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Comment by okmokmz | Hacker News Reader

It's interesting, in a purely personal way, that this article was posted today. I've used computers and other tech daily since childhood and never had issues with wrist/hand/arm/finger pain or numbness. However, over the past few weeks I have been experiencing wrist and forearm pain at night, and today is the first day I've experienced it early in the day. I just purchased some wrist braces on amazon because I've read that they can help. Any other solutions that people recommend for similar issues?

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These are the things that have helped me, roughly in order of effectiveness:

1. "Stop doing that". Fix your ergonomics, change your keyboard, and take breaks until the pain goes away.

2. A good physical therapist will help you root cause the problem and fix up major issues

3. Strength training, even just minor exercises for that wrist and arm. Eccentrics seem to be the one of the few things that really helps tendonitis.

4. Reduce stress. Somehow stress seems to exacerbate all of these problems.

Split keyboard, vertical mouse. See https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=17888557

I've been very happy with MS Sculpt keyboard. It's even relatively inexpensive. I just hope it'd be a normal USB model as I don't really get why a keyboard should ve cordless.

I've also used the later model, MS Surface Ergonomic, and it's one of the worst keyboards I've had the displeasure to use. YMMV.

Things that helped me:

Get a sit/stand desk and vary your posture and shoulder/elbow angles over the course of the work day.

Exercise your hands, arms, and upper back. Lift weights, do indoor rock climbing, go for a swim, do some yoga.

Ignore your smartphone as much as possible.

Some good suggestions here from Jeff Atwood: https://blog.codinghorror.com/programming-your-hands/

If it’s possible, talk to a doctor as a preventative measure. Bring photos of how your work space is set up, and ask questions about posture and ergonomics.

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