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Comment by blhack | Hacker News Reader

I know that this wasn't your question, but I was having this same problem for a while... My wrists and arms hurt like hell while I was at work, it was really awful.

I get made fun of for it now, but what I did was take two keyboards, and use one for each hand. Spreading my arms apart so that my wrists weren't cocked out really helped me...so much so that I've been able to go back to one keyboard (my trusty IBM model M). Think more about hugging your monitor than poking it in the stomach (if that makes any sense...I mean the orientation of your hands).

The other thing that I did was replace my regular mouse with a trackball. (A kensington expert mouse [http://blog.nongraphical.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/expe...).

I really enjoy coding...so it wasn't so much a "what else can I do" situation for me, it was a "how can I keep doing this".

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> same problem for a while... My wrists and arms

Neck muscles, shoulder, upper back. The problem derives from starting in one direction and needing my arms to be braced enough to be quick to the keys. I've tried all sorts of different postures and what not, seen my chiropractor a few times, etc., but nothing helps the problem other than being away from the computer for a while.

Please don't take offense to this, but what kind of shape are you in? I found that losing some weight really helped my back problems.

I'm 5'11" and ~150lb and I get exercise regularly. I've tried all sorts of things to further strengthen my back and upper body over the past couple years (and to improve its flexibility), but judging by the enduring pain, fitness is not a factor here.

Bad luck, then :(.

Sorry to hear that... Are you in a position where money isn't playing a huge factor? Something that I have always had in the back of my head to do after I "retire" is to teach. Once you finish your degree (didn't see if you said post grad?) you'll be eligible to teach in some states (I know you can in IA if you have a Bachelor's in anything).

Define exercise regularly?

> Neck muscles, shoulder, upper back.

I have the same problem. My wrist/forearm problems are symptoms of a problem that starts up at the shoulder and back.

One thing that has helped me tremendously is a foam roller. I have one that allows me to lie on it with my spine parallel to the roller length. I use it in the morning before work and in the evening after work (for about 10 min.) and I find it really helps release built-up stress and fatigue in my back and shoulders.

http://www.healthyback.com/products/glidepoint/foam-rollers/...

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