Ask HN: Dealing with wrist pain / tendonitis as a developer | Hacker News Reader

Ask HN: Dealing with wrist pain / tendonitis as a developer

6 pointsGFischer7 comments

I'm currently trying to come back from a very painful tendonitis in the forearm and wrist pain in my right hand, I overtaxed it trying to wrap everything up by end of year. I had a week off and used a splint and feel better but I'm just in my 2nd day back and I'm already feeling soreness and mild pain.

I have a splint and bought a hot/cold gel pad, cold especially helps.

I also switched my mouse to left handed use, it does strain my left hand a bit probably for not being used to doing it.

But typing is a big problem and I'm worried about coding, I'm having stuff piling up and I need to get it done but I don't know if I need to rest more or what.

How did you recover from this, any tips / meds / using voice activation for writing?

Short term I used a splint and tried to cut down on the time I as using a keyboard or mouse. Outside work, no gaming and minimal computer time. I kept this up until the pain subsided.

In parallel, I switched to a trackball instead of a mouse. Other people I know went with a vertical mouse. I got a giant mouse pad for my desk with wrist supports for both my keyboard and trackball. This is also a good time to double check your whole setup chair, desk, monitors making sure you have good posture

Try adjusting height of your desk and seating position.

Yep, that should help after it subsides. I was hoping for some more immediate tips.

I had pretty terrible problems that were more or less solved with a split keyboard (the ultimate hacking keyboard, with palm rests), allowing my wrists to rest in a more natural angle.

I guess it depends on what is the exact source of your pain though. For me, it was always pretty clear that the stained angle on a normal keyboard was the problem)

It's more tendons than the wrist. But I definitely have to do something to have better posture.

Try push-ups.

I will, and more general exercises (the usual New Year's resolution haha)

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