Meh Carpal Tunnel
Posted by 0rion on August 22nd, 2009 - 7:30 pm
Unfortunately I’ve started developing some symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome in my left hand, so I’m currently wearing a brace and trying to take it easy as much as possible.
It’s actually rather frustrating, not only because it affects my ability to perform my job, but also because I had a bunch of really cool posts I was working on and had hoped to share with you guys this week. I still plan to post a couple of things this weekend, but unfortunately I’ll have to back off my original blogging schedule a bit to make sure that I’m allowing myself to recuperate properly.
I dealt with RSI in my other hand some years back, so fortunately I know how to recognize the symptoms early and how to properly treat myself. It shouldn’t be a big deal, so no need to worry about me. I mainly wanted to let you guys know the reason why I’ll be reducing the post count for a while.
In other news, Guff finished his summer Japanese study program and is in Hokkaido now. He also still has not sent me any pictures or other blog post material, the lazy bum. Hopefully he’ll have some good stories for us once he actually settles down and comes back to the U.S.
Also Tokyo Magnitude 8.0 and Canaan are both incredibly awesome. Hopefully I’ll actually be able to put together some good posts about them in the near future. 
I heard that the weird mouse that comes with the MS Ergonomic 7000 is pretty good for avoiding carpel tunnel, at least in your remaining good hand. I haven’t tried it myself, but I do love the wired version of the MS Ergonomic keyboard.
Mouse ? Wrong move. Avoid mice. When typing – there’s not much choice but to use a keyboard, but instead of a mouse – use a tablet, MUCH easier on the wrist.
@Kabitzin: I like the look of that. Will be upgrading my keyboard soonish anyway.
@Orion: I’ll get on Google Chat at some point about this – I’m kinda worried about it since I’m using a keyboard a lot more at work and I’ve been using heavier gauge strings on my guitar for a while now. There’s supposed to be a genetic predisposition to it too iirc and my grandad has had treatment for it (it could’ve been work-related for him too though) so I’d rather take preventitive measures instead of waiting for things to really hurt!
@ Kabitzin
Thanks for the tip. I actually have one of those funky vertical mice from back when I injured my right hand, but always found it awkward to use. I really should get a split ergonomic keyboard, though.
@ karry
Thanks for the tablet suggestion. I might have to give that a try, if only because it gives me a legitimate excuse to buy a nice Wacom.
@ Martin
Playing guitar shouldn’t really affect you as long as you’re using good technique. If you’re doing something while playing guitar that’s causing soreness or pain in your hand, it can almost always be fixed with a change to playing technique.
I once saw this ‘anti-RSI tip’ somewhere around the net which involves two mice, dominant hand on a trackball mouse, for ‘navigating’, and the less dominant hand on an ordinary mouse, for ‘clicking’, based on the hypothesis that the strain comes from the “navigation + click” motion.
I was crazy enough to actually try it lolol. Not sure I’d recommend it to anyone though, but it became a legitimate excuse to get myself a sexy Logitech Marble trackball mouse XD
@Orion: ironically, I think it’s actually improved my technique; I don’t thrash the strings so hard these days (I haven’t broken one in ages now), although certain chord shapes still feel hellishly uncomfortable when held for long periods – it feels like my fingers are about to bend too far backwards!
Typing at work is the same – I’ve decided to slow things down a bit and not bash the keys so hard. For you I suggest kicking Guff into line and getting him contributing again!
@ usagijen
I’ve actually always hated trackballs with a passion. All the thumb movement is actually way more painful for me than hand/arm movement.
And really, ultimately the true source of the stress is in keep your hand in a constantly pronated position. The only true solutions to dealing with RSI involve ways to return the arm to the more neutral and relaxed “handshake” position.
@ Martin
Hah, I know a few keyboard bashers myself, and I always wondered if they had hand problems afterward. Admittedly it is pretty fun to watch, though.
Dunno if your pain is from mouse or keyboard use, but I recommend scripts to do repetitive tasks. A program called AutoHotKey can simulate multiple keyboard, mouse movements and clicks. It can save a lot of time and effort if you have to do a repetitive task. Speech to text is a lot better these days too. Try it in windows vista. You can start commanding your computer around too!
It sucks when my hand cramps up from clicking the left mouse button a thousand times in games. I guess that’s self-inflicted pain, though instead of work related.