Schrottkatze (-> treehouse.systems)

Fedi, I'm worried I might be developing RSI.

How do I prevent and/or treat this?

Please no "just google it" or "go to your doctor", I want more then one source of information. Also no wikipedia link, and no ai slop.

(sorry hashtag readers for spamming yours but): #programming #ergonomics #keyboards #IT #software

Nov 24 at 2:51amWeb
Show threaddigital_star.sys 💾⭐Nov 24
@schrottkatze @schrottkatze hi rsi sufferer here. few tips, assuming this is desk-based

- the first and most important is to sometimes just take a break. there’s times where the best thing I can do is just… stop. do something else, focus on something else. when my desktop computer was too painful, I’d spend a few days from my iPad or on my game console instead.

- find alternatives. we learned to play more games with a controller because our wrist hurt, or we moved to our laptop and used that from a couch or bed instead of a desk. we also tried different mice and desk layouts, and found some success there. (if it’s mouse-related, try a trackball or a trackpad. if it’s keyboard-related, try a different keyboard shape.)

- more permanent, long-term solutions: finding a better chair or desk for your height; this is very tricky sometimes though and also can be pricey. YMMV. you can try a keyboard tray or putting the keyboard in your lap. avoid using a mouse as much as possible.

- for healing/pain management: compressed wrist brace + rest for 1-2 days if pain becomes too much. take frequent (every 30 min) breaks from the activity, and if it hurts too much, stop.

ultimately though, yeah, probably consider a doctor before it gets worse. it’s a bitch to treat at a certain point
Show threaddigital_star.sys 💾⭐Nov 24
@schrottkatze this is all anecdotal obviously but this has mostly just been what’s helped us over the last 3 years or so. played so many FPS games in middle and high school that we can’t really use a mouse anymore lol
Show threadturtleNov 24
@schrottkatze what keyboard and mouse do you using? As for keyboard, may be change to something like #MOKETA?
Show threadMichelle B 🇩🇲🇪🇺Nov 24

@schrottkatze all great advice above. I’d also suggest lots of rest.

I have an array of different mice I use. Vertical mice, stylus pens. However the only thing that doesn’t trigger the pain anymore is a trackball mouse.

Show threadMichelle B 🇩🇲🇪🇺Nov 24
@schrottkatze you should also learn to be ambidextrous with your mouse usage in order to rest the hand feeling the most pain.
Show thread_maleficentgirlNov 24

@schrottkatze

Use a vertical mouse. Mine went away when I got myself one from Evoluent.

Show threadApril (@39c3) The Pink ⋆☾╶⃝⃤☽⋆ [AS208709]Nov 24
@schrottkatze RSI can refer to multiple medical conditions, im not sure if people can help that effectively this way
Show threadLett Osprey   🍉 Nov 24

@schrottkatze Got rid of Apple at work, to get the same setup at home (cannot afford good enough macs at home) and work. Mirror setup for all computers = easier to learn and use keyboard shortcuts.

Set up a "tiling window manager" setup in gnome - several workspaces easily accessible with keyboard shortcuts. Modify to not use ctrl+stuff, as this often strains more needing to use keyboards in "non intended" ways. Map many shortcuts to numeric keyboard.

Use vim modes in almost anything. Learning vi shortcuts took some time, but it is limiting use of mouse and ctrl + key combinations, making my arms a LOT happier.

vimium plugin for librewolf (or firefox or whatever clone) - This is a genius plugin to reduce mouse usage on web pages.

Got magic trackpad - an odd thing to do since I left Apple? But it works wonderfully in linux (with a usb-cord) and it seems to be the only good trackpad. I do not replace mouse with it, but use both with different arms to "share burden"

Show threadLett Osprey   🍉 Nov 24

@schrottkatze So, there was a lot of software configuration setup and learning of shortcuts and optimizing shortcuts.

More and more prograns have a simple shortcut to a "text box menu" where you start typing what you want, and you get easy access to everything without learning a ton of shortcuts. I started using this a lot more.

Same with the menu in the OS / Desktop. Just a simple shortcut to a text field where I start typing the name of the app I want, and it puts it up. Faster to navigate than "regular menus"

And in the end, I topped it off with a "natural" keyboard. I had already been used to these, so it went fast this time, but it was frustrating the first time. But it paid off getting used to, hands rest much better.

And of course, pauses. I still need breaks. Loosen shoulders & arms every now and then, stretch arms / hands.

And swimming. Learning crawl strokes have been SO GOOD for my shoulders. Swimming is so good to battle the effect of office work :O

Show threadtheklaNov 24

@schrottkatze i've been successful over many years managing the symptoms of beginning rsi with excessive rest. little twinge in my wrist -> one week of no computer. (except like, watching youtube and stuff.) the symptoms would be gone, and i would make behavioral changes that felt sensible (different keyboard position, avoiding or substituting activities that i felt were making the problem worse). this worked well until i started working, where you can't just decide not to work for a week and instead have to ask a doctor who might be reluctant to allow you not to work (ymmv).

one thing i haven't seen other people say yet is physical/occupational therapy. i've had multiple people tell me that it's really important to strengthen the muscles involved in the joints that are causing problems. this may or may not apply to you, but i'm pretty skinny so i guess it checks out. also stretching exercises like some people have said, but with all this stuff you might have to be careful that you're not making things worse. this is not medical advice, etc. you'll need a doctor to prescribe you this stuff anyways.

otherwise, and many people have said this already, trying different input methods for keyboards and mice and/or changing between them have been helpful for me.

in general, of course, this is all pretty individual and different things work for different people. your mileage may vary. lots of useful approaches have been said by other people here already.

Show threadPastaThiefNov 24
@schrottkatze Honestly, the key is identifying what the repetitive motions in your routine are and finding ways to eliminate them. My RSI was largely from extensive mousing, and I switched to a trackball, which helped immensely by eliminating the wrist movements, but that was my situation and not yours. Yours will probably be different.