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As some of you know, I am a Medical Transcriptionist so work on the computer constantly. Since getting paid by line and on productivity, I think I have been pushing myself more and have more problem with Repetitive Stress Injury and/or Carpal Tunnel syndrome. My hand aches, thumb tingles, get shooting pain up and down my arm, and hot tingling on occasion.

I have been looking into special keyboards that claim to help this, most of these run between $200.00 to $600.00 and I don't want to invest in something unless there really is a chance it could work.

Anyone have experience with anything like this?

I tried the SafeType www.safetype.com - that was just too weird and did nothing for me.

Am looking at the Kinesis Contoured and also the Matrix or DataHand....

Any suggestions? Have been wearing night splints to bed and that does seem to relieve some of the pain for a while, but after a long day, it is just too much.

After 5 years, now I am having this problem, but never had it before...

The mouse is definitely NOT our friend. I have really horrible problems with my right ulnar nerve. Been to physical therapy a few times. The main thing that helps is strength training your back and arm muscles. I've never bought anything special ergonomically to help. I never really found they do much good.

I do feel your pain, however.

I actually use a mega gel keyboard pad (18.00 at Staples) in front of a cheap 20.00 black ergo keyboard (keys are slanted in in keeping with the natural curve of the hand), and I wear the kind of carpal tunnel gloves you can buy in any pharmacy. It's helped me a lot.

Might be a cheaper way to start to see if any of that might help?

and definitely what BB said. I found that raising my chair a couple of inches and sitting straighter also helped.

If the mouse is giving you trouble, you might want
to look at a trackball mouse. We have this one
http://www.kensington.com/html/2200.html
from Kensington.
We have been really happy with it.

It's usually not the keyboard but your posture in your wrist when 10 keying or typeing. I used to use a glove that had support in the wrist and it helped tremendously!!!! I've known people who went to the doctor and they were given a band to wear above their elbow? Not sure why but they said it helped too.

There is a pad you could get that you place in front of your keyboard (usually about $10 or so) that will raise your wrists to a "normal" level so you can type.

buffettbride wrote:The mouse is definitely NOT our friend.

They do make ergonomic mice....

I spend all day typing on a standard keyboard and I've never had any pains or problems. Of course I make a point of taking my hands off the keyboard and shaking them at least once every 15 minutes. I'm not sure it really helps but it's a great excuse to do something to make folks look.

hawaiiboy wrote:If the mouse is giving you trouble, you might want
to look at a trackball mouse. We have this one
http://www.kensington.com/html/2200.html
from Kensington.
We have been really happy with it.

That just transferred the problem from my ulnar nerve to my thumb.

land_shark3 wrote:

buffettbride wrote:The mouse is definitely NOT our friend.

They do make ergonomic mice....

The 1st mouse, not so much. Been there done that.


The 2nd mouse though, has promise. It has a shaft. Looks like it would use more of the arm muscle than just fingers.

buffettbride wrote:The 2nd mouse though, has promise. It has a shaft. Looks like it would use more of the arm muscle than just fingers.

Maybe you're in the wrong job... it could be that your career is on the other side of the computer... you know, on those sites that Shane looks at all day.

land_shark3 wrote:

buffettbride wrote:The 2nd mouse though, has promise. It has a shaft. Looks like it would use more of the arm muscle than just fingers.

Maybe you're in the wrong job... it could be that your career is on the other side of the computer... you know, on those sites that Shane looks at all day.

Had an offer to design/maintain adult web sites and turned it down. Didn't pay well enough (but paid decently for some) and it might rule out future employment possibilities.

when my wrist hurts from too much typing I use a warm compress.

DonnaKayDunbar wrote:when my wrist hurts from too much typing I use a warm compress.

ooohhh. that reminds me of something my physical therapist told me would help. get two large bowls or a double-sided sink and alternate from soaking in ice-cold water to warm water.

i never tried it because i was too lazy, but it might work for ya.

buffettbride wrote:

land_shark3 wrote:

buffettbride wrote:The 2nd mouse though, has promise. It has a shaft. Looks like it would use more of the arm muscle than just fingers.

Maybe you're in the wrong job... it could be that your career is on the other side of the computer... you know, on those sites that Shane looks at all day.

Had an offer to design/maintain adult web sites and turned it down. Didn't pay well enough (but paid decently for some) and it might rule out future employment possibilities.

Well of course not. How much did you think Wade would actually pay you to keep his site up and running?

a cheap 20.00 black ergo keyboard (keys are slanted in in keeping with the natural curve of the hand),





I had the ergo keyboard at the last place I worked... I LOVED IT!!!

land_shark3 wrote:

buffettbride wrote:

land_shark3 wrote:

buffettbride wrote:The 2nd mouse though, has promise. It has a shaft. Looks like it would use more of the arm muscle than just fingers.

Maybe you're in the wrong job... it could be that your career is on the other side of the computer... you know, on those sites that Shane looks at all day.

Had an offer to design/maintain adult web sites and turned it down. Didn't pay well enough (but paid decently for some) and it might rule out future employment possibilities.

Well of course not. How much did you think Wade would actually pay you to keep his site up and running?

Oh dear God. I'm talking about REAL p***.

Did you have the test done for it...needles & electric running thru those needles? Has surgery been suggested? It was to me but I'm holding out on that for a few more years until it's unbearable.
Heard it might & might not work & might last for a few yrs. Not much
helps when you think about what carpal tunnel is...the nerves are all
twisted...just like those darned extention cords that somehow get all
knotted up.

i'm a big fan of the braces they have. I have really bad carpal tunnel in my right hand from playing piano for over 21 years and working on computers all day in school and what not. the braces have helped a lot. And there's also this stuff I've used on sports injuries. It's called 'biofreeze'. it's a muscle relaxer... instead of icing or using a heat compress that stuff works pretty good.

I have similar problem but it's not from the keyboard