Who Else Has Hand Pains?

[TheQsanity]

So yeah sometime the joints in my fingers ache for like a whole day. Occasionally so do the wrists.
My right Index finger seems to have it the worst. It is always "stiff" "sore" "sprained" or something.

A lot of us are on the computer a lot. I just wanted to see how many of you guys have any similar issues. Are there anyone here diagnosed with Carpal Tunnel or anything else like that? How long have you guys been using the computer for?

I have been using the computer for a total of about 4 or 5 years.

Anything else?

[Badwrench]

I have tendinitis in both arms (mostly forearm and into the wrist).  I have been heavily into computers for only about 3-4 years, but I have been riding dirt bikes all my life, and playing video games for over 20 years as well.  I get moderate to severe pain at intermittent times, but mostly just don't have the strength I used to. 

The amount of time spent on the computer doesn't' seem to have a direct result in the amount of pain to me. 

My Mom on the other hand has been a legal secretary for 30 yrs and has pretty severe carpal tunnel syndrome in both wrists (she has had surgery and continues to get cortisone shots on a fairly regular basis)

[samwisekoi]

Thirty years on keyboards led to bad tendonitis in my thumb, but a motorcycle accident several years ago tore the tendon and it healed better than before!

However now, after long sessions coding or typing, if I go do something else repetitive the nerve in my elbow hurts.  Sadly that is mostly when I go from the keyboard to a pinball game, so I cannot play that as much as I'd like.

I have found that stiffer springs help, so Model M, Browns or Greens are better than softer keyswitches, and even the tactile Gray for the spacebar helps.  Keeping my wrists up off the desk helps, so typically I type with my forearms on the edge of the desk and my hands hovering above the board.

(This message was typed on a Leopold TKL with Cherry Brown switches and double-shot Red Alert alphas and thick PBT mods.  This is my most comfortable keyboard made since the turn of the century, and is not as loud as my Model M or the QFR with Greens, so I can use it at home.)

 - Ron | samwisekoi

[Sniping]

My wrists have been hurting lately after biking for over an hour or so. My pinky finger feels really weak/strained when I bend it after I stretched it too far practicing finger rolls  I haven't gotten any pain yet from keyboard use though.

[Badwrench]

Thirty years on keyboards led to bad tendonitis in my thumb, but a motorcycle accident several years ago tore the tendon and it healed better than before!

However now, after long sessions coding or typing, if I go do something else repetitive the nerve in my elbow hurts.  Sadly that is mostly when I go from the keyboard to a pinball game, so I cannot play that as much as I'd like.

I have found that stiffer springs help, so Model M, Browns or Greens are better than softer keyswitches, and even the tactile Gray for the spacebar helps.  Keeping my wrists up off the desk helps, so typically I type with my forearms on the edge of the desk and my hands hovering above the board.

(This message was typed on a Leopold TKL with Cherry Brown switches and double-shot Red Alert alphas and thick PBT mods.  This is my most comfortable keyboard made since the turn of the century, and is not as loud as my Model M or the QFR with Greens, so I can use it at home.)

 - Ron | samwisekoi

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Proper technique helps me as well.  I have added a large gel wrist pad for the keyboard, and a sliding wrist wrest for the mouse.  These have helped quite a bit. 
I like this mouse wrist wrest.  It allows me to move my whole arm around rather than just bending my wrist:
http://www.zumaoffice.com/Products/Wrist-Assist-Memory-Foam-Ergonomic-Wrist-Rest--Black__ASP29538.aspx?utm_medium=shoppingengine&utm_source=googlebase&cvsfa=3375&cvsfe=2&cvsfhu=4153503239353338&gclid=CNW12NSOurcCFcuh4AodgEwAKw

[tooki]

I have diagnosed RSI that I have already been to occupational therapy for. I've been a computer user since I was 12 (omg, that's 21 years ago!). RSI problems started about 3 years ago -- about 1-2 years after I started my first real office job, where I was parked in front of the computer all day, every day. (Followed by a couple of hours of recreational computer use at home.) At its worst, on a bad day, I could barely grab the mouse, and typing was excruciating.

The symptoms I have are tension (like a pulled muscle) in the forearm just below the elbow, pain/stiffness in finger joints, and numbness/pins-and-needles/sensitivity in the fingertips. (And neck pain, if I don't make sure my screens are high enough to keep me from slouching.)

My index finger was the first to go. Switching from an ambidextrous to an ergonomic mouse helped that a bit (really good for the wrist and forearm, though!), but what really helped was putting the mouse in a drawer and using a trackpad with the other hand so that the injured hand can rest.

I am trying to teach myself to not type spaces with my right thumb (the current problem child) but undoing 20 years of touch typing experience is incredibly hard to do. The thumb whacks the spacebar and actuates the Back button on the mouse, as well as gripping the mouse. I think iPhone typing with the thumb is also a significant contributor to this problem.


What I can advise you is to take measures immediately, before it gets worse:

• Take frequent microbreaks (like 30 secs every 5 mins) and regular real breaks (5 mins every hour)
• If you are forgetful of breaks like me, install break reminder software to force you to take them
• Do stretches and calisthenics every hour in the real breaks, especially hand exercises, but including your whole body. be holistic.
• Switch up your input devices (different keyboards, different mice/trackpads, switching up which hand)
• Check the ergonomics of your workspace
• If you can do other tasks (like manual paperwork or whatever), mix them up with your computer work
• Wear gloves to keep the joints warm
• Take some more breaks
• If you tend to write a lot of similar texts, e.g. email replies to customers, use text expander software (Mac has basic one built in, otherwise use TypeIt4Me or TextExpander; on Windows use PhraseExpress) to expand shortcuts into preset passages of any length.

