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How I stopped the RSI pain that almost destroyed my programming career

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Re: How I stopped the RSI pain that almost destroyed my programming career

#81

Post by Someone »

RSI is one of those things (ADHD, autism and dyslexia are other examples) that start as a label some scientist puts on a specific set of symptoms that cannot (currently) be linked to a specific condition [1], becomes popular and then get used for a zillion things with more or less the same symptoms (Wikipedia lists edema, tendinosis, tendinitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, cubital tunnel syndrome, De Quervain syndrome, thoracic outlet syndrome, intersection syndrome, epicondylitis, tenosynovitis, radial tunnel syndrome, and focal dystonia as possible conditions underlying RSI)

Since 'RSI' may have many causes, it is unlikely a single treatment will help everybody. This article, in particular, looks like anecdata to me.

Having said that, the suggestions others give to sleep and exercise almost certainly can't hurt and if they may hurt you, you probably already know how fragile your body is.

Exercise breaks during work have the added benefit of introducing breaks. If I had to bet, those breaks are more important for RSI-like symptoms than the exercises themselves.

[1] A disease is a particular abnormal condition, a disorder of a structure or function, that affects part or all of an organism (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disease, via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Condition#In_medicine)

Re: How I stopped the RSI pain that almost destroyed my programming career

#83

Post by Crespyl »

yesimahuman wrote: post #53

A Logitech trackball really helped me. That and avoiding the MacBook trackpad. I tried a vertical mouse and it helped for a bit then I felt the pain got worse.

Growing up, my family computer was set up with a very specific model of Logitech trackball, the one shaped like a standard mouse with the off-center ball that rests under your fingers, not your thumb.

It's the only trackball of its kind I've ever seen, every other model is either a tiny thumb-ball, or an enormous whole-hand deal.

They stopped making them years ago, and now you can only find them from scalpers on Amazon for upwards of $4-500.

It's frustrating, because I'd love to get back to using a trackball, but every other model seems less comfortable to me than a normal mouse.

Edit: It's this one: https://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Cordless-Optical-Trackman-US...

Re: How I stopped the RSI pain that almost destroyed my programming career

#84

Post by AnimalMuppet »

DougN7 wrote: post #77
AnimalMuppet wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have off-and-on pain in my right index finger. (Arthritis is one possibility.) Some of the time, I turn my mouse hand a bit and use the middle finger for the left button.

Try actually reversing them so you always use the middle finger all the time. It takes a little getting used to, and using someone else's computer (or them using yours) is a pain. But I find it takes just a day or two to see big differences.

You also can simply move your mouse to the other side of the computer, and run it with your left hand. (You can reverse the buttons or not, as you prefer.)

Re: How I stopped the RSI pain that almost destroyed my programming career

#85

Post by akeating »

SketchySeaBeast wrote: post #64
overcast wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've been saying this for years to my colleagues. Pushups is key to basic overall muscle health. A simple exercise, can be done anywhere, and works your entire body. You'll no longer have lower back pain either. Take a break every hour or so, bang out ten pushups, go get some water. Get back to work. No big deal.

I really don't think one can emphasize the health and life benefits of any sort of full-ish body strength training. I'm a huge proponent of full body movement based barbell training, but exactly like you said, pushups, pullups, that sort of thing makes every aspect of your life better. No one has ever regretted getting even a little bit stronger.

Buying one of these http://www.concept2.com/indoor-rowers/model-d worked for me. Full body workout I can do at home.

Re: How I stopped the RSI pain that almost destroyed my programming career

#86

Post by weerd »

overcast wrote: post #62

This article is totally missing the basics. Exercise. I promise it will make ALL the difference. Get yourself a pull-up bar, and if you're feeling extra fancy, a dip bar. Push-ups, pull-ups, dips, and sit-ups. Every day. You'll be a coding machine. At the VERY least, push-ups. Every hour or two, take a break, knock off ten push-ups, walk around a bit, get some water, get back to work. I'll do this right at the office…

I generally agree that exercise is the key, but pushups can be terrible for tendonitis in the shoulder/upper-arm area. Just wanted to warn people from my experience.

It took me way too long to realize that coding all day and games all night is a recipe for pain. Working out is not fun, but it's absolutely necessary for serious software work.

Re: How I stopped the RSI pain that almost destroyed my programming career

#87

Post by louprado »

e40 wrote: post #80
overcast wrote: post #62

This article is totally missing the basics. Exercise. I promise it will make ALL the difference. Get yourself a pull-up bar, and if you're feeling extra fancy, a dip bar. Push-ups, pull-ups, dips, and sit-ups. Every day. You'll be a coding machine. At the VERY least, push-ups. Every hour or two, take a break, knock off ten push-ups, walk around a bit, get some water, get back to work. I'll do this right at the office…

I agree that exercise and sleep are keys, but I do believe chronically cold hands is a serious problem that needed to be remedied.

I'd definitely recommend fingerless gloves during the colder months as they do not interfere with typing or trackpads.

Given that I have chronically cold hands only during the winter months, I'll assume that it isn't something that warrants concern.

Re: How I stopped the RSI pain that almost destroyed my programming career

#88

Post by lmm »

cgvgffyv wrote: post #41
pmcollins wrote: post #8

I got an RSI injury on my left hand and was unable to type normally for a few years. I went so far as to learn Dvorak RH which, even though I got reasonably good at it after a couple of years, was still crappy for programming. After a very dark period of taking jobs that required less typing (Kafkaesque jobs at mega-corps involving mostly fixing other people's bugs), I'm better now because of: 1) Using an Apple keybo…

> Using an Apple keyboard, which even though it doesn't look ergonomic, the reduced key travel has helped immensely. I thought the conventional wisdom was that Apple keyboards caused RSI?

It is, but I had the same experience as GP FWIW. For me mechanical keyboards are the absolute worst; light touch, short travel, and switching to Dvorak are what saved me.

Re: How I stopped the RSI pain that almost destroyed my programming career

#89

Post by godshatter »

skriticos2 wrote: post #46

I was a bit paranoid about this in my mid 20's, so I learned touch-typing the Dvorak layout (well supported on all major OS's, so no problem using it everywhere), got myself a decent mechanical keyboard a few years later and I use vim for editing since forever (fewer key-combos is good against RSI, so modal wins out here). Most recently I have switched the Ctrl and Caps keys on my layout, which reduces a lot of stres…

I did the same. When I was in my 30s my hands were cramping while I was typing so I learned dvorak and then built up the skill to switch between them easily. Now it's dvorak at home and qwerty at work, and no cramping since. That was 20 years ago or so.
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