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 :D

[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 (http://www.workrave.org/welcome/index.php).
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 :confused: :confused:

[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 (http://www.phpbuilder.com/board/showthread.php?s=&threadid=10269699&highlight=carpal+tunnel) - 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...?

http://www.speirs.org/wristsaver/ :D
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 (http://www.phpbuilder.com/board/showthread.php?s=&threadid=10269699&highlight=carpal+tunnel) - 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 :D

[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:

[davidjam]

The other option of course is to hire a personal masseuse

Wow, that is the best! Sometimes my wife will just come up to me and start massaging my back and shoulders. I pretty much melt.

As for the link to other thread on carpal tunnel, thanks. I really did search first. Honest!

Just trying to get this wristsaver software to work (thanks gb). It won't count down. Maybe I'll email the developer. If it helps I should send him some $$.

(piersk and stolzy, I don't think a *virtual* massage will help even if she was willing to provide it! silly boys!;))

[AstroTeg]

I'm waiting for my 15 years of sitting in front of a computer to take its toll on me (I'm 30). So far so good...

I'm sitting in an 80's vintage desk chair and I don't have any software reminders setup for stretching.

Two things that will bug me every now and then: eyes and wrists.

When my eyes hurt, its probably because I'm tired and/or dehydrated. I have reading classes that usually provide immediate help (be it if I'm dehydrated or tired). Drinking water definitely helps too.

For the wrists, when I start to feel them get stiff or sore, I adjust positions. Lately I've been doing pretty good keeping them from resting on the desk.

When my wrists get really sore due to stress and deadlines, I find taking a minute to stretch the wrist area to be very helpful. I'll see if I can describe the the stretching:

Clench your hand in a fist (as if you were to punch someone). But really clench as hard as you can. Clench and hold it for 15-30 seconds or so or as long as you are comfortable with.

As quickly as you can, unclench and try to open your hand as much as possible. Try to stretch your fingers as far back as you can WITHOUT additional assistance (no leaning on a desk or using your other hand to pull your fingers back). Hold this for about the same time as you did with your clenched fist.

Clench your first as quickly as you can and repeat. Repeat this for about a minute or so. You should find this has loosened your wrist up.

I'm not a doctor. My mom is a violin player and has been concerned about carpel tunnel. I was concerned because as I was getting into computers and I had already been drumming for almost 10 years. That and my drum teacher had to have surgery on both wrists and it was NOT a pleasant experience.

[AstroTeg]

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

I had worked at a CPA firm (they bought a computer consulting group to expand their capabilities). Being computer consultants, we could take vacation whenever we wanted. But the rest of the company were so tied to the tax season that they made it a rule no one could take any vacation time from January till about May.

What we (the computer consultants) found out was the firm hired masseuses to come in and offer massages to the CPAs. The employees just filled out a worksheet as to what time they wanted their massage and the masseuse would come to their desk/office and do their thing for 20 minutes. I believe during the tax season, they had a masseuse in once a week.

[davidjam]

astroteg, that's a great hand exercise. Here are a couple I do. They benefit more than just the wrists and hands:

1. Pressing Down Breathing: hands at sides (not touching body), palm down, fingers pointing out to the sides. breath IN while keeping the hands relaxed. next, as you breath OUT press down with "heel" of hand, and try bending your finger tips up as much as possible (again without any assistance), also tense your whole body as much as possible, then back to breathing IN and relaxing.

2. Praying Palm Breathing: hands in front of chest, out a bit, in praying position, thumb tips just touching chest. breath IN and expand hands/arms outward, expand whole body as you fill with air. then as you breath OUT bring palms back together and press them (palms and fingers) together as hard as you can. then back to breathing IN. you should be fairly relaxed on the breathing in part.

Both of these could/should be done with abdominal breathing: stomach out when you breath in / stomach in as you breath out.

These exercises are from QiGong (chee-gong). Ancient chinese secrets for health!

[Elizabeth]

Piers, stolzy - heh, sorry fellas... I was hoping Dicky B would read that and come to my rescue as my personal masseuse.

Astroteg- What was the name of that company again? :D

[AstroTeg]

Originally posted by Elizabeth

Astroteg- What was the name of that company again? :D

Cohen & Company (http://www.cohencpa.com/) When I was there, they were a regional CPA firm with about 7 offices throughout northeast Ohio. Doesn't look like much has changed...

[pohopo]

one way to stop pain in the arm and wrist due to the mouse is just start using your other hand for the mouse. the first day is awkward, but after that it is not so hard. i was having the worst pain in my wrist, but now i just alternate hands.

[goldbug]

Originally posted by AstroTeg
...the firm hired masseuses to come in and offer massages to the CPAs. The employees just filled out a worksheet as to what time they wanted their massage and the masseuse would come to their desk/office and do their thing for 20 minutes.

Hehe, for some reason I was reminded of Hermes in Futurama :)