The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Community => Coffee Lounge => Topic started by: shygirl on September 03, 2013, 10:39:28 pm
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iv got repetitive strain from using the laptop too much. my whole forearm plus hand aches alot and has done for months and i need to work from home on the computer so its a bit of a pest.
any ideas how to help it? seems a bit daft going to the doctors over it. im not a fan of medication if i can avoid it. maybe strapping would help?
can i buy a hand-held mouse to put on my computer? im sure the touch-mouse thingy is part of the problem. im a computer dunce so no idea if that would work.
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you can certainly get a normal mouse and/or full size keyboard that will plug into the usb, or if you're willing to spend a little extra, you can get cordless ones (though I'd probably keep losing the mouse in that case). If you're running windows xp or later then they'll probably be plug & play.
I occasionally use a proper keyboard and mouse if I'm doing an extended stint on the laptop.
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There's also voice recognition software you can use on things like word & the internet to save on typing - don't ask me the names of the software but a friend who's a bit of a computer geek mentioned they were getting it for their mother who has problems with her hands x
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I have a gel wrist support in front of the laptop to raise the angle I work from. Also get a separate mouse and alternate right and left hand use, a vertical one is also an option.
The key to repetitive strain is not to repeat the same action indefinitely, slight alterations are often easy to implement but you just get in a bad habit and continue it til it hurts ::)
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I've trained myself to use my left hand for the mouse so I can swap if I feel it starting.
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As others have said, switch hands, switch fingers, take breaks, get a gel wrist support, get a separate mouse and learn to use it on both sides so you can swap. Good luck
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One of the voice recognition programmes is callked 'Dragon'. It was the one recommended by the occ health at work. If you don't want to buy a a wrist support (I always use one at work), try rolling up a tea towel or small towel and resting your wrist on that.
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as the others say, rest and changing hand but also I find checking out the angle at which I hold my hand and swopping chair heights often to change the angle. Hope you soon feel better.
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It might be worth having it properly diagnosed. If it's carpal tunnel it will need different treatment.
Repetitive strain I would stabilse with a self-heating wrap from the chemist and slap a lot of ibuprofen cream on at night. :&>