RSI

jaguar · 07-28-2004, 09:45 AM

Since there are plenty of fellow geeks here someone might be able to point me in the right direction. Since feb or so this year I've been moving around a lot and mostly working on a laptop either on flat desks or on my lap, both of which I know are godawful egronomically. over the last month I've developed a dull growing ache in my right wrist that seems to be getting worse. I don't think it's carpal tunnel syndrome - the symptoms don't entirely fit but it is certainly some from of RSI.

As someone that does a lot of computer work and am about to start doing a lot more the whole thing is rather scary, when I'm not on the computer I'm often drawing or shooting (film not lead), all of which involve a lot of hand work. I'm about to move and will do my vest to ensure my premanant setup is as egonomically sound as possible but considering the situation at the moment, what is the best course of action? If i just stop using a computer for a month will it go away? Should I consult a doctor? Specialist? Anyone else gone though this? I've started doing some exercises that are certainly doing something - my right wrist hurts like hell when I hold my arm out straight and try and get my fingers vertical, my left does not. Any other exercises?

Undertoad · 07-28-2004, 09:53 AM

Tendonitis?

I've had ulnar nerve damage from typing wrong, which is nerve right next to the carpal tunnel. And I've had a lot of tendonitis so...

It's critical to get your wrists in a good position as you type. They should be as straight as possible. If you're bending your wrists in any way in order to reach any keys, if it takes more than a tiny little bit of stress to reach any key, stop and fix what you're doing, right away.

Whenever you make a change it will still take a few weeks for that change to take effect, and you're still kinda sorta re-aggravating it every time you type, so don't expect it to go away quick.

This goes for everyone.

Catwoman · 07-28-2004, 09:57 AM

Start wanking with your left hand to balance it out

jaguar · 07-28-2004, 10:08 AM

I'd be insulted if it wasn't funny :P
thus you shall be poked with a stick

Revenge!

Anyway. I think I'll just stop for a month soon and do some research, the fact it's so much more severe in my mouse hand suggests to me it might be related to that as well.

Catwoman · 07-28-2004, 10:12 AM

If that's what you call revenge I'll insult you any day!

lookout123 · 07-28-2004, 10:23 AM

if it is in your mouse hand i would be willing to bet that you press harder than you think while scrolling. i know i've been guilty of the same. the pressure on the nerves does minor damage over time, but unless it is a chronic pain i wouldn't worry too much. it sounds stupid and they look goofy, but one of those oversized gel-filled handwrests in front of your mouse may just be what the doctor ordered.

if that fails - do as the feline female ordered, wank with the other hand.

jaguar · 07-28-2004, 10:50 AM

Quote:

If that's what you call revenge I'll insult you any day!

It all depends on the size of the stick really.

it's not chronic yet but something about it tells me it could get nasty.

Catwoman · 07-28-2004, 11:06 AM

... and how hard you poke.

Happy Monkey · 07-28-2004, 11:13 AM

And if you scroll back up and take a look, jaguar hasn't stopped poking yet.

jaguar · 07-28-2004, 11:16 AM

well stamina is important

witness a thread, burning badly crashing to ground at the speed of sound

Catwoman · 07-28-2004, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Happy Monkey

And if you scroll back up and take a look, jaguar hasn't stopped poking yet.

Ok enough already, I'm sore now.

This hereby ends the decline of the thread.

Troubleshooter · 07-28-2004, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaguar

well stamina is important

witness a thread, burning badly crashing to ground at the speed of sound

You mean you didn't see this coming?

I mean come on, look at the topic again.

Kitsune · 07-28-2004, 01:23 PM

I had symptoms of carpal tunnel for awhile. Easy test: hold the offending hand out, palm up, and strike your wrist with the two fingers of your other hand. If you feel tingling in your fingers or numbness (specifically a difference in feeling, in the offending hand, between your index and thumb than the rest), chances are high you're injuring yourself pretty badly.

I fixed mine by getting one of those gyroscopic ball thingies that golfers and skiers use, but mine didn't cost nearly so much nor have cool lights or digital crap in it.

