|
I had a really bad run a few years ago - got a wrist wrap, changed keyboards and mice multiple times, nothing seemed to work.
I determined that the most likely cause was due to any combination of the following:
- Larger monitor(s) - more monitors at higher resolution means more scrolling. Even with a trackball this still means wrist movement.
- Trackball - while I LOVE my Logitech trackball, I had thought for a while, at least, that the numerous smaller micro-movements were causing more stress on my wrist than the use of a mouse which would involve larger movements.
- New Keyboard - I had recently purchased a newer "ergonomic" MS keyboard. The catch with these keyboards is that they tend to be a bit wider than the typical keyboard. This leads to pronation - I was reaching farther to the right of the keyboard to reach my trackball. Our arms (or mine at least) are meant to face forward or inwards toward our body, but not naturally outwards away from the body so this was creating extra strain on my entire arm.
- Recent volume of UI work - I work largely on the keyboard whenever I can and prefer it as it's faster. However, when doing UI work it's difficult to avoid the need for the mouse. The projects I was working on at the time involved a lot of UI work so I was attributing some of my problem to the type of work I was doing.
I didn't want to give up my monitors or high screen resolution. I swapped up for different mice, but no difference. I eventually determined that the pronation due to the keyboard was the leading cause. Our keyboard designs are HORRIBLE - we always place the numpad to the right of the keyboard (obviously for right-handed people), but then as a right-handed person I also put my mouse to the right of this. So the natural keyboard position already has my arm going to the right to get to the numpad and then further right to my mouse/trackball. This became worse, ironically, with the new ergonomic keyboard that was even wider. So I started looking for keyboards without numpads - surprisingly difficult to find one that is still standard keyboard size (most are designed for multimedia/HTPC use) or they are custom ergo keyboards that need to be special ordered and cost hundreds of dollars. I don't mind paying that for something that I need, but I did find an iogear keyboard that I tried out and it seemed to do the trick (also ended up getting a second one for my HTPC).
Long story short - haven't had the problem now for the last couple of years. Sorry for the long note, but on the off chance that any of those ideas can help you I figure it's worth it. I know it was painful for me and I'm sure that I was only experiencing a fraction of the pain that some people have with carpal tunnel.
|
|
|
|
|
Except we're talking about a 15" CRT, and a PC keyboard is narrower than a VT220 keyboard.
You'll never get very far if all you do is follow instructions.
|
|
|
|
|
Depends on the computer. When I used to have a home and a job, I've had a proper setup. Decent chair, proper keyboard, mouse. Screens set up at the right height. No problems.
It's working on laptops that kills me. Small keyboard, (I'm currently using the surface pro crappy thing), smaller screen. Have an external mouse, so that's OK. Hotel desk - crappy chair, wrong height causes me to hunch my shoulders over the thing. (At least this hotel has a desk - I've been working on a bed in some places)
End up with sore back and neck.
That is also made worse by riding a motorbike around Patagonia for the last few weeks (and the next few too). It is so windy, that I feel the strain on my shoulders and neck from constantly leaning the bike into the wind.
|
|
|
|
|
NeverJustHere wrote: That is also made worse by riding a motorbike around Patagonia
I'd like to make things worse too, by riding a motorbike in Patagonia... 
I wouldn't even complain about the winds... 
|
|
|
|
|
|
If processes are not followed up to protocol on a system that was specifically designed for them to work, with very few to no bugs, then yes, I can blame my clients on the constant leaning forward on my laptop to do my work.
Plain and simple: Follow process = happy provider
|
|
|
|
|
It may well be a reasonable assumption in most cases, but we don't know for sure that the health issues we have are caused by working on computers. As we know, correlation does not imply causation.
|
|
|
|
|
Quote: correlation does not imply causation.
I hear that so often that I think people use it as a "cop out" instead of using common sense.
There are only 10 types of people in the world, those who understand binary and those who don't.
|
|
|
|
|
But I have gout[^] that sometime make me hard to sit, but not because of the computer...
I'm not questioning your powers of observation; I'm merely remarking upon the paradox of asking a masked man who he is. (V)
|
|
|
|
|
There are lots of things wrong with me, but I don't think I can blame any of them on the computer.
And my Tourette's is down to working with users, not computers.
