Looking for any resources for a specific type of hand/wrist RSI
November 3, 2022 5:49 AM Subscribe
I have long managed pain in my arms related to the use of computers and phones. But in particularly, I'm quite sensitive to touch screens, which is something most other RSI sufferers don't seem to have. I'm curious if there are any resources specifically for this
PT is not currently an option. With a little luck I should be moving to a city (Tokyo) where there will at least be a chance of finding a decent PT (if you happen to know of any good RSI PTs in Tokyo, do let me know!), but for the time being there aren't really any available. And before I move, I'd love to start incorporating stretches/exercises/whatever into my routine...
Basically, while I have various RSI-related issues with computer use, those are largely under control as long as I use a very specific computer setup (it's been fine for the last ~10 years with only the ocassional flareup, usually when I use something I shouldn't). I will say that when it comes to computers the thing that kills me these days is if I have to press a single button over and over again...thankfully doesn't come up too often, but say I'm reading quite a lot, or the worst was certain games that required a lot of button pressing...that caused issues. I bring this up because my theory is that it's somehow related to the touchscreen issue.
Regardless, the thing that will give me issues very quickly are touch screens. If I use my phone just for browsing it's generally ok...but if I start doing much type, even trying to be good about it (though I'd be welcome to any pointers as to "ergonomic" ways to use a phone, I've looked them up in the past but who knows), it hurts. I've tried various ways of doing input...heck, even just repeated pressing quickly results in issues, often even faster than with a computer. Playing a game? Forget about it. Something about dragging motions on touch screens is particularly bad for me.
To adapt, I basically...don't use my phone for anything but non-intensive browsing. When I need to type etc, I use my computer. This is fine most of the time, but I do wonder (and this is the genesis of the question!) if this all might point to the specifics of my RSI...particularly, might give some clues as to what I can do to help my RSI. Not just for the purpose of being able to use phones a little more intensely (though that would be extremely useful), but also to ease up my RSI. Hopefully one day I can find a PT who doesn't suck (I have probably met with 20+ various medical professionals in various areas over this, including PTs, and only one ever came close to being helpful, so I don't have a lot of hope)...but in the meantime, I figured I could at least try.
The thing that gets me in particular, and again part of why I'm asking, is that when talking to other people with RSI, it's very common that touch screens are _better_ for them. Of course, the nature of RSI is that everyone's symptoms are different, everyone's pain is different, everyone's triggers, etc etc etc...are all different. But it's been pretty hard to find other people who share sensitivity to touch screens...which in one sense is a downer, because it has made it hard to find resources (it's also been hard to google for anything related to this). But on the flip side, the rather specific nature of it means that if there _are_ any resources, maybe they'd actually help. I don't know.
TLDR:
I'm quite sensitive to touch screens when most people I talk to with RSI do not have that issue. I haven't found any resources that speak to this directly and would love to find some...particularly stretches, massage, exercise that can potentially help. Of course, maybe I should just be doing all of that...I was doing the routine from "It's not carpal tunnel" for 6 months and it basically did nothing for me...I actually ended up having my worst flare up in years, though I think it was unrelated, it certainly didn't move the needle. Honestly the only thing I've ever found that has worked is mechanical changes in how I used technology...but I hold out hope that there is a way to speak more directly to the physiological issues in a way that will at least give me a little more freedom with computers. I'd love to be able to play a mobile game here and there (or any video game at all, honestly, video games have turned into an RSI trigger...), I'd love to be able to email on the go a little more, that sort of thing...I can accept life without it, but I thought it would be at least worth asking.
(as an aside, I've tried using talon voice and experience poor recognition and immediate, serious vocal strain. that's potentially manageable, but for the time being, I'm not really interested in it, as I did look into it and it ended up not being a great fit for me. even ignoring the vocal strain it did not like this american native english speaker's english)
And if anyone knows any medical experts (PT, massage, OT, whatever) who know anything about this stuff in Tokyo, certainly let me know, but that's probably a separate question :)
And I'm happy just to get any advice related to this stuff in general. I've read up quite a bit about it, but I'd say it's been ~2 years since I've seriously looked at the state of RSI resources, so it's possible that there have been new books, relevant youtube videos (lol) or some better understanding of the core issues. Unlikely, but...possible
PT is not currently an option. With a little luck I should be moving to a city (Tokyo) where there will at least be a chance of finding a decent PT (if you happen to know of any good RSI PTs in Tokyo, do let me know!), but for the time being there aren't really any available. And before I move, I'd love to start incorporating stretches/exercises/whatever into my routine...
