Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Ask HN: How have you cured your RSI?

news.ycombinator.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

101–110 of 123 posts

Re: Ask HN: How have you cured your RSI?

#101

Post by dave_sid »

shyn3 wrote: post #72
kevinherron wrote: post #52

Work out and lift weights. But ergonomically speaking I use a Kinesis Advantage 2 keyboard and a Logitech MX Vertical mouse. You may also need a long break to heal, which might not be an option if you're American. An engineer from Germany I know had something like 4 or 6 weeks off work when diagnosed with RSI and nobody batted an eye.

I got the MX Vertical, K860 keyboard, All33 Chair and it has been amazing for the pandemic. At work I had crappy Dell keyboards, a basic mouse, and a horrible chair. It's night and day. Changed my monitor from a crappy monitor to a high DPI monitor and it's so clean and great for your eyes. Granted, all this can be alleviated by working out and sunlight. Get those bands and just work out. Nothing beats it.

See what works best for you here. I have had the same problem for 15 years and weight training actually made it worse. My worse time was when I was coding, weight training and playing bass guitar in a band each week for a long period. I would get home and my hands would be numb and stiff like hooks. I think the fact I was not giving my hands and wrists recovery time made it worse. I’m much better now that I have kids and zero time for a band or occasional gym visits.

My best advice. Try everything and see what helps. I’ve tried every keyboard under the sun. I even bought a datahand keyboard. The Kinesys Advantage is amazing. I have one. It made the biggest difference for me. I cannot use a mouse anymore not even for 10 mins. I use a touchpad now but in the beginning a Wacom touch pen (you can configure it to work in mouse mode) was the only thing I could use. Try these things and see what works.

A physio also gave me some writs stretching exercises to do each day which helped a little.

Biggest things that helped me when coding?...

Kinesys advantage keyboard

Wacom Bamboo tablet and pen (with mouse mode). It’s odd a first but seriously try this if you can’t use a mouse.

Highly recommend trying this.

Ps. Take it seriously and don’t just plough through it. It might never go away fully but you can avoid it getting so bad it affects your career.

Re: Ask HN: How have you cured your RSI?

#102

Post by throwaway36913 »

kevinherron wrote: post #52

Work out and lift weights. But ergonomically speaking I use a Kinesis Advantage 2 keyboard and a Logitech MX Vertical mouse. You may also need a long break to heal, which might not be an option if you're American. An engineer from Germany I know had something like 4 or 6 weeks off work when diagnosed with RSI and nobody batted an eye.

I did basically the same.

The most intense symptoms (I even had partially numb fingers) went away after visiting the orthopedic who realigned my back. (You know, where they pull up your shoulders and then click, click, ...) I tried to move around more while realizing sitting still is the worst thing one can do for the back even if it might be less painful for the back/arms in some moments. Also I switched to an ergonomic setup and switched from vi to a more boring editor.

Then I started meditating regularly, slowed down on my job and quit it a few weeks after. Also I did a pause of around 2 months and at the same time I started doing swimming and parkour (1-2x a week). My new job was far less stressful and as it turned out it was okay to ditch the ergonomic setup. Now, years later, my back/arms/hands are better than ever.

Re: Ask HN: How have you cured your RSI?

#103

Post by ta54112233 »

Apologies about not reading the comments, but the best I've found is the "airplane".

Hold your arms out 90 degrees and hold it for a minute. Fingers outstretched, hairy knuckles up. Stretch those finger tips like its Thomas Covenant.

Turn your hairy knuckles downside (apols if female, turn your non hairy knuckles down). Hold for a minute.

Rotate them so it's the reverse of whatever I said. Hold for 90 seconds.

Clench palms.

Get into gardening and another hobby, this one is bad.

Re: Ask HN: How have you cured your RSI?

#104

Post by ta54112233 »

kevinherron wrote: post #52

Work out and lift weights. But ergonomically speaking I use a Kinesis Advantage 2 keyboard and a Logitech MX Vertical mouse. You may also need a long break to heal, which might not be an option if you're American. An engineer from Germany I know had something like 4 or 6 weeks off work when diagnosed with RSI and nobody batted an eye.

Exercise is really a major factor. A lot of IT people don't do it, I don't, but it's vital. The times I've dabbled, its made a world of difference.

Re: Ask HN: How have you cured your RSI?

#105

Post by ta54112233 »

ta54112233 wrote: post #104
kevinherron wrote: post #52

Work out and lift weights. But ergonomically speaking I use a Kinesis Advantage 2 keyboard and a Logitech MX Vertical mouse. You may also need a long break to heal, which might not be an option if you're American. An engineer from Germany I know had something like 4 or 6 weeks off work when diagnosed with RSI and nobody batted an eye.

Exercise is really a major factor. A lot of IT people don't do it, I don't, but it's vital. The times I've dabbled, its made a world of difference.

After just a week of lifting weights or running, you feel 200% better and it just gets better. Thoroughly recommend it. Going back for another beer though. Damn this covid forcing me to play wizardry 8.

Re: Ask HN: How have you cured your RSI?

#109

Post by cybert00th »

I use a trackball and I go for 30 to 60 minute long cycle rides at least 3 times a week.

And while I'm cycling I make sure I shift the position of my hands on the handlebars at least once every 10 - 15 mins or so.

I have a road bike, so I try and also 'ride on the drops' if that makes sense?

Re: Ask HN: How have you cured your RSI?

#110

Post by roland35 »

Goosee wrote: post #69

Minimize sugar intake. Over the previous months of September-December I binged-ate donuts multiple times a week, partly due to lockdown depression. I developed numbness and tingling in my arms & wrists. [I'm young in mid 20s]. Cut sugar since the new year and no more tingling/numbness.

I second the sugar intake point. I had tingling and numbness in my feet, and I have noticed it can get triggered by eating sugary foods. If I eat something super sugary like a bag of skittles it is immediate!
Post reply on HN