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Comment by tome_anir | Hacker News Reader

I worked as a software developer for 3 years until RSI struck me. It took me one year of rehab to be in a situation to live normal life.

Life decided for me that I can't be a programmmer anymore. I had an engineering degree in Computer Engineering and it was hard for me to convince myself that I can't type anymore. It just wasn't possible physically. So after much furstration I decided to make a change. I went back to school to study. This time I took up Statistics. Now I'm a PhD student in Biostatistics. Much better in terms of job satisfaction and typing is less. The latter is important for my RSI injury which never went away completely.

PS: in my master's I met all kinds of people from all kinds of background studying statistics. It broke my bubble that I'm the only one who has made a change.

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I saw this thing on TV once where a guy recovered from RSI by typing with a pen in each hand, so you hold a pen and use the back flat part to hit the keys, he had some pretty impressive speed too.

Have you tried using a different mouse/keyboard or using one of those silicon pads to support your wrist? You could also try to change your posture while sitting.

I was awaiting that comment :). Short answer to your question: Yes, my desk looks like I will to fly to Mars any moment. Long answer: I rather not type or I will give myself more pain.

I doubt that more technology is the solution. What worked for me was to build up strength in my wrists, hands, and forearms again, with free weights. (I'd actually recommend dumbbells rather than barbells. If I were advising myself 22 years ago, I would tell myself to start really light, and don't work too hard to begin with.) It took a lot of work, but I didn't cause the RSI to flare up again, and within a few months I was able to type at full speed for indefinite periods.

Something else I learned was to not overdo it.

So, that was almost a cure for me, but whether it'll work for you or not is an entirely different thing, depending on what the root of the problem is. You would probably also need to address posture and muscle tension issues, like I do, and you just plain should not attempt any kind of serious rehab without a good physiotherapist helping you.

I share your opinion completely.

I used to be a software engineer and switched into the investment/asset management industry. I had hand, finger and shoulder pain. Turns out it was Carpel Tunnel.. I was 25... I've been using Bracoo wrist braces when typing and they've really helped. I also sleep with them on and while I still have some tingling in my hands the pain has mostly gone.

The switch into investments and the wrist braces basically saved my career...

https://www.amazon.com/Bracoo-Breathable-Superior-Ergonomic-...

If you don't mind me asking. Were you able to trace it back to something that led to RSI ? Do you have any tips for people to avoid it in future.

Also, so glad to hear you were able to find something you like doing. RSI is stuff of nightmares.

I cannot still say what caused me RSI in 2013. It was a combination of muscle atrophy: desk jobs and my own apathy towards my body. I slogged hours and hours in front of the computer. In my country programmers are cheap and working hours include weekend (you are pressurized to do it). I was just out of school and I bought the argument that my output was the best in all teams and I was an amazing "Asset" to the company.

My suggestion to people to avoid RSI is: Just don't work too much, focus on health and small things in life. Work is just a part of life, it is not life.

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