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Losing My Hands

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Re: Losing My Hands

#51
post #4

I can somewhat relate as I’ve suffered a brain injury. It was similar in that I couldn’t continue to go full tilt everyday. In my mind all my success was based on that: working all the time. Turns out I was wrong; I still make a living but am much more prudent about what I spend time on. Anyway. After reading all the philosophical quotes etc I felt bad when you ended with this: >> Despite my injury, I still try to ma…

>My friend, even if there is anything to Carol Dweck (severe criticism is warranted there), this is the servant mindset that you just wrote about. Make more money for what? You can’t take it with you when you die and it will not make you happy in ill health.

Agreed that money is far from everything when it comes to happiness and health shouldn't be utterly broken striving for it, but your comment reeks of a neatly privileged bubble in which you seem to have enough money and access to resources to ignore just how important they are for doing all the things that do make life better.

No, you can't take it with you when you die, but it's only while you live that actually matters, and being poor can sure as fuck ruin a lot of that decent living, not to mention your health, which money absolutely does help make better.

Apparently some people can't see these obvious details, that billions in the world face every day, even while they criticize others for not having a clearer perspective.

Re: Losing My Hands

#52
post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Compare it to dialysis, where you can't drink when you're thirsty and can't eat a banana and generally have food restrictions, and where you have to go 3x for 4h a week to a hospital. Compare it with cancer and doing the possible against. Compare it to really lost hands caused by sepsis. Compare it to people becoming blind or being blind / suffering hear loss.... No matter if you're a programmer or not, you have to f…

As someone who has had their hands on fire from typing, I’d personally like to tell you to shut up. You’re clueless. Imagine a doctor with your attitude. People have a real problem that no one has a real answer for. They don’t need to be told how much worse it could be. I’ve got a GitHub repo where I catalog many RSI instances and treatments. https://github.com/melling/ErgonomicNotes

As someone who has more severe condition, I tell you you are clueless.

So here we are. You want to shut up as first?

Re: Losing My Hands

#53
post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Compare it to dialysis, where you can't drink when you're thirsty and can't eat a banana and generally have food restrictions, and where you have to go 3x for 4h a week to a hospital. Compare it with cancer and doing the possible against. Compare it to really lost hands caused by sepsis. Compare it to people becoming blind or being blind / suffering hear loss.... No matter if you're a programmer or not, you have to f…

It’s much harder for people without hands to write blog posts too.

Yes.. not even talking about coding. These guys would change places with someone with RSI at once and without hesitation. ... Me too. If one wants to give me his RSI, I give you my things. It's a win-win in my eyes.

Re: Losing My Hands

#54
post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Dealing with hand pain when you’re a computer programmer can be difficult. Here’s the creator of TCL discussing dealing with it in the 1990s https://web.stanford.edu/~ouster/cgi-bin/wrist.php An important excerpt: “My experience suggests that once you start having RSI problems it is very difficult to get rid of them: it will probably be an issue for the rest of your life, and if you don't act quickly things will get…

It is possible to recover.. but you need to rest the joints which will mean no typing for some weeks at least. I’ve had RSI on my ankle and had to not use it for some weeks (walking with sticks). But it’s back to normal now and hasn’t been an issue for years

Yes, it's possible in some cases. In some cases, you might need an operation. Or may be a better doctor. When I was young, I had back pain when I bow/go down. It came suddenly and stayed for more then 2 years -> 2 years of not being able to get things from floor without pain. My doctor here (one of the best in town, Germany), did X-ray, analysis, X-ray, decided to prescribe medication that I can't take. Then he wanted to make an operation, which I didn't want. So, after 2 years of pain, I went to study abroad in China. There, I went to military hospital and ask a guy what could that be, what I have. I didn't tell him the diagnosis of the German doctor. So that Chinese doc looked at me, make me wait outside for 5 mins and when I went in back - really funny story - he took a pencil and with it pulled up my shirt, asking me whether I wear a trouser belt, which I don't do. After I say "no", he told me to pull up my trousers. Suddenly, I felt a light relief of pain.. and I tell you, the next 1 week I always pulled up my pants and the back pain never came back again. Since 20 years now.

