I'm typing at work right now and my right hand started to feel weird and go numb.

[ChThoniC]

I'm on one of the scissor switch mac keyboards.
Should I get a new keyboard? Or what else can I do to keep this from happening?

I use a brown switch Filco at home, and I've never had this problem before.

[Khenra]

Stop tying. This is one of many signs that could indicate RSI. Do some hand excercises and see if the feeling goes away. If it comes back in the coming days go see a physicist.

[hcry4]

Stop tying. This is one of many signs that could indicate RSI. Do some hand excercises and see if the feeling goes away. If it comes back in the coming days go see a physicist.

Yea, I got a problem with all this gravity around me, too!

I think he meant physician.

[zrrbite]

Same thing happened to me. Been typing on some low profile Logitech boards for about a year at my work, and it's gotten to me. I asked for a new board, just a cheapo cherry with some non-clicky switches and it's helped alot already. That logitech board i've used took almost 70g of actuation force!

[noodles256]

i type at work and puke all over my keyboard. luckily it has drainage

which keyboard am i

[chimborazo]

I'm on one of the scissor switch mac keyboards.
Should I get a new keyboard? Or what else can I do to keep this from happening?

I use a brown switch Filco at home, and I've never had this problem before.

it has little to do w/ them boards. them boards r perfectly fine


get some eggs (ironmind brand; isokinetics brand; firm or extra firm preferably)

drink some glucosamine chondroitin w/ msm or w/o it doesn't matter ; read the label (whether its placebo effect or not, it works, don't read what the nincompoops have said about it)

switch to dvorak (simplified or weak pinky), it beats the rest.


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[ChThoniC]

yeah idk if it's the board or not, but ive been typing for a long long time with no issues, and 7 weeks into my new job i get this painful feeling... so the board definitely isnt helping. thanks for the advice so far all!

[Lanx]

request a new board asap imo, if you feel it now, you'll always feel it, something has triggered it, go examine everything, chair, keyboard depth, position, height, arms,... all that. Heck if you're really scared, have someone take a pic of you working and upload it, not joking either (i take rsi/cts srsly, as should all who have the initial effects).

[daerid]

I had that problem when I started using my MS 4000 at work. Once I brought my Filco Brown in, it went away. In 17+ years of typing on computer keyboards, that's the first time I've ever experienced anything like that.

I will say that one thing I've noticed watching people type over the years is that most people tend to hold their hands and fingers much too stiffly while typing. Keep your fingers relaxed. You shouldn't be using any muscles for any fingers other than the finger making the current keypress.

[ChThoniC]

i got approval to buy a mech keyboard for work. is leopold pretty much the same as filco? i've had great success with my brown switch filco and am looking to get the full size leopold with brown switches from elitekeyboards.

i'll see if i can get a co-worker to take a picture of my posture.

[sordna]

i got approval to buy a mech keyboard for work. is leopold pretty much the same as filco? i've had great success with my brown switch filco and am looking to get the full size leopold with brown switches from elitekeyboards.

i'll see if i can get a co-worker to take a picture of my posture.

Better switches are part of the solution, but you may want to consider an ergonomic keyboard like a Kinesis Advantage (comes with browns or reds) which actually forces you to type properly. Not to mention it's easier to convince your company that this kind of keyboard can really make a difference to your ergonomics, because it really does.

http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=Island:15962

[shrap]

I will say that one thing I've noticed watching people type over the years is that most people tend to hold their hands and fingers much too stiffly while typing. Keep your fingers relaxed. You shouldn't be using any muscles for any fingers other than the finger making the current keypress.

Watching other people use their computer is pretty interesting. Many people put their face about three inches away from the screen, maybe since they've set everything to 6 pt font. Everyone bangs on my mechanical keyboard when they use it. Some people cannot use anything other than a mouse (my trackball baffles them). Some people develop unconscious ticks and movements that can't be good for them - I remember someone who never let go of his mouse.

[Ink`Eyes]

I have the same problem when I play Starcraft II way too long, but I started wearing a wrist brace during off times and when i'm sleeping.  I do a lot of stretching now and It has helped. Aside from doing those things and getting the right keyboard, I found taking a break, icing the sore spots and taking alive was the best help for me.

[duncan]

is leopold pretty much the same as filco?

I have never owned a Leopold but the reviews here indicate that they are in the same ballpark as far as typing experience. Anyone with real world experience want to contradict that?


So is your boss going to fund some or all of a Leo for you?
That's awesome! You have a super smart boss and please tell them I said so.
More like her/him and workplaces would be a lot nicer places to be.

[daerid]

I have never owned a Leopold but the reviews here indicate that they are in the same ballpark as far as typing experience. Anyone with real world experience want to contradict that?

I can't comment on the Leos, but I have used boards with Cherry-style stabilizers (which is pretty much the only difference between the two), and for the larger keys there's definitely a feel difference. In my experience, the larger keys on a Filco (or other board with Costar style stabilizers) feel much more like the smaller keys, whereas with the Cherry-style boards they feel much different. That may not be an issue for you though.

[nhwhaup]

For me, I get the numbness if I use a pen a lot or do a lot of repetitive motion with my right hand, i.e. painting.  I highly recommend getting the lightest switch keyboard, get with an ergonomic specialist, have your work space analyzed and get some exercises to do during the day when you are typing the most.  Also, when you sleep at night be sure to not curl your hand under.  Sleep with your wrist straight.  If you find your wrist bent and hand curled under, get a wrist splint to keep it straight.  And if you have a flare up do all of the above and take an anti-inflammatory like Ibuprofen on a regular baisis for a week.  

I work in HR and am responsible for managing workers compensation claims.  You can really "nip this in the bud" with exercises and some of the things suggested above.  It's best to catch these issues early before they become a constant problem.

[neverlast74]

had suffered from this too - in my case it was that I slept on my belly side and with my arm bended which is not good for the nerves in my arm. Sitting on the keyboard I stopped resting on my lower arms when writting / playing which worked wonders for me!!!!

[Playtrumpet]

The macbook scissors should wear out before your fingers do so yeah, you're probably getting RSI symtoms and should see your [strike]gynecologist[/strike] physician so they can refer you to a specialist.

I'd say the bright side to this is you'll have a great excuse to get an awesome ergonomic keyboard. Oo! Get a foot pedal too.