RSI from typing too much: What do you even do to reverse it?

The Something Awful Forums > Discussion > Ask/Tell > RSI from typing too much: What do you even do to reverse it?

NeilPerry: May 2, 2010

As the title suggests, I am forced to keep this short.

I've been having issues since August. It started pretty rough because I did a lot of translation work, but even after it died down a bit it's just been a cycle of good days followed by terrible days ad neaseum. Imaging is inconclusive (original doctor said he saw carpal tunnel of the ulnar nerve, which makes NO sense) but I'm going to get an EMG done soon. I'm doing yoga and stretches, as well as limiting my typing but it's not working by any stretch. I did continue to play a video game for like 20 minutes a day and had to keep using my phone for a while for texting, so that might have contributed to it not improving. Even so, doctor says it can't be too bad because I still have the strength and feeling in my hands, and forcing movement in various directions does not hurt at all most of the time. It's basically my entire hand (both of them). Just some days it's the thumbs that hurt, some days it's the pinkies, some days it's a dirty pressure feeling in the wrists. Mostly it's just a feeling of my hands being stiff (no numbness or tingling except for some itchiness once in a while). Nothing in my blood either.

What are your stories with RSI and such, and how did you get through it? Plus, how long did it take to see real change?

# ¿ Jan 27, 2016 23:52

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# ¿ Apr 28, 2024 21:38

NeilPerry: May 2, 2010

Thanatosian posted:

I started having some pretty serious wrist pain about a decade ago. Didn't go to the doctor or anything, but I was doing a lot of typing both at work and at home, and playing a lot of Guitar Hero.

I ended up replacing my keyboards both at home and work with ergonomic keyboards (the type with the split down the middle), haven't had a problem since. I had a coworker who was diagnosed with Carpal Tunnel, and she would have problems off and on. I kept recommending an ergo board for her, she kept declining. Then, she came in for a week solid with wrist braces on, and I finally just insisted, and said "listen, I'm gonna hook this up for you for a week; if you still hate it, tell me, and I'll never mention it again." She used it for two days and didn't need the braces anymore, and then said "I should have listened to you sooner."

Obviously, two data points is still anecdotal, but it's really not as hard to switch as you think it will be, and it does seem to help significantly.

http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-L5V-00001-Ergonomic-Desktop-Keyboard/dp/B00CYX54C0

Would something like this suffice? It's the easiest one for me to find.

# ¿ Jan 29, 2016 16:58

NeilPerry: May 2, 2010

Got the keyboard and holy gently caress, I knew it would help but I never thought it would be this big a difference. Thanks a lot. Still wondering how long it'll take to get back to normal and what to do to help that. Assuming it's an overuse problem and not anything like carpal, would it be okay to do some weight lifting?

# ¿ Feb 2, 2016 19:56

NeilPerry: May 2, 2010

NihilismNow posted:

Are you sure it isn't a mental health issue? From what i understand RSI is mostly psychosomatic.
Do you like your job?

I understand that RSI is definitely impacted by psychosomatic factors, but I'm pretty sure this is not the case (entirely) because I'm a pretty chill grad student with a lot of free time.

It was definitely a big factor in the beginning, but I feel confident in saying that it isn't the main problem.

# ¿ Feb 3, 2016 20:38

The Something Awful Forums > Discussion > Ask/Tell > RSI from typing too much: What do you even do to reverse it?