Ask HN: Remedies for RSI?

#1

Post by curej » Sat, Jan 10, 2009, 6:46 AM UTC

Anyone know of anything that works well for RSI pain?

I've tried acupuncture, massage, ice, heat, electric stimulation, ultrasound, laser therapy, break timers, ergonomic devices galore, martial arts, weight lifting, running, swimming, speech recognition software, anti-inflammatories, turmeric, fish oil, vitamins.

The only thing I won't do is surgery.

It's been five years since my RSI started and it's starting to look like I'm just going to have to suck it up and deal.

Is there a miracle cure I don't know about?

Re: Ask HN: Remedies for RSI?

#2

Post by aj » Sat, Jan 10, 2009, 8:33 AM UTC

While not a cure, you should try using a RSI recovery help software which essentially forces you to take breaks and also tells you of exercises you should do.

Check out Workrave ( www.workrave.com ) which I personally use and have found quite useful.

Disclaimer: I am not affiliated to workrave in any form except as a user

Re: Ask HN: Remedies for RSI?

#3

Post by gruseom » Sat, Jan 10, 2009, 8:43 AM UTC

Two things I don't see on your list:

1. I do finger, wrist, and forearm stretches regularly. For me, they prevent RSI and even get rid of it when it's starting. I don't know if this would help for chronic pain.

2. Chronic conditions can sometimes be alleviated by hypnosis. Here the challenge is finding a skilled practitioner. I know one. I can put you in touch if you like (email me).

I suppose these are long shots. Good luck.

Re: Ask HN: Remedies for RSI?

#4

Post by gruseom » Sat, Jan 10, 2009, 8:43 AM UTC

aj wrote: post #2

While not a cure, you should try using a RSI recovery help software which essentially forces you to take breaks and also tells you of exercises you should do. Check out Workrave ( www.workrave.com ) which I personally use and have found quite useful. Disclaimer: I am not affiliated to workrave in any form except as a user

...laser therapy, break timers, ergonomic devices...

Re: Ask HN: Remedies for RSI?

#5

Post by curej » Sat, Jan 10, 2009, 8:43 AM UTC

aj wrote: post #2

While not a cure, you should try using a RSI recovery help software which essentially forces you to take breaks and also tells you of exercises you should do. Check out Workrave ( www.workrave.com ) which I personally use and have found quite useful. Disclaimer: I am not affiliated to workrave in any form except as a user

Thanks, yes, I use Workrave and it has helped. But it's not a cure. I also use MouseTool (also free) so I don't have to click - just dwelling over an area causes the mouse to click. That's probably the biggest lifesaver I've encountered. I also use AutoHotKey to eliminate the alt-tab, ctrl-w and alt-f4 combinations which kill my left forearm. Another big help. As is Dragon NaturallySpeaking whenever I have to compose a long Word document or email. But, again, not a cure.

Not to be too demanding, but I'm wondering if anyone has found a way to overcome the problem entirely or if I should only hope for incremental improvements.

Re: Ask HN: Remedies for RSI?

#6

Post by andrewf » Sat, Jan 10, 2009, 9:00 AM UTC

curej wrote: post #5

aj wrote: post #2

While not a cure, you should try using a RSI recovery help software which essentially forces you to take breaks and also tells you of exercises you should do. Check out Workrave ( www.workrave.com ) which I personally use and have found quite useful. Disclaimer: I am not affiliated to workrave in any form except as a user

Thanks, yes, I use Workrave and it has helped. But it's not a cure. I also use MouseTool (also free) so I don't have to click - just dwelling over an area causes the mouse to click. That's probably the biggest lifesaver I've encountered. I also use AutoHotKey to eliminate the alt-tab, ctrl-w and alt-f4 combinations which kill my left forearm. Another big help. As is Dragon NaturallySpeaking whenever I have to compose…

If clicking the mouse is painful, try switching hands. Using your mouse other handed will feel very clumsy for a few days, and you probably won't ever want to play a game that way. But it does give your other arm a break.