Remember, the key element of repetitive strain injury is the repetitive part. So do whatever you can to mix things up. It is also suspected that an element of RSI is restricted blood flow, so that's why you do the stretches and calisthenics: literally to get the blood flowing, which is necessary for tissue recovery.

I hope some of that helps your situation.

[tooki]

I have found that stiffer springs help, so Model M, Browns or Greens are better than softer keyswitches, and even the tactile Gray for the spacebar helps.  Keeping my wrists up off the desk helps, so typically I type with my forearms on the edge of the desk and my hands hovering above the board.

(This message was typed on a Leopold TKL with Cherry Brown switches and double-shot Red Alert alphas and thick PBT mods.  This is my most comfortable keyboard made since the turn of the century, and is not as loud as my Model M or the QFR with Greens, so I can use it at home.)

I am slightly confused -- if you say that "stiffer springs" like Model M or MX Greens and Grays help, why are you using MX Browns, which have some of the softest springs on the market? The MX Brown is a lighter switch than basically any keyboard on the market, be it mechanical or otherwise.

Is it possible that it's not the switch force that helps you, but rather the tactility?

[tp4tissue]

what you have sounds like arthritis

[keymaster]

I once borrowed my DeathAdder to my brother. I then used another gaming mouse (which I cannot recall) for a few weeks and developed have pains in my hand and forearm muscles. I noticed that my hand is too big for most mice with which long gaming sessions require heavy use of the left and right click. The pain in my forearm became so intense that I could not use a mouse for more than a minute at a time without stopping. After switching back to my DeathAdder, the pain went away within a week and hasn't returned.

[samwisekoi]

what you have sounds like arthritis

Me?  Yes.  Side effect of the surgery.

Also, bonus points for the tactility call.  I HATED Clears.  But I also hated Blues.  They felt floaty to me.

 - Ron I samwisekoi

[PointyFox]

"I have been using the computer for a total of about 4 or 5 years".  What.

Anyway, I've been using a computer for 20 years and have only occasionally had problems like that, and only after overworking joints or using a mouse that didn't fit my hand right.

[iri]

have been using computers for 22 years. only had finger joint pain when typing on a topre board.

[noisyturtle]

I get the finger thing too, especially my pointer and middle mouse fingers on the middle joints and knuckles. Sometimes they get so stiff and achy I can't even computer for the rest of the work day, but I think it's just overexertion. I don't really know what to make of it, take a break and pop some pills I guess

[Tym]

Not a strain or any of that kind, but I had my pinky ripped out of place a few weeks back and every now and then i lose control of it and run it over with my mouse. That confused the crap out of me the first few times it happened.

[kurplop]

I, too, am a man of letters- cts, rsi, oa. Probably not caused by keyboard use because I don't use one that much but it can make typing very uncomfortable.

To reduce pain I found an adjustable tray and adjustable chair arms to be invaluable. I rebuilt the arms on my Leap chair, making the area wider and super padding it. The tilting feature on the tray and height adjustment let me change positions quickly when necessary. I have made several trays, searching for that perfect one.http://www.flickr.com/photos/kurplop/sets/72157633538408496/  It's too bad we can't replace failing body parts as easily.

[SpAmRaY]

At one time I was experiencing very bad right wrist pain and I found one of those small rubber wrist wrests and it has made all the difference, no problems anymore.

[tp4tissue]

Just checking, it's not because you guys spending too much quality time on xhamster right?

[mauri]

Just checking, it's not because you guys spending too much quality time on xhamster right?

If jerking off caused pain in hands I think it'd be a world wide pandemic

[daerid]

The only time in the last 20 years I've ever experienced wrist pain was when I went from Cherry Blues back to a Microsoft Natural 4000 (rubber domes). Seemed way counter-intuitive, with the 4k being an "ergo" board and all.

I attribute my lack of pain to the fact that I prefer keeping my hands as relaxed as possible, rather than strive for the fastest typing speed.

[Ninjerk]

look into learning dvorak.

We're all still using qwerty for some ungodky reason.

[iri]

isn't colemak better?

[Lanx]

jump into the ergo forums!

[Sorun]

I am developing CTS or RSI, not really sure, I have costochondritis and that usually has my nerves in a panic which sends shooting pains down my arm, so I usually think that's what is causing my CTS like symptoms, but one night I woke up with loss of grip and massive pain in my whole arm. That's a pretty big CTS symptom, but i'm still unsure.

[Bratman]

Wow I better stop playing typeracer so much...

[fateswarm]

Lots of those problems sound inevitable since we all get older  (if we are lucky  )

[CommunistWitchDr]

Haven't had any as of yet. Still learned colemak (never knew qwerty touch typing though) and am going to assemble an ergodox in hopes I never have to become familiar with the pain.

I have a metal plate in one wrist due to unrelated issues and I can't imagine it will help.

[Findecanor]

It happens sometimes that I get a little sore in the fingers or in the wrist. Mostly in my right hand if I use the mouse too much.
Using a variable Topre Realforce at work for a few months gave me a bit of pain in the index fingers . 55g rubber domes are no good...

[PointyFox]

isn't colemak better?

Colemak is better.  It requires less finger movement.