Best Mobile Computing Options For People With RSI?

gotfork writes "Several years ago I injured my wrists while typing at a poorly set up desk. I am now greatly recovered, and can work at a desktop computer for several hours each day as long as I wear wrist braces. I have avoided using laptops in the past because both TrackPoint-style pointing sticks and touchpads create a lot of strain on my wrists, but I'm ready to give it another shot. Is my best option a stylus-based convertible tablet/laptop (such as the Lenovo X series) or are there any lighter-weight devices that have ergonomic inputs?"

Comments

How was it a poor setup?

[nacturation]

I've been on computers for over two decades and I can't ever say that I've had a proper setup. Everything from a hard wooden kitchen chair with a plywood tabletop with foldout metal legs that I screwed on myself to a half-decent computer desk with a cheapo leather chair. So far (knock on wood) I have yet to have any issues.

What does it take to have a setup so bad that you get RSI? A couple of bricks in front of the keyboard as wrist rests?

Re:How was it a poor setup?

[Anonymous Coward]

What does it take to have a setup so bad that you get RSI?

Using only that setup. I've come to realize that RSI injuries are not caused by doing something bad too often but from also not doing other stuff enough. If someone is beginning to feel RSI pain, the answer isn't really to correct posture, it's to spend time exercising the affected area in ways that are different from the activity that's causing the RSI.

My personal realization of this came about 10 years ago. I've always had terrible computer using posture. Everything they tell you not to do, I do. I slouch, my wrists rest below key level...you name it, I do it wrong. So with a job that sits me in front of a computer 8+ hrs a day, I started to get RSI pain. But when a friend introduced me to rock climbing, a funny thing happened. My RSI went away. Completely and, thus far, permanently. And the reason is that climbing forces me to strengthen my wrists and use them in abnormal positions. And it forces you to contort my body and back in similar ways. And all of that prepares me for 5 full days of abuse a week that I give myself in front of a computer.

So anyone with RSI or who sees it coming...if you're asking, "what am I doing wrong?" you're asking the wrong question. Instead, ask yourself "what am I not doing right?"

Use your feet.

[assemblerex]

People missing limbs learn to use their feet. The severity of your injury is no different. Get a plastic carpet protector and a large laser mouse set to 500 - 1000 dpi.

exercise

[someara]

exercise. seriously. these will fix you up in about 3 months: http://www.google.com/search?&q=hand+grip

Re:exercise

[multipartmixed]

I have found that activities like yard work (that doesn't vibrate your hands), stacking firewood, and framing carpentry seem to really help my RSI (median nerve damage).

I think there's something to be said for living "old school" during the weekends when you're stuck in an office 5 days a week.

A couple weeks off in the summer and at Christmas also help to reset my baseline.

Get a kitchen timer

[symbolset]

Get a kitchen timer and a laptop and a tablet. Set the timer for 30 minutes and bang away at the desk. When the bell rings, move the laptop to the top of the filing cabinet for 30 minutes. When the bell rings again, take it to the couch. Next time the bell rings, move to the other side of the couch and use the tablet. Then take a meeting and lunch. Start back at the desk again after lunch. Get up now and then. Take a walk. Evenings and weekends, pull some weeds play WII Fit for a half hour, then billiards and table tennis or whatever. Get different motions going on. RSI isn't about excess motion. It's about repetitive motion. Different motions help make it go away.

Re:Apple stuff is good

[TheLink]

Ever tried methylcobalamin? It worked for me. Doc prescribed me a 500 microgram tablet after meals (note: it's microgram not milligram!).

Basically it's a better absorbed B12 vitamin for the nerves. The pain and tingling are because your nerves are getting squished. So this helps them.

In the long term if you help the nerves heal or at least survive, the rest of your body parts involved should adapt around them (after all many body builders do grow bigger wrists over time, and not all of them get RSI - so it's probably partly due to stuff growing out of sync/proportion than just mere stress and strain).

It's pretty safe, you can ask a neurologist about it. The research was mainly done in Japan, so western docs might overlook them.

The pills I took are made by Eisai (a Japanese company). Look something like these: http://www.salepharmacy.biz/89-268-thickbox/buy-methycobal-mecobalamin-500mcg-30tablets-peripheral-neuropathies.jpg

Re:Apple stuff is good

[somersault]

My MBP gave me little electric shocks whenever I used the trackpad while touching my arm on the seam around the edge of the case. Very good for my health, I'm sure..

Re:Apple stuff is good

[supercrisp]

I want to mention too that some docs jump on RSI as a diagnosis before considering other likely possibilities.. I had RSI-like symptoms and because of all the hype was treated for them by doctors for a few years. It did no good. I finally asked my GP, who was also a dean of medicine with a lot of experience (so very lucky for me), and he said, you read a lot, right? I said yep, and he said "Okay, let me see your elbows." 33% of us have an ulnar nerve that is exposed when our arms are bent. I'm on of those. Reading in bed, propping books up on chair arms, using arm rests--all a no-go of me. Got rid of those habits, and my hands and wrists were fine in a couple of weeks. After years of people telling me about RSI and carpel tunnel and surgery. I know my case is one case and anecdotal.... But you might be in a similar spot. It's worth asking anyway, especially if your current treatments aren't panning out.