Comments on: Meh Carpal Tunnel

By: Brutain

Brutain — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 08:14:12 +0000

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.

By: 0rion

0rion — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 03:51:42 +0000

@ 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.

By: Martin

Martin — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 17:22:00 +0000

@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!

By: usagijen

usagijen — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 08:38:08 +0000

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

By: 0rion

0rion — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 06:58:13 +0000

@ 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.

By: Martin

Martin — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 11:36:26 +0000

@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!

By: karry

karry — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 08:20:49 +0000

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.

By: Kabitzin

Kabitzin — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 03:34:00 +0000

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.