Some of you who have corresponded with me lately may have noticed that I have been brief with my responses. You may also have noticed a number of spelling and grammatical errors in recent WUWT blog postings. This is due to the fact that after over five years of blog posting, I have succumbed to a problem that plagues many people who use the computer too often -carpal tunnel syndrome.
During the last week the problem has gotten severe enough to interfere with my ability to use the keyboard and mouse, as I have constant pain in my right hand. So tonight I decided I would try something new.
That “something” turned out to be speech recognition in Windows 7, which until tonight I didn’t know existed. I started looking for a off the shelf program to do the job but in the Google search discovered that it was built into Windows 7. After going through the tutorial on it I am using the speech recognition utility to write this blog posting.
As with any new technology it takes some getting used to. But, I am getting the hang of it with continued practice. So far I’ve only had the correct about six or seven mistakes in the paragraphs preceding this.
Over the next few days I planned to take a little bit of a break in blog posting and I will use that time to get more familiar with the speech recognition software. Hopefully by taking a short break I will be able to improve the situation with my right hand. Of course, I also have to learn how to dictate more effectively as it is something I’m not used to on a regular basis. I will say that that dictating to the computer allows me to write faster than I have been able to for quite some time. Further, it seems the speech recognition software is quite good at picking up the nuances of my voice and inflection which results in an overall increase in typing speed.
For those of you that have Windows 7, you might want to try getting a USB headset with a microphone and practice learning how to use the speech recognition software -it may help you write better comments. One of the most interesting things I learned is that screaming at the headset results than nothing being typed at all – the computer gets confused. So, on the plus side if everyone use speech recognition for writing comments we would probably have less trolls because they tend to shout. 🙂 it even recognized when I said the emoticon in the middle of the last sentence.
In the meantime, those of you that wish to submit stories should use the submit story button on the WUWT menu. Please bear in mind that when submitting a story it should be submitted as if it’s actually going to be posted rather than as a tip or advice. Please use tips and notes in the menu for those sorts of notifications.
As always, thank you for your patience and consideration. -Anthony
I’m a proofreader and we do constant mousework. I have occasional boughts of wrist pain, but I stay very hydrated due to the demands of medication for another condition (migraine) and I also have prescription Naproxen on-hand for migraine. I take the Naproxen for the wrist problems when they flare up and wear a couple of wrist braces until things subside. I usually have one bought a year. Did I also mention that I crochet, a lot, and do a lot of computer stuff on my own time at home, neither of which are wrist friendly?
Make sure you take frequent breaks to rest and stretch your wrist and get one of those mousepads that have the gel wrist rest. I also look for a mouse that fits my hand so that it’s not all balled up. My hand is narrow and my fingers are long, so that’s easier said than done these days. But, I feel that the more relaxed my hand can be while it works, the more relaxed my wrist will be.
I had something like this 20 years ago, though it was diagnosed as tendonitis and not carpal tunnel. So I was told to not type for a couple of months — sort of hard for a programmer. It didn’t get better. Then I read about a guy who had a similar problem and he did the opposite of what you’d think: get a tennis ball and squeeze it for a few minutes per day. It cured me.
Just passing it on. I wouldn’t want you to actually make your situation worse. But carpal-ish symptoms can be triggered by an over-use of one set of muscles and under-use of another.
I haven’t read all the comments so excuse if this is a repost, but take a look at the Evoluent mouse. http://www.evoluent.com/
Hi Anthony; Genemachine is right. I almost had to give up my computer until I got an Evoluent vertical mouse. The pain was gone after three days. Give it a try and I hope you get better. The world needs you.
Dick
I’ve had CTS, tendonitis, and am developing arthritis in my hands. It’s much worse during the school year. The first week of fishing after school got out was awful!!! But no pain, no fish. It’s better now because of more opportunities to rest my hands. Catching fish helped too.
Good luck Anthony.
Just want to reiterate the benefits of left-handed mousing. It really helps. I changed several years ago when my right wrist started to swell and hurt. (Fortunately my left wrist remains okay.) In addition to resting your bad wrist there are other advantages and previously noted. The best one being you can make notes with your right hand while browsing.