Basically, while I have various RSI-related issues with computer use, those are largely under control as long as I use a very specific computer setup (it's been fine for the last ~10 years with only the ocassional flareup, usually when I use something I shouldn't). I will say that when it comes to computers the thing that kills me these days is if I have to press a single button over and over again...thankfully doesn't come up too often, but say I'm reading quite a lot, or the worst was certain games that required a lot of button pressing...that caused issues. I bring this up because my theory is that it's somehow related to the touchscreen issue.
Regardless, the thing that will give me issues very quickly are touch screens. If I use my phone just for browsing it's generally ok...but if I start doing much type, even trying to be good about it (though I'd be welcome to any pointers as to "ergonomic" ways to use a phone, I've looked them up in the past but who knows), it hurts. I've tried various ways of doing input...heck, even just repeated pressing quickly results in issues, often even faster than with a computer. Playing a game? Forget about it. Something about dragging motions on touch screens is particularly bad for me.
To adapt, I basically...don't use my phone for anything but non-intensive browsing. When I need to type etc, I use my computer. This is fine most of the time, but I do wonder (and this is the genesis of the question!) if this all might point to the specifics of my RSI...particularly, might give some clues as to what I can do to help my RSI. Not just for the purpose of being able to use phones a little more intensely (though that would be extremely useful), but also to ease up my RSI. Hopefully one day I can find a PT who doesn't suck (I have probably met with 20+ various medical professionals in various areas over this, including PTs, and only one ever came close to being helpful, so I don't have a lot of hope)...but in the meantime, I figured I could at least try.
The thing that gets me in particular, and again part of why I'm asking, is that when talking to other people with RSI, it's very common that touch screens are _better_ for them. Of course, the nature of RSI is that everyone's symptoms are different, everyone's pain is different, everyone's triggers, etc etc etc...are all different. But it's been pretty hard to find other people who share sensitivity to touch screens...which in one sense is a downer, because it has made it hard to find resources (it's also been hard to google for anything related to this). But on the flip side, the rather specific nature of it means that if there _are_ any resources, maybe they'd actually help. I don't know.
TLDR:
I'm quite sensitive to touch screens when most people I talk to with RSI do not have that issue. I haven't found any resources that speak to this directly and would love to find some...particularly stretches, massage, exercise that can potentially help. Of course, maybe I should just be doing all of that...I was doing the routine from "It's not carpal tunnel" for 6 months and it basically did nothing for me...I actually ended up having my worst flare up in years, though I think it was unrelated, it certainly didn't move the needle. Honestly the only thing I've ever found that has worked is mechanical changes in how I used technology...but I hold out hope that there is a way to speak more directly to the physiological issues in a way that will at least give me a little more freedom with computers. I'd love to be able to play a mobile game here and there (or any video game at all, honestly, video games have turned into an RSI trigger...), I'd love to be able to email on the go a little more, that sort of thing...I can accept life without it, but I thought it would be at least worth asking.
(as an aside, I've tried using talon voice and experience poor recognition and immediate, serious vocal strain. that's potentially manageable, but for the time being, I'm not really interested in it, as I did look into it and it ended up not being a great fit for me. even ignoring the vocal strain it did not like this american native english speaker's english)
And if anyone knows any medical experts (PT, massage, OT, whatever) who know anything about this stuff in Tokyo, certainly let me know, but that's probably a separate question :)
And I'm happy just to get any advice related to this stuff in general. I've read up quite a bit about it, but I'd say it's been ~2 years since I've seriously looked at the state of RSI resources, so it's possible that there have been new books, relevant youtube videos (lol) or some better understanding of the core issues. Unlikely, but...possible
A stylus? A co-worker uses styli that attach to their fingers and claims great relief.
Is your RSI in your wrists, or some other part(s) of your hands? Is the pain in your joints, your muscles, your skin?
Do keyboards work better? Some people use a BT kbd with their phone.
posted by at at 4:26 PM on November 3, 2022
Is your RSI in your wrists, or some other part(s) of your hands? Is the pain in your joints, your muscles, your skin?
Do keyboards work better? Some people use a BT kbd with their phone.
posted by at at 4:26 PM on November 3, 2022
I have RSI, as well as experience adapting computers and touch screen devices so that I can type and click less. (Greatest achievement: being able to speak aloud, "Kill them!" to cause my demon familiar to attack, in World of Warcraft on a Mac.) I also have experience with vocal strain and doing speech therapy to lessen it.
If I am having an RSI flareup and want to use a touchscreen, I use Voