Be Excellent To Each Other

Hi,

This is a RMD/Advice-Me-Do of sorts. Recently I have been noticing that my forearm of the arm I use to operate a PC mouse has been feeling weak and fatigued by the end of my working week (using PCs at my office desk for several hours a day). I've noticed this getting more and more noticeable over the last 6 months and I'm getting a little concerned. It is definitely from using a PC/mouse at work as when I'm not using a PC/mouse at work, it goes away within a week. I don't want this to become a long term problem, so any tips from others who use PCs for hour upon hour everyday (I know there are loads of you here who do). I need to get back into climbing which will definitely strengthen it, but anything else I can do? Those weird arm rest things any good? Is using one of those wrist strengthening gyroscopes off amazon/play a good idea?

Ta peeps x

Get a DSE assessor to perform a workstation assessment (assuming you have these at your workplace). You'll probably find it's the way you're sat, or that some of your equipment is slightly out of reach so that you're straining all the time.

Stop looking at porn.

I'd strongly recommend trying out a trackball. They are meant to be so much better for your wrists and forearms, and I find them immensely easier to navigate with.

There's one on the shelf above my desk, I tried it at first but it was really hard to get used to. Maybe I'll give it another go.

Looking on the web, sounds like I might have the beginnings of RSI. I really REALLY don't need this if I have

Have a chat with occupational health at the Uni dude. If memory serves they're very sensitive about crap like this and will try all sorts to help you out.

Might depend whether you have to work regularly with a 'VDU'.

Cheers, will do. My desk is really bad at this new job, I think I'm gonna hack the arms off my chair tomorrow so I can sit further into the desk, atm I'm leaning forward far too much.

Individual departments can be a bit shit by providing whatever they've got kicking around, but go direct to occupational health, insinuate your current setup might be causing you problems, and I'll be surprised if they don't make some sharpish changes. Health and safety paranoid, this place.

Typical that the tech savy departments have got all the shittest gear! Looking around for guides, I'm gonna mutilate my chair so I can get in this position tomorrow

http://ergo.human.cornell.edu/AHTutorials/tutorialimages/idealtyping.jpeg

My chair arms don't go under my desk so I have to lean forward a lot, feels like I'm putting too much pressure on my right forearm by this position. Only been in this job for 3 months, so I'm sure this is just early sign so I wanna get this sorted out asap before it causes proper damage. Like I say, a week off and it goes away by itself. Usually on Monday morning I'm fine again. I'll def OH a call though tomorrow, see what they can do for me, ta

Maybe that's what I need to do more of to strengthen my wrist, eh?

I got/get this. One thing I found helped was maxing out the sensitivity of the mouse, so you have to move it less. Also it is funny watching other people try and use it.

This. And do some squidges with one of these handgrips like in this pack every hour or so.

Yes do. Mate at work made the switch and now hates mice.

Also: try removing your arm piercings

Once you go track, you never go back.

Any RMD for a good trackball mouse? Is the Logitech Marble good enough, or the Kensington Expert the one to get (but daft expensive!)

Why? Is it a bad idea?

I use the logitech cordless optical trackman at home and work (I much prefer trackballs where the ball isn't right in the middle) and it's superb.

Occupational Health people can be a pain in the arse at times. There was a guy with exceedingly poor eyesight at work. We have an approved standard of 19" flat panels, and the Occupational Health lady was insisting that we approve him a higher-resolution 20" panel so he could see things easier. It took me soooo long to explain to her that a higher resolution on a panel that was only 1" bigger would actually end up with everything on screen being smaller.

You still working for the council Kevi - um, Pupil? I forget. If so, then they'll jump at the chance to buy you expensive chairs and such like. 'cos it looks good on their CVs. I guess private companies are legally obliged too, but you'll have to poke 'em probably. Don't forget to have regular breaks and bathe your arm in ronseel or something!

I might get one of those. My arms do get a bit stiff at the end of the day, plus I have puny little arms anyway. Any one know if those springy grip ones or the squishy egg ones are best?

pete: at Mani Uni now, same as CG. Like he says, the OH dept here is bang on, so I should be alright, I hope

I've had a massive move around on my desk this morning, found the spare Microsoft Trackball Explorer which I'm hoping I'll eventually get used too (God, it's annoying atm), moved my horizontal tower and a stack of CD cases under my monitor so its loads higher and so I sit up a lot straighter and moved everything closer to me so I don't have to lean forward anymore. Hopefully this will help - I'm gonna order a powerball from amazon too, looks a good idea and will help my fingers for climbing and guitar playing too, winner!

ta guys

that was going to be my suggestion. Pocket billiards can only do good to your wrist.

Very late to the discussion so apologies. My only piece of advice is to do something, don't ignore it and stick with the changes - don't lapse back into your old ways.

I am currently suffering from suspected carpal tunnel syndrome and take it from me, waking in the middle of the night with searing arm pains is not pleasant. My elbows, forearms and wrists are incredibly painful most days and it's all due to years of shit posture and working at a cluttered/poorly laid out desk. And of course, ignoring all of the warning signs (tingling, cramps and back pains etc)

I'm currently waiting to see a specialist so hopefully some steroids/injections will get things on track. I've also sorted out my desk so that it's either PC type work or paper type work and never leaning over pages to type (which I always used to do).

However, enough of that - I can still lift a pint, touch boobs and play Egg's Box - if they still hurt later in life I'll chop them off and get new bionic arms so I can lift cars.

Hope that you find something that works for you fella!

Cheers Egg, good advice mate, duly noted My arm is feeling better already, I've avoided the PC as much as poss today, I don't really use a PC at home (just laptop a bit, but mainly for music and watching films, so minimal mouse use) so by monday I hope things will be ok, and with my new trackball/posture setup/powerball exercises hopefully it won't crop up again. Good luck with the bionic arms, maybe you should speak to that German dude who just got two new ones, sounds like it worked out for him!

That German dude seems to be doing very nicely.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_7660000/newsid_7660500/7660502.stm (suitably targetted at my mental age this link)
And if the above is too adult a writing style for you: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article1782182.ece

Says he "feels like a teenager", yes, quite literally mate.

What a piece of medicine though. It really is a brave new world people.

Stretch it properly and exercise it. Like weights or one of those wrist trainers cum secatures. Do the same with your back. (ie stretch and exercise, not use secatures on them).