Good luck and mend well.
Clive
You might try Anatabloc – – powerful new no-side-effects anti-inflammatory – – over the counter at anatabloc.com or any GNC store. Johns Hopkins and Roskamp researchers are all over it. Remarkably effective for all NF-Kb driven ailments from nasal drip to arthritis to Parkinsons – – you’ll know in a few days. Good luck. We need you at the joystick.
Hi Anthony,
I am a heavy computer user. I type on Kinesis “contoured” ergonomic keyboards at home and at work. I have no wrist strain problems at all even if I type all day. If I switch back to a regular keyboard, my hands hurt after even a relatively short time typing (but I have no problems switching between the two types, eg, when using my laptop).
It takes a little getting used to but they have a mostly typical layout (querty and so on) so it isn’t too bad. They are a bit expensive but it’s definitely worth it for heavy users. They last a long time too – mine are around 10 years old and still work fine (except for some of the F-keys; their F-keys suck but whattayagonnado?).
You also need a good chair and desk for good posture too, and a mouse that suits your hand.
Whatever solution you use, I hope your problems go away soon.
Anthony,
Sorry to hear about your problems but I think you can see a lot of us have/had the problem. I too had problems with the mouse and one simple thing I have done is that I am now in the habit of positioning the mouse directly in front of the keyboard so my right arm isn’t off to the right. Obviously a cordless mouse is ideal. Also I do a lot more stretching and have even tried going to yoga classes and it all helps.
Good luck!
Best regards,
Greg Olsen
Hello Anthony,
I am also a software developer. I have 2 mice. 1 for my left hand and 1 for my right hand. I use the 1 on my left hand more than the 1 on my right hand. I started having problems with right hand mousing in the early ninety’s. Had second DeQuervain’s release surgery in 2001 from left-handed mousing. Now I just alternate hands. Essentially trouble-free since. FWIW.
Does the software allow you to say a word to perform a computer function, like saying left click to have a comment approved?
Anthony,
Sorry to hear about your Carpal Tunnel problems. About seven years ago I experienced a noticeable weakness in my right hand when gripping and lifting heavy objects, but no pain.
I took a drive out to Redding CA (from NY) to do some hiking around Lassen and Whiskeytown. By the time I got back my thumb and index, middle, and half of my ring finger were constantly numb. I tried all of the braces etc. to no avail over a period of about three months.
I finally went to see a hand surgeon who ordered a nerve conduction test to evaluate the motor and sensory aspects of the Median nerve through the Carpal Tunnel and through the elbow. Showed major loss throught the CT and normal function through the elbow.
The surgery took less than an hour and the recovery about two months. The sensory and motor nerves recovered fully, however the large muscles that adduct the thumb had atrophied somewhat from the lack of motor stimulation. I’ve worked diligently at trying to recover the muscle, but, as the surgeon told me, some of the muscle loss is permanent and the weakness is still noticeable.
I would urge you to consult a physician as the muscle loss is progressive and, if treated early, can be negligable or nonexistent.
BTW, I tried all of the web-available quackery – none of it works.
@ur momisugly Pompous Git, 1.28am
I too was diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome in left wrist 6 or 7 years ago, even though I am right handed. The suggested solution was to cut the membrane around the muscles, etc., etc. Didn’t like the sound of that, so instead took off the cheap, velcro-banded, Bali-imitation sports watch that I had taken to wearing about six months previously. Hey-presto: end of carpal tunnel syndrome! Now I just wish some of the other deterioration was as easily addressed..
Anthony –
I’m a programer and a couple of years ago I ended up with a similar problem, severe pain in my right wrist. I tried dictation software and it didn’t work for me, nor did the trackball mice. But I determined the pain was primarily associated with using the mouse. Like several other suggestions above, I switched from a mouse to using a a Wacom Intuos graphics tablet. You use a stylus to point to where you want the mouse to go, and click using the stylus. Your wrist is in a much more natural position, just like writing. While it took a couple of weeks to get used to it, after using it exclusively over the course of a year all pain was gone. And now I’m back to using a mouse again, albeit sparingly so I don’t reinjure myself.
