[melling]

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 much worse. ”

[theGeatZhopa]

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 find your way. Each of the samples, and a lot a lot more, are there, (like RSI too?), for the rest of one's life.

So how much of such people do you know? How much of them are posting on a site what they are suffering? I don't know one in my aroundings. I too, do not post anything blog wise. I don't feel pity for my self and I don't want to be pitied by others is my reason. And that's what I say. If one wants to help people in same condition with tips on handling, which is completely feasible, then the text would sound differently.

No matter what condition one have, one must cope with it.

[melling]

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

[theGeatZhopa]

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

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

[melling]

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

[theGeatZhopa]

Thank you. That's what I originally meant. You tell your story. You offer stuff to others with same problem might find very useful.

OP did just whine about in a longish post, how bad it is and how low active that guy now is and so on.. that's public whining. One talks about oneself, do not even think of others - others like me or the other guys, whomever has something different than RSI and who would be happy to change for RSI.

... And then you have someone who is "loosing his hands" -

It's a kick in the face of someone who really lost his hands and now has to cope with a handless life, while the first person complains to not be able to type anymore.

That's what my comment is about. To be modest and think- and thankfull. To cope with the illness, but not to whine about it. That lets everyone feel better.

[Aeolun]

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

[theGeatZhopa]

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.

[melling]

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.

[Aeolun]

I think it’s kinda relevant when someone presents their RSI as ‘losing their hands’?

[coffeebeqn]

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

[theGeatZhopa]

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!

[HanClinto]

Currently getting a server error on the Stanford link.

Archive link: https://web.archive.org/web/20210425082459/https://web.stanf...

[j45]

Variety in ergonomics years before they're needed is helpful.