So, your tip with resting is exactly that what is needed. But I don't know, whether all conditions can be healed by that, or some still needs medication or operation.

Good luck to all and always pull up your pants!

Re: Losing My Hands

#55
post #21
post #8

Had this experience about 6-8 years ago, when I was 30ish. You know, a bunch of programming hobbies + a programming job + active writing as a hobby + not enough cardio activity. It all started with a mild discomformt. Then the discomfort becomes something like mild but constant pain in fingers, hands, arm joints where the nerves are. Not pain-pain but unpleasant sensation. Then my fingertips went numb. And it was get…

> 2. Less stupid typing, more smart typing. Can you elaborate?

I try to pick my battles carefully. This means think thing through proactively. Additional OSS projects happen first in my head then in code.

My hands do feel better these days but I don't just assume healthy hands. Typing is a resource I manage the same way I manage time.

Re: Losing My Hands

#56
post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

When you mention: > 3. No mechanically clicking keyboards and mice. That's is a nerve hit 1000s right there times a day. I'm curious how do you go about replacing the keyboard? You can replace the mouse with touchpads, touchscreens, trackballs etc. but what is you effective keyboard replacement (speech to text maybe)? Or do you mean no clicky-switches (for example Cherry blue)?

I think he meant "no mechanically clicking" as "less typing mindlessly".

No, mechanical clicks, as in "click-click", something that makes small physical jump.

Re: Losing My Hands

#57
post #24
post #8

Had this experience about 6-8 years ago, when I was 30ish. You know, a bunch of programming hobbies + a programming job + active writing as a hobby + not enough cardio activity. It all started with a mild discomformt. Then the discomfort becomes something like mild but constant pain in fingers, hands, arm joints where the nerves are. Not pain-pain but unpleasant sensation. Then my fingertips went numb. And it was get…

>3. No mechanically clicking keyboards and mice You mean you don't use a mouse or use it infrequently?

Even though I am a linux guy, I use the Microsoft Ergonomic Keyboard (NOT the more recent Surface one, it's horrible).

Re: Losing My Hands

#58
post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>3. No mechanically clicking keyboards and mice You mean you don't use a mouse or use it infrequently?

Not OP either, for me due to RSI I've switched to use a touchscreen when I can, and alternate the mouse between left/right when I have to use one (Ergo mouse and similar never seemed to do anything for me). As well as a super light/smooth keyswitch keyboard (Fujitsu Libertouch with cut domes).

That might work for some ppl but in my case my fingertips were a problem too.

Light keyswitch keyboards do help, yes. Microsoft Ergonomic Keyboard in my favourite but these things are very individual.

Re: Losing My Hands

#59
post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As someone who has had their hands on fire from typing, I’d personally like to tell you to shut up. You’re clueless. Imagine a doctor with your attitude. People have a real problem that no one has a real answer for. They don’t need to be told how much worse it could be. I’ve got a GitHub repo where I catalog many RSI instances and treatments. https://github.com/melling/ErgonomicNotes

As someone who has more severe condition, I tell you you are clueless. So here we are. You want to shut up as first?

I’ve dealt with the problem for over three decades. Never found a solution other than don’t type until the pain goes away.

I’ve put effort into researching it and gathering the data so others might be able to identify solutions that work for them.

I’m always looking for ways to “cope with it”. If you’ve got something that’s not on my list…

https://github.com/melling/ErgonomicNotes

Re: Losing My Hands

#60
post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It’s much harder for people without hands to write blog posts too.

Yes.. not even talking about coding. These guys would change places with someone with RSI at once and without hesitation. ... Me too. If one wants to give me his RSI, I give you my things. It's a win-win in my eyes.

This is a conversation about RSI. I’m not sure why people would jump in to tell others how worse off they could be.

there’s no value in that conversation. In fact, it lacks a bit of maturity.

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