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DokiDokiTsuna
Jan '19

I see a lot of topics on managing pain from drawing excessively, but fortunately I am blessed with so much homework that I can't really ever get to that point. ^^
Typing, however, is something I do every day, for fun and non-fun purposes. It can get bad when I spend 4+ hours working on a script and then have to spend 6 more hours writing a lab report. My fingers take a lot of abuse, and I need to know how to deal with it. ^^;

So I'm looking for tips on posture and pain management and whatnot.

If it helps, I feel pain...everywhere. ^^ But only one spot at a time. Sometimes it's in the fingers, sometimes in the carpals, sometimes in the wrist, sometimes in the whole forearm. The forearm is more common these days...also, it's mostly in my non-dominant hand. Sounds counter-intuitive, but that IS the hand that mans the keyboard shortcuts when I'm coloring pictures. So even when I'm not typing, it's still on the job...poor little appendage...

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    Jan '19

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winterpenwell
Jan '19

Been there! I'm sorry you're in pain. What I can 100% recommend is getting a wrist brace. Helped me a ton.

HGohwell
Jan '19

Some basic things I've learnt from 6-12 hour shifts staring intensely at a screen: take a break every hour for 10 minutes, you can get timers for this make sure you do it (in my country is mandatory that if you're staring at a screen all day you take eye breaks), we're also given 5 minutes at the 30 minute mark to stretch. Just standing and doing a few stretches or gazing out the window anywhere but the screen and sitting down is a help. A lot of the stretches to the arms and wrists also apply to typing.

Basic office management health and safety and posture to avoid RIS:

  • Adjustable chair, try to put your feet flat on the ground and try to bend joints to 90degrees.
  • Adjustable screen, try to make your screen your natural eye level
  • Keyboard, you shouldn't have to stretch to reach your keyboard but try to move your arms rather than just your hands.
  • Try to make sure you're square to your screen and keyboard.
  • Wrist rests are not too expensive and can help a lot although some people feel they get in the way.
  • Most important: if it hurts, stop and take a break!

Regular breaks and stretches help with a lot of issues, also studies show regular breaks can help you be more productive anyway, and I know lots of people I've given this advice to have said they don't have time to take breaks but taking 10 minute break every hour or 5 minutes at half an hour is a lot less of a waste of time than how long it takes to recover from carpal tunnel. For posture, look up ergonomics for more details on how work spaces should be properly designed.

turtleme
Jan '19

Like HGohwell mentioned, wrist rests are super important. If you have the money, getting a keyboard with softer keys might also help (mechanical keyboards tend to have more diversity).

Also, take a break like the people above have stated, but use that time to stretch your wrists and fingers. Your fingers are making pretty minimal and confined movements while typing so be sure to stretch those fingers back and roll those wrists. (Calcium supplements will also do you no harm)

feuersichel
Jan '19

Totally agree what HGohwell says. I can work the whole day on a computer without a problem but when my position is wrong I'll have pain in my hands in a few hours. If it happens, I wrap my hand and unerarm in bandaids and take a break. A cooling paste also helps.

yansusu
Jan '19

I agree with everything that was already said. Another thing that helped me personally (I mostly had pain in the back of my hands) was to keep my hands warm by wearing gloves while typing.
When it was just my fingers a doctor recommended me regularly putting them in warm water or a bowl of heated up sesame. I tried the latter and the pain subsided after two weeks or so (And it was even good for the skin because of the oil :grin:)

escente
Jan '19

It sounds like repetitive strain injury! You might want to take breaks more often.

I also spend a significant amount of time in front of the computer each day. Lately I've invested in a mechanical keyboard which is easier to type on. The keys require less force to press compared to a regular keyboard, which helps to keep my hands relaxed :slight_smile:

Mechanical keybaords can be very loud though so I'd recommend one with silent red switches.

droidmonkey1
Jan '19

I have general advice, years ago when I was drawing or writing or playing video games I entered the "zone" and hours would passed like seconds. today because of an ironic medical condition for an artist, I cann't spanned an hour with out pain.
so, I develop a process of working for my self.
1. every hour, or if finished something in less then an hour, stop. get up walk around for a while drink something (not booze).
2. every 15 to 30 minuets stop what your doing and let your hands and palms rest.
3. do hand and palms exercises for a few minuets.
4. adapt your work surface to a better position or location that will reduce the forces applied to your body while working.

Greetings
Jan '19

Use a voice to text program and get a standing desk if it's in your budget!