manage to spend most of my 5-10 hour day at work at the computer, and usually ~1.5 hours at home, too..
One comment that most cow orkers come up with is that I seldom use the mouse. That may be a solution. 3 weeks of tabbing about, and the bits in your spindley bits may have recovered, and recovered into beefier modes. I think thats pretty much the thing with the Powerball (which is hard to master), I bought one for Leg's birthday (a few months early), and completely ruined my wrist with it (like, hard to pick up a pint glass, never mind some c h i p s).
However, <Gauntlet Voice> Mega-Lev NOW HAS..... Godly wrists.
One comment that most cow orkers come up with is that I seldom use the mouse. That may be a solution. 3 weeks of tabbing about, and the bits in your spindley bits may have recovered, and recovered into beefier modes. I think thats pretty much the thing with the Powerball (which is hard to master), I bought one for Leg's birthday (a few months early), and completely ruined my wrist with it (like, hard to pick up a pint glass, never mind some c h i p s).
However, <Gauntlet Voice> Mega-Lev NOW HAS..... Godly wrists.
Crazy as it sounds, have you considered learning to type in a different keyboard layout? I don't mean MS Natural keyboard, I mean Dvorak Simplified Keyboard.
I can't verify this suggestion with any studies since none have been done, so I'll have to violate TOS #8 here and just say that I've found it to be a lot more comfortable to type in Dvorak. I know that you say that you can't take time away from typing, but do you have time to slow down for about a month (or maybe even a week?)
I can't verify this suggestion with any studies since none have been done, so I'll have to violate TOS #8 here and just say that I've found it to be a lot more comfortable to type in Dvorak. I know that you say that you can't take time away from typing, but do you have time to slow down for about a month (or maybe even a week?)
Yeah, I agree that Dvorak is worth looking into. If you are running Windows XP, it's very simple to switch between layouts and give it a try. It would be difficult at first, but after a while it really is much easier on your hands imho. For example, to type "this" you use the keys "kjg;". Similarly, "the" becomes "kjd".
I'm pretty certain my mouse has a lot to do with it in fact... but I'm now actually feeling pains in my left hand too. I know it sounds slightly hypochondriac like - but it does hurt, but not as much. Perhaps I've just not acknowledged it as such.
As far as dvorak is concerned - I tried it briefly but I find it incredibly hard to adjust, but within minutes of trying it I've found that it certainly is easier going on the hands than the traditional qwerty layout. My accuracy is appaling however. I'll try again soon though. Is anyone aware of a utility that has an onscreen keyboard with both the qwerty and dvorak layout on screen simultaneously? I'd assume that it'd help in the short term to help.
For those who haven't used dvorak - in my brief experience I've found that it keeps the most used keys central on the keyboard so the distance travelled by your fingers is much lower. Plus it seems to pair logical letters together quite nicely too.
Well, I'm going to keep investigating dvorak and try switching to it at some point, but having typed on qwerty for around 15 years it'll be quite hard to get into it. I'd like to be... um, qwertydexterous
- but I hear it's a better idea just to straight switch to the new layout.
To top all this, I'm getting a better chair, raising my monitor up a bit and getting a much better posture, this should all help I hope. It's a shame it's occured this way though, I thought I was getting away with it just fine!
Ruairi
As far as dvorak is concerned - I tried it briefly but I find it incredibly hard to adjust, but within minutes of trying it I've found that it certainly is easier going on the hands than the traditional qwerty layout. My accuracy is appaling however. I'll try again soon though. Is anyone aware of a utility that has an onscreen keyboard with both the qwerty and dvorak layout on screen simultaneously? I'd assume that it'd help in the short term to help.
For those who haven't used dvorak - in my brief experience I've found that it keeps the most used keys central on the keyboard so the distance travelled by your fingers is much lower. Plus it seems to pair logical letters together quite nicely too.
Well, I'm going to keep investigating dvorak and try switching to it at some point, but having typed on qwerty for around 15 years it'll be quite hard to get into it. I'd like to be... um, qwertydexterous
- but I hear it's a better idea just to straight switch to the new layout.To top all this, I'm getting a better chair, raising my monitor up a bit and getting a much better posture, this should all help I hope. It's a shame it's occured this way though, I thought I was getting away with it just fine!
Ruairi
Ask and you shall receive: http://clabs.org/dvorak.htm. (I assume you meant windows. I apologize if you wanted an *nix program).
Ok, it doesn't show both layouts simultaneously, but just the current layout. The only thing I can think of to do both at the same time is the hardwired Dvortyboard from dvoratyboards.com. I have one of these, and it's a nice training tool.
One nice thing about learning dvorak is that you can be semi-productive with it quickly. There's a lot you can type with just the home row. The worst thing about dvorak though is the keyboard shortcuts and mappings. Gaming will become impossible and Xemacs becomes very tedious (until you fully learn the layout). In the meantime, I'd recommend just using Ctrl-Ins and Shift-Ins for your copy & Paste needs. Though using the keyboard shortcuts will cut down on learning time.
Edit: Mispelled Dvortyboards
Ok, it doesn't show both layouts simultaneously, but just the current layout. The only thing I can think of to do both at the same time is the hardwired Dvortyboard from dvoratyboards.com. I have one of these, and it's a nice training tool.
One nice thing about learning dvorak is that you can be semi-productive with it quickly. There's a lot you can type with just the home row. The worst thing about dvorak though is the keyboard shortcuts and mappings. Gaming will become impossible and Xemacs becomes very tedious (until you fully learn the layout). In the meantime, I'd recommend just using Ctrl-Ins and Shift-Ins for your copy & Paste needs. Though using the keyboard shortcuts will cut down on learning time.
Edit: Mispelled Dvortyboards
This is a "lo-fi" version of our main content. To view the full version with more information, formatting and images, please click here.