Best wishes for a speedy recovery!
Here’s another vote for changing your mousing hand. I did so more than a year ago after symptoms started appearing in my right arm. I now use the left hand for mousing in the office, and my right on the trackpad on my laptop, and the right arm is fine. I’d also recommend keeping a stress ball on your desk and giving it a few good squeezes with both hands several times a day.
That’s the thread winner!
I have a tendon tear in my right arm, which was aggravated by mousing. So, like several others above, I switched the mouse to my left hand. It was awkward at first, but after a few months feels completely natural. Helps, I think, that I mostly use my Mac’s Magic Mouse (bluetooth), so a lot of movement is just with fingers—not an option for you, with a PC. But it’s not hard getting used to a regular mouse; I never even switched the buttons.
/Mr Lynn
I concur with Tony. I have just had CTS surgery on June 1st on my left wrist and I will be getting it done on my right next month. I have been an electrician for 25 years and CTS is very common in my trade. My hands were constantly numb 24/7 and since the surgery the numbness in my left hand is gone. I tried all of the supposed fixes and cures, suffered for ten years after I was diagnosed with CTS, before getting the surgery. Hope you find what works for you.
Matt
PS I also use a Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000. If you use the front riser it comes with, it actually directs your hands down a bit, in a less stressful, more relaxed attitude for typing. There isn’t another ergo keyboard as good, especially for the price ($50 at Staples), but they do wear quickly—and it’s the only board I’ve ever owned where the most-used letters wear off in a few months!
/Mr Lynn
I had CTS surgery years ago. The problem had been induced mostly by lots of bad guitar playing and lots of typing. I should have just quit the guitar and blessed the world with less bad music. After the surgery my CTS was fixed, but they wrecked my ulnar nerve by binding my elbow in a fixed position while they carved up my wrist. So the trouble just shifted from the thumb and first couple of fingers to the bottom fingers. And that trouble has proved to be permanent nerve damage. The only thing for that has been to avoid arm rests at all costs everywhere so as not to further impinge the nerve in my elbow. Oh, and I also moved the phone in my office so I didn’t have to reach for it, and I use the speaker phone feature a lot. It drives people crazy but it saves me from repetitive stress.
My experience with Dragon Naturally Speaking has been frustrating, humourous and useless. And I’ve tried the latest version every 3 years or so over the past 15 years. There is an iphone app from them that’s strictly for note transcription that is okay for laughs too. I correspond regularly at work with a guy who uses speech recognition software of some sort and the tells are really obvious but occasionally subtle enough to cause difficulties or confusions in our communications. You really need to proof read it carefully. Same goes for my rotten typing I suppose. I’ll have to try the Windows 7 application on your recommendation. I have never got to the point of effective navigation with speech recognition software, that would really help mouse induced problems I suppose. Better to abandon the mouse altogether than to fool around with different designs of it.
Now get the free NaturalReader from NaturalSoft http://www.naturalreaders.com/download.htm and let your computer talk to you.
The last time I tried the speech recognition in Windows 7, the system dutifully ignored everything I said. It turns out that Win 7 isn’t smart enough to decode my mumbling. ;->
One thing Anthony might try that seemed to help my sore mousing wrist and arm is a trackball. When I switched from a standard mouse to a Logitech trackball, the minor (for me) soreness seemed to fade.
Two things I did to improve the mouse-induced wrist problems that started bothering me 15+ years ago:
– switch from a conventional mouse to a Logitech Trackman Marble Mouse ambidextrous trackball.
– learn to use the left hand for mousing, so you can switch back and forth when needed.
I play the piano. In the past when I played too long for too many days, the pain was cured by running hot water from a faucet where the inflamation or irratation was. Worked great.
As a physician, can I suggest that you check that really do have a carpal tunnel syndrome? Nerve conduction studies in doubt. You should be screened for diseases that cause CTS. If it is driving your crazy at night, I would suggest that you have surgery. It is a small procedure, performed under local anaesthetic, brings instant relief and has a low recurrence rate.
Mine isn’t carpel tunnel but I have pain in the back of my right hand. It is definitely interfering with the drafting I do.