🙋🏻♀️ Recs needed:
I have ulnar nerve compression on my dominant side, and it's at a point where using my (fancy ergonomic) mouse causes irritation and numbness on the outside of my hand. I've tried using my non-dominant hand but I can't work that way.
Does anyone with this kind of pain have recs?
As someone who has too much typing disease in both of his hands, the biggest impact has been to use dictation as much as humanly possible. Everything else has been helpful, but not as much as that. For this situation I would switch between a trackpad and mouse and either side as much as possible.
Thank you! Unfortunately, when I'm editing I really need to be able to move around and click so I think I'm going to have to get used to alternating sides. Even if it takes forever. 😭
I don't know what OS you use, but I think all of them support some sort of Voice Control. Using voice commands to switch windows / apps can really help as well, depending on how often you need to do that of course. 😅
Good luck - too much typing disease *suuuucks*.
Oh interesting—are you saying I do voice commands to highlight certain things and add comments and stuff? That would take learning, too, but it may be so much nicer to myself in the long run!
There is a whole set of commands to do things like selecting words, moving the cursor, etc. (for macOS and I assume Windows / Linux) that can help reduce hand movement. But I was just referring to stuff like 'switch to Safari' and 'next window', etc. All reducing my keystrokes and mouse/pad usage.
Use the mouse as little as humanly possible; the mouse is bad. Use the keyboard to navigate as much as you can. Set up as many keyboard shortcuts as you can. Work in a warm area and take exercise breaks as frequently as possible. Make sure your desk is at the perfect height relative to your elbows.
Ice your inflamed spots at the end of the day. Turmeric helps for me; I take it every day. I would recommend trying to avoid just switching the mouse to your other hand; I did that and ended up with both arms in pain. I'm guessing you already use an external monitor and keyboard...best of luck!
Thank you this is so helpful! I think I do need to look into shortcuts and macros—for some reason my mind can't figure it out when I look at the how-tos but I need to make myself focus. I do drink tumeric tea—do you take a supplement?
Macros are literally copy and paste, and you don't need to reinvent the wheel—just use someone else's. Namely the lovely and generous Paul Beverley's. www.wordmacrotools.com
Yes, I do Gaia Turmeric Supreme. And also eat lots of Indian food (OK, I'd do that anyway, ha-ha)...
My ulnar nerve issue (shoveling, obvs different) took like 10 months of aggressive rest to heal. Compression garments at night also helped me keep general inflammation down but may not help your situation. I'm so scared of doing it again, I've altered so much behaviour
I hope you find relief!!
Thank you! Shoveling is so awful, I get it. (That kicked off my bad pain.) I may try compression garments. I had OT/PT for most of last year into Feb and it helped, but keeping up with it is hard and expensive. With editing I keep re-irritating it as soon as I get a big project!