07-28-2004, 09:45 AM	#1
jaguar whig Join Date: Apr 2001 Posts: 5,075	RSI Since there are plenty of fellow geeks here someone might be able to point me in the right direction. Since feb or so this year I've been moving around a lot and mostly working on a laptop either on flat desks or on my lap, both of which I know are godawful egronomically. over the last month I've developed a dull growing ache in my right wrist that seems to be getting worse. I don't think it's carpal tunnel syndrome - the symptoms don't entirely fit but it is certainly some from of RSI. As someone that does a lot of computer work and am about to start doing a lot more the whole thing is rather scary, when I'm not on the computer I'm often drawing or shooting (film not lead), all of which involve a lot of hand work. I'm about to move and will do my vest to ensure my premanant setup is as egonomically sound as possible but considering the situation at the moment, what is the best course of action? If i just stop using a computer for a month will it go away? Should I consult a doctor? Specialist? Anyone else gone though this? I've started doing some exercises that are certainly doing something - my right wrist hurts like hell when I hold my arm out straight and try and get my fingers vertical, my left does not. Any other exercises? __________________ Good friends, good books and a sleepy conscience: this is the ideal life. - Twain

07-28-2004, 09:57 AM	#3
Catwoman stalking a Tom Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: on the edge of the english channel Posts: 1,000	Start wanking with your left hand to balance it out __________________ I've decided I'm not going to have a signature anymore.

07-28-2004, 10:08 AM	#4
jaguar whig Join Date: Apr 2001 Posts: 5,075	I'd be insulted if it wasn't funny :P thus you shall be poked with a stick Revenge! Anyway. I think I'll just stop for a month soon and do some research, the fact it's so much more severe in my mouse hand suggests to me it might be related to that as well. __________________ Good friends, good books and a sleepy conscience: this is the ideal life. - Twain

07-28-2004, 10:12 AM	#5
Catwoman stalking a Tom Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: on the edge of the english channel Posts: 1,000	If that's what you call revenge I'll insult you any day! __________________ I've decided I'm not going to have a signature anymore.

07-28-2004, 10:23 AM	#6
lookout123 changed his status to single Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Right behind you. No, the other side. Posts: 10,308	if it is in your mouse hand i would be willing to bet that you press harder than you think while scrolling. i know i've been guilty of the same. the pressure on the nerves does minor damage over time, but unless it is a chronic pain i wouldn't worry too much. it sounds stupid and they look goofy, but one of those oversized gel-filled handwrests in front of your mouse may just be what the doctor ordered. if that fails - do as the feline female ordered, wank with the other hand. __________________ Getting knocked down is no sin, it's not getting back up that's the sin

07-28-2004, 09:53 AM	#2
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	Tendonitis? I've had ulnar nerve damage from typing wrong, which is nerve right next to the carpal tunnel. And I've had a lot of tendonitis so... It's critical to get your wrists in a good position as you type. They should be as straight as possible. If you're bending your wrists in any way in order to reach any keys, if it takes more than a tiny little bit of stress to reach any key, stop and fix what you're doing, right away. Whenever you make a change it will still take a few weeks for that change to take effect, and you're still kinda sorta re-aggravating it every time you type, so don't expect it to go away quick. This goes for everyone.

07-28-2004, 11:06 AM	#8
Catwoman stalking a Tom Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: on the edge of the english channel Posts: 1,000	... and how hard you poke. __________________ I've decided I'm not going to have a signature anymore.

07-28-2004, 11:13 AM	#9
Happy Monkey I think this line's mostly filler. Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: DC Posts: 13,575	And if you scroll back up and take a look, jaguar hasn't stopped poking yet. __________________ _________________ \|...............\| We live in the nick of times. \| Len 17, Wid 3 \| \|_______________\| [pics]

07-28-2004, 11:16 AM	#10
jaguar whig Join Date: Apr 2001 Posts: 5,075	well stamina is important witness a thread, burning badly crashing to ground at the speed of sound __________________ Good friends, good books and a sleepy conscience: this is the ideal life. - Twain

07-28-2004, 01:23 PM	#13
Kitsune still eats dirt Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 3,031	I had symptoms of carpal tunnel for awhile. Easy test: hold the offending hand out, palm up, and strike your wrist with the two fingers of your other hand. If you feel tingling in your fingers or numbness (specifically a difference in feeling, in the offending hand, between your index and thumb than the rest), chances are high you're injuring yourself pretty badly. I fixed mine by getting one of those gyroscopic ball thingies that golfers and skiers use, but mine didn't cost nearly so much nor have cool lights or digital crap in it.

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