Repetitive Stress Injuries? Anyone?

davidjam

I'm sure that if one could gather the energy produced by the clickity-clack of every programmer's keyboarding, we could offer Iran a deal and they would call off all nuclear development for good! OK, I know it is a bizarre thought...

anyways, can anyone sympathize with me?? My main problem is that typing and especially mouse work really gets to my shoulders.🙁 In my 20s I didn't feel anything (not from being inebriated either!). I mean, my body just didn't ever complain about anything. Now I'm 35 I find the computer work rather stressful.

Anyone else have other RSI probs.?, or even other health issues related to computer work? It would be good to hear some personal stories as well as solutions..

Shrike

I think RSI (along with back and posture problems) is related to the position in which you sit during work. My company runs occassional checks to make sure people aren't sitting slouched, and that the keyboard and mouse are at a natural position, and the monitor is at a good position. But most of us are developers so of course we are slouched 🙂

Foot rests, wrist pads, desk lamps and monitor cradles are useful if you suffer this kind of thing (I think).

stolzyboy

i went to the doc last month, he said i have tendonitus of the wrist from work... that could lead to carpal tunnel, bleh!

so, i gotta be careful NOT to rest my wrist on my desk anymore, this is lame, but... i kinda need my hands 😃

dkruythoff

Been using the mouse with my left hand for the past 2 or 3 years.
I'm left-handed, but in the past I've always held mice with my right hand.
At some point though, my right shoulder couldn't bare it anymore.
When pain and stinging started kicking in on a regular basis, I switched hands.
Now I still feel my right shoulder every few months, but my left side gives me nearly no problems.

Also messed up my back. I blame this on wrong position, and also a backpack (mainly prints of web-tutorials :p), which hangs from my shoulders, but mainly rests on my lower back.

Consider yourself lucky, davidjam.
I'll be 25 next month.

Weedpacket

No computer-related RSI here as yet (knock on laminated particle board); a good adjustable chair is invaluable: slouching is just your body's way of saying the "proper" posture is tiring you out (and that would be because the chair isn't supporting you properly). Once everything's configured right you can swish in, blob yourself down at your desk and everything - keyboard, mouse, monitor, coffee cup - will just be in the right place. Your fingers are probably resting on the home keys.

I do have one aspect of my job at the moment that involves leafing through literally hundreds of sheets of (slightly crumpled) paper on what seems like a perpetual basis. That's playing merry havoc with my neck muscles.

Weedpacket notices that he's squatting birdlike on the seat of his good adjustable chair. He rationalises that it's for warmth.

davidjam

My company runs occassional checks to make sure people aren't sitting slouched - shrike

I just had my 5th year anniversary at this place (no pin or anything!), and whenever I discuss getting a new chair, GAWD! it's like I'm asking for a private secretary. OK I'm exaggerating a bit, but I was impressed that your employer really cares about people's health.

dkruythoff -- thanks for your story. I too switched to my left hand, which then caused some pain in my left shoulder, and wrist and thumb. FYI my original shoulder problem I think came from an "event" about 2 years ago: I have a big dog and she thought she was off the leash (wasn't) and decided to bolt.

a good adjustable chair is invaluable: slouching is just your body's way of saying the "proper" posture is tiring you out. -- wp

I totally agree.

On the plus side, my left hand is feeling much better since I started doing some "isometric" type stretching excersises. One of the keys is don't be ballistic about it or you cause more damage.

Thanks everyone.

goldbug

Maybe install something like workrave.
It makes you take mandatory breaks every so many minutes (configurable, locks screen). My shoulder and wrist hurt a lot less at the end of the day, since I started using it (about a year ago).

piersk

This kind of thing is used by a lot of companies over in the states (less so over here). I have a friend who works for ChevronTexaco and they have it installed. IIRC, Stolzy uses something similar...

stolzyboy

Originally posted by piersk
This kind of thing is used by a lot of companies over in the states (less so over here). I have a friend who works for ChevronTexaco and they have it installed. IIRC, Stolzy uses something similar...

yes, we do... i'm just a sad case i guess that it doesn't help...

plus it's partly from lifting my daughter up off the floor/bed/whatever...

apparently a lot of father's experience this, so they tell me 😕 😕

davidjam

Stress is definitely a contributing factor. I know when I hate my job or my life is going nuts the shoulder problem gets worse.

Also stolzy I went on a "regime", took 2 x B6 tablets everyday because I heard B6 helped carpel tunnel. The wrist pain actually went away (but I don't know if it was the B6 or the exercises...)

vaaaska

When my wrist gets sored and tired I stop working for a day or so.

When my shoulders get stiff I drink water. It always helps immediately wash away toxins.

Slouching and feet up on the desk are requisites. 😉

stolzyboy

Originally posted by vaaaska
When my wrist gets sored and tired I stop working for a day or so.

When my shoulders get stiff I drink water. It always helps immediately wash away toxins.

Slouching and feet up on the desk are requisites. 😉

kinda hard for some of us to stop working for a day or so 😉

vaaaska

Originally posted by stolzyboy
kinda hard for some of us to stop working for a day or so 😉

Not if it's going to cause the company you work for a law suit. I don't really stop working, I just do other things than use a mouse - like file crap or catch up on reading that needs to be done.

davidjam

Maybe install something like workrave. -- goldbug

if($workrave != "mac os x") {echo "<agony value='feigned'>Such a cruel world to us Mac users... sigh</agony>";}

I have a watch that beeps every hour. I have been trying to get up at that point and do some stretching etc.. but my Will oscillates wildly between strong and pathetic, so who knows.

Any other experiences, solutions...?

Elizabeth

I thought I'd seen goldbug talk about that workrave somewhere else - goldbug, does it really work? The other option of course is to hire a personal masseuse to tend to your ailments. I vote for that one.

goldbug

Originally posted by davidjam
if($workrave != "mac os x") {echo "<agony value='feigned'>Such a cruel world to us Mac users... sigh</agony>";}
I have a watch that beeps every hour. I have been trying to get up at that point and do some stretching etc.. but my Will oscillates wildly between strong and pathetic, so who knows.

Any other experiences, solutions...? [/B]

http://www.speirs.org/wristsaver/ 😃
It's not as compact as the workrave applet, but it is a start. Just set it, hide it off the dock, and you're set 🙂

stolzyboy

Originally posted by Elizabeth
I thought I'd seen goldbug talk about that workrave somewhere else - goldbug, does it really work? The other option of course is to hire a personal masseuse to tend to your ailments. I vote for that one.

hrmm, sounds like an offer to me 😃

piersk

Originally posted by Elizabeth
The other option of course is to hire a personal masseuse to tend to your ailments. I vote for that one.

Are you volunteering 😉

stolzyboy

Originally posted by piersk
Are you volunteering 😉

watch it piers, i asked first, lol

piersk

Originally posted by stolzyboy
watch it piers, i asked first, lol

Damn you stolzy!! :glare: