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What Does a Coder Do If They Can't Type?

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Re: What Does a Coder Do If They Can't Type?

#141
I've often wondered about possible getting into that situation sometime in the future. It's a bit scary how your livelihood and even your entire sense of identity relies on good typing skills and reasonable eyesight.

Also, I can sympathize with the author regarding the horrid way some medical practitioners (or perhaps even "the system" in general) have treated him/her. It's incredible when you first realize many doctors will simply not be bothered to get uncommon conditions properly diagnosed! This also has some financial motivation, in that non-trivial diagnostics require a bunch of costly diagnostic procedures (think MRI for example).

Re: What Does a Coder Do If They Can't Type?

#142

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ergonomic keyboards with a split down the middle may help with this greatly.

Indeed, that is one of the purposes of those keyboards. For myself, I love the TrackPoint so much that I can't bear the thought of using any other kind of keyboard with only a touchpad or a mouse. So standard ThinkPad keyboards it is for me. I even use a USB ThinkPad keyboard on my desktop at work!

I'm a big fan of the MS Natural Ergonomic models. The keys are a little squishy but that's OK

Re: What Does a Coder Do If They Can't Type?

#143
post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Try doing some rock climbing either outdoors or at the rock gym. Fixed my hand pain real quick.

As someone whose had RSI for about 6 years and managed it well enough for work; bouldering would be literally impossible for me. Microsoft split keyboard, footrest and proper chair with adjustable armrests allow me to work with minimal pain, and I work long/after hours frequently. Prior to sorting out that setup I took a month of work because I was in so much pain, which returned as soon as I returned to work (withou…

I had mild pain in my wrists in the late 90's I switched to ergonomic keyboard, got a good office chair, and switched to Dvorak layout. I did this for my work and home environment.

One additional step I had to take. I removed they armrests from each chair and have continued to do so with all chairs. I found myself leaning into the armrests too much to the extent of causing abrasions on my elbows. With removal of the armrests I work and play at the computer with better posture. I mention this only because what works will vary between people and I think it's an important change.

Also, I have no idea what to credit with the pain of my wrists going away. I suspect Dvorak, but it was probably a combination of factors.

Re: What Does a Coder Do If They Can't Type?

#144
post #91

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm sorry, but at least in the UK and on the NHS, fibromyalgia is very much a diagnosis of "go away". I had to battle with my neurologist to get a skin biopsy, despite very clear symptoms of neuropathy, and a very clear trigger. He eventually ordered it, very reluctantly. It came back normal, which for him for conclusive proof that I had fibromyalgia. When I asked him about fibromyalgia, it was immediately clear that…

> and you will absolutely not be left without any pain meds Based on what I've learned, over-the-counter pain medication, such as Tylenol and Advil, is most effective for pain. It's also cheaper, doesn't require a prescription, and isn't addictive. You should consult with a doctor for high doses and long-term usage. When I had opioids after surgery, I could not concentrate. Specifically, I could not concentrate to re…

> over-the-counter pain medication, such as Tylenol and Advil, is most effective for pain

For inflammatory pain, yes, NSAIDs can be very effective.

Neuropathic pain however, is a very different beast - NSAIDs will not help at all.

Re: What Does a Coder Do If They Can't Type?

#145
For anyone in a similar boat who can't get their doctor to take them seriously, ask for a referral to physical therapy. Doctors don't push back on that because it's not "drug seeking," and PTs and physiatrists are much more qualified to handle these types of issues than regular MDs. I started having this issue when my EDS led to Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, which caused nerve pain down my hands, and only exercises to release the entrapped nerve in my shoulders helped.

Re: What Does a Coder Do If They Can't Type?

#146
post #25

This story resonates. A few years back I was dealing with mild pain while coding. I stupidly ignored it for months as it got significantly worse, to the point where it became impossible to type for extended periods. I tried lots of things. My doctor did a nerve conduction study, which apparently ruled out carpal tunnel syndrome, but he wasn't much help beyond that. He gave me some straps that I slept in and wore arou…

To other readers: Be very careful about weight lifting. It has a lot of risks, both of immediate trauma and longer-term excessive strain. So seek the guidance of relevant professionals, including a physical therapist and/or an orthopedics specialist physician, either before or during weight lift training. This is doubly true if you have been in serious pain.

I'm not suggesting that you _not_ lift weights - just take care.

Re: What Does a Coder Do If They Can't Type?

#147

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>The patient in this case would not see a psychiatrist since he's not depressed or mentally ill. Severe pain due to psychosomatic causes sounds like mental illness to me. >Instead he would be sent to a psychologist who can only recommend further therapy. No, they can also strongly recommend that they see a psychiatrist for potential medications. >The patient in this case would not see a psychiatrist since he's not de…

> Severe pain due to psychosomatic causes sounds like mental illness to me. In that case you're assuming both the psychiatrist and the GP overreact. > Every health system I've dealt with funnels to medication pretty strongly. Because patients often insist on medication because they do not accept that the ailment can't immediately be diagnosed.

>Because patients often insist on medication because they do not accept that the ailment can't immediately be diagnosed.

Not my experience both personally and with those I know regarding mental illness. Doctors are quick to diagnose mental illnesses (correctly or not) and prescribe medications for them (even if the patient is hesitant). Some health systems even make it nearly impossible to get a therapist (we can see you once a month starting in two months...) but not a psychiatrist.

Re: What Does a Coder Do If They Can't Type?

#148
post #128

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> and you will absolutely not be left without any pain meds Based on what I've learned, over-the-counter pain medication, such as Tylenol and Advil, is most effective for pain. It's also cheaper, doesn't require a prescription, and isn't addictive. You should consult with a doctor for high doses and long-term usage. When I had opioids after surgery, I could not concentrate. Specifically, I could not concentrate to re…

It's unsurprising that Advil (Ibuprofen), an anti-inflammatory painkiller, would work better for pain than Valium (Diazepam), an anti-anxiety medication with no pain relieving properties of any kind, and certainly not an opiate. Perhaps you meant Vicodin? In either case you undercut your position to give advice about choice of painkiller.

I was thinking the same thing when I first read the above comment, I just assumed that he meant Vicodin.

Re: What Does a Coder Do If They Can't Type?

#149
post #97
post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Try doing some rock climbing either outdoors or at the rock gym. Fixed my hand pain real quick.

An alternative grip exercise that can be done anywhere and avoids the injury risk of climbing, is to alternately make a fist and then open your hands as far as possible while spreading your fingers apart. Start slowly and gradually increase the speed and repetitions. Be sure to have at least one rest day between sessions (I actually think two rest days is better). After a couple of weeks, you should be able to do it…

I did something similar quite often in my aikido classes. There was also a twist exercise - start with your fingers together palm parallel to the ground facing down, and rotate the forearm rapidly so the palm is facing up, and then back again. Repeat until you can't. Go back to the open close motion. Do those pairs 3x daily.

I stopped akido due to a knee injury, but yikes were my wrists strong for a while.

Re: What Does a Coder Do If They Can't Type?

#150

This won't help anyone who has lost the use of their hands, but I have some advice for touch typists who use a standard keyboard like a laptop or typical desktop keyboard: don't bend your wrists. Of course most people know about the ergonomic advice to have your keyboard at the right height so your wrists don't have to bend up or down. But I often see people typing with a horizontal bend in their wrists so that their…

I've found that most office desk & chair combinations I've had don't have enough flexibility for me to get in a completely ideal position for my wrists. In particular even with the chair maxed out, it's still an inch or two shorter of what I would need for my forearms and wrists to be parallel to the ground and at the keyboard height, so my wrists are always bent a little bit up. I've had occasional wrist and hand pain creep up, but luckily have always been able to manage it by typing a little slower and making an effort to sit up a little straighter and hit the keys a little softer, and it has always gone away in a week or two.

Desk and chair heights seem to be pretty standardized so even if there is a hodge-podge of chairs around they're all the same height. I'm definitely taller than average, but a quick search says only by about one standard deviation, so I can't be that unusual.

In general, it does seem like there's a stigma against office comfort, at least in small to medium startups that I've worked at. Usually everyone is using the same shitty, half-broken desks and chairs that came free with the office lease, and the already independently wealthy founders will brag about how scrappy the company is and how proud they are of not wasting any effort or money on something as banal as office comfort. In that environment if you ask for special equipment you're really made to feel like you're being difficult.

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