I switch between left and right once every week or so.

Re: Ask HN: Remedies for RSI?

#7

Post by curej » Sat, Jan 10, 2009, 9:31 AM UTC

gruseom wrote: post #3

Two things I don't see on your list: 1. I do finger, wrist, and forearm stretches regularly. For me, they prevent RSI and even get rid of it when it's starting. I don't know if this would help for chronic pain. 2. Chronic conditions can sometimes be alleviated by hypnosis. Here the challenge is finding a skilled practitioner. I know one. I can put you in touch if you like (email me). I suppose these are long shots. G…

I do appreciate the offer but I have some psychological resistance to hypnosis - my mother has tried to get me to do it also but to no avail :)

The hand/arm stretches help but only up to a point. A lot of the tension I get seems to arise in the neck and upper back areas. I feel great when I get out of the gym or after a hot bath but I work in a pretty high pressure environment where I sometimes can't take breaks for hours at a time. Maybe that's the real problem. But I was hoping for a workaround.

Re: Ask HN: Remedies for RSI?

#8

Post by SwellJoe » Sat, Jan 10, 2009, 9:33 AM UTC

When I started having problems about 7 year ago, I did a handful of things, but the two that made the most difference were:

Better chair (Aeron). Sounds odd, I guess, but being the right height and having good posture makes a difference. I also dropped the arms way down, so I simply cannot lean on them no matter how lazy I'm feeling (among many other pains, my left elbow had a permanent twinge of pain, which still pops up now and then, but was always-on back then).

Tiling window manager. This assumes UNIX/Linux, but it made a difference when I almost completely killed the mouse from my life. If typing is more painful than mousing for you, this might not be the right choice. It helped for me, though...I immediately was able to work full days again due to this change, though I don't know if it was therapeutic...it may have just avoided the most serious pains.

Other things that may or may not have helped, but I did them while recovery was clearly happening:

Changing positions frequently. Keyboard slanted/flat. Raising and lowering the chair. Occasionally sitting in a different chair or on a ball or standing. Getting up and walking about a lot.

Exercises that encouraged blood flow to the affected areas. Cardiovascular exercise in general, but tennis and such were my focus. You've already tried swimming...so that's probably in the same league for circulation. I wouldn't quit doing those things, even though they haven't resolved your problem...I doubt they're hurting.

I cut back dramatically on playing guitar and piano, since they incurred very similar sorts of repetitive stress. This one was not pleasant, but now I can play again without any problems.

Re: Ask HN: Remedies for RSI?

#9

Post by curej » Sat, Jan 10, 2009, 9:33 AM UTC

andrewf wrote: post #6

curej wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thanks, yes, I use Workrave and it has helped. But it's not a cure. I also use MouseTool (also free) so I don't have to click - just dwelling over an area causes the mouse to click. That's probably the biggest lifesaver I've encountered. I also use AutoHotKey to eliminate the alt-tab, ctrl-w and alt-f4 combinations which kill my left forearm. Another big help. As is Dragon NaturallySpeaking whenever I have to compose…

If clicking the mouse is painful, try switching hands. Using your mouse other handed will feel very clumsy for a few days, and you probably won't ever want to play a game that way. But it does give your other arm a break. I switch between left and right once every week or so.

Because of the auto-clicking software I use - and the fact that I only use trackpads - typing is more of an issue than clicking.

Re: Ask HN: Remedies for RSI?

#10

Post by sutro » Sat, Jan 10, 2009, 9:49 AM UTC

I used to have very bad RSI, and two things saved me: 1) this book: http://www.amazon.com/Repetitive-Strain-Injury-Computer-User..., and 2) this doctor: http://www.yelp.com/biz/mehaffy-rick-dc-redwood-city (only helpful if you live in the Bay Area). Good luck.