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Ask HN: Wrist pain from coding?

7 points by oldmanstan ↗ HN
I recently started pursuing coding seriously (after a year of an hour or two a week).

And, unfortunately, my right wrist hurts like hell now. It begins twenty minutes or so after I start typing. The pain shoots down from the bottom right of my right (face down palm) to the end of my pinky.

It's getting wicked painful.

Any tips?

13 comments

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codedivine
First identify whether the cause is a wrong posture and whether you have more problems while handling keyboard or the mouse. I used to have problems while using the mouse due to wrong posture.
junkbit
I definitely get pain from the mouse rather than typing.

Professional Quake players have names for the different styles of holding a mouse. I believe mine is called The Claw, where my palm is a few inches above the matt and I guide the mouse using finger tips on each side, like a bear scraping across the desk.

I notice that when I have pain I have lapsed and my palm is flat on the desk causing a v-shape between my hand and forearm and tension on the back of my wrist.

rtra
Me too. After recovery my symptoms would re-appear whenever i used the mouse for more than a few minutes. I began using a trackball on my left arm. It's closer to the home row and now I have very good left-hand dexterity :-)
_corbett
I use an anti-RSI application when this happens which auto-reminds me to take breaks and notices when I cheat (monitoring keyboard and mouse activity). I also always use an external keyboard with nice keys and an external mouse for long stretches on my laptop. I switched to mousing with my left hand instead of right.

I learned dvorak, and some people swear by it, but it didn't change much. so, I switched back.

rtra
In my experience, ergonomically-sound typing technique is somewhat independent of the keyboard layout, specially if you're not a touch-typist.

It all boils down to watching your wrists. Don't rest your fingers on the home row when you're reaching for distant keys. If your kb layout makes you abuse the weaker fingers that may become a problem though.

jgamman
i use the MS split ergo keyboard and mouse - worked a treat for me. you need to be a touch typist though.
kls
Get a roll of toilet paper and put it under your wrist while you use you mouse. It allows for spring due to the cardboard roll while still supporting you wrist.
rtra
This may not be a very good idea. By supporting your wrist you will be imobilizing your arm and straining the weaker wrist muscles. Try to avoid the mouse. When you do have to use it, try to maintain your wrist in the neutral position and move your forearm instead, as you'll be using the stronger muscles of your arm and shoulder: http://content.revolutionhealth.com/contentimages/h9991464_0...
kls
You are not immobilizing the wrist rather you are supporting it so it does not carry the weight of your arm. The roll acts as a spring and roller, therefore gives you full range.
CyberFonic
Sounds like "mouse hand" aka RSI / CTS !

Some suggestions:

1. Learn keyboard short cuts, to reduce dependence on reaching for the mouse.

2. Try trackball / different size mouse / tablet. I have a novel (i.e. haven't seen it elsewhere solution) I use a Logitech trackball with the right hand and a USB wheel mouse with the LED window tapped up with the left hand. That way, I'm not making fine motor movements with the right hand whilst clicking etc - which I do with the left hand. Found that taping up the window on the bottom avoided getting interfering mouse movements.

3. Check your posture, table height, screen position. In my experience most chairs are too low, especially if you are 6' or over. Many notebook keyboards are too cramped if you have largish fingers for extended typing. Get a full size high quality keyboard for the bulk work.

4. Take breaks :-)

schn
I find it helpful to put a pillow under each arm, which will raise your wrists, without the constant effort / remembering to hold your elbows up.