Some men are born mediocre, some men achieve mediocrity, and some men have mediocrity thrust upon them.
|
|
|
|
|
...for me anyway. I have a medical condition where sitting at a computer for hours at a time is ideal. Any other job would have me writhing in pain by days end.
It's how I earn my living and I must ensure I can continue to do so by doing things in a manner that is not destructive to my body. There are ways to deal with issues such as eye strain, don't be so vain, wear glasses and don't be embarrassed to have your monitor set to a lower resolution. And there are recommended ways to set your keyboard and monitor heights to reduce strain on your body. And get up and walk around once in a while.
It was broke, so I fixed it.
|
|
|
|
|
I having no health issue generally. Because of just taking short break... 
Yes sometime may occur these issue.
|
|
|
|
|
A shortened trapeze muscle, to be exact...
Apart from that, the other issues are purely related to smoking more than a pack a day, which is strongly related to my ever increasing stress level... 
I will never again mention that Dalek Dave was the poster of the One Millionth Lounge Post, nor that it was complete drivel.
|
|
|
|
|
Just a bit, well fat.
Regards,
Rob Philpott.
|
|
|
|
|
Like Garfield, you are not overweight, just undertall.
The language is JavaScript. that of Mordor, which I will not utter here
I hold an A-7 computer expert classification, Commodore. I'm well acquainted with Dr. Daystrom's theories and discoveries. The basic design of all our ship's computers are JavaScript.
|
|
|
|
|
Sitting at a desk all day isn't natural, and that's coming from someone who is in their 14th year as a software developer.
|
|
|
|
|
Since I work at the computer all day I've had some pain in my back, I've gained over 10 kg and I have glasses since last weekend.
The first two might be a result of working behind a computer or they might be the result from not getting any exercise beside it.
As for my eyes I'm not sure if it's because I stare at a screen all day (I've been doing that much longer) or because I just have bad eyes (they aren't even THAT bad...).
If anything, working at the computer all day made me lazy as f***.
|
|
|
|
|
According to a friend of mine (who happens to work for an eye doctor), getting bad eyes from sitting too many hours in front of a screen is a modern legend. Gosh, I spent so many hours and hours in front of a screen during the last 15 years (many years of CRT included), and my visual acuity didn't change at all. Well, that ain't a prove, but it makes me doubt that a monitor can be the only cause for your eyesight becoming worse during the years.
PS: I'm a passionated cyclist, that's what's stopping me to become lazy as f***. It don't even need to go running in the park like all the other crazy desk addicts  One has just to find a balance.
modified 26-Mar-14 7:14am.
|
|
|
|
|
I'm moving to a new house about 5km from work. I plan on cycling daily. Between now and a year I'm moving even further away, about 10km, but I'll keep cycling.
Back in highschool I used to cycle about 25-30km a day. I never did anything besides that. I had one of the best conditions of my class and some of my classmates were semi-pro sportsmen
|
|
|
|
|
I'm too freaking addicted to this
|
|
|
|
|
I am often called a geek, abnormal, alien, etc . . . but I don't know why.
|
|
|
|
|
My response is always "I'm the only normal person here".
My plan is to live forever ... so far so good
|
|
|
|
|
Insanity is a normal state of mind in an insane world.
"If you don't fail at least 90 percent of the time, you're not aiming high enough."
Alan Kay.
|
|
|
|
|
Well, maybe because you are a geek, abnormal, alien, etc.? Just kidding, no offense  we're all geeks... what's really troubling me is all these normal people around... how insane is that? I mean, who wants to be "normal" in the first place in a world where every normal person started thinking one is so individual but in the end we're all just the same broken souls utilizing the same gadgets for the last piece of limited joy we can get because we'll never become what we need anyways?
|
|
|
|
|
I've already taken my medicine today.
but, I think I'll also deal with obesity within a few months caused by having so much chips and chocolates lying beside my PC. 
And, summer is on! I need to get these little fats off me..
Don't mind those people who say you're not HOT. At least you know you're COOL.
I'm not afraid of falling, I'm afraid of the sudden stop at the end of the fall! - Richard Andrew x64
|
|
|
|
General 
News 
Suggestion 
Question 
Bug 
Answer 
Joke 
Praise 
Rant 
Admin 
Submit an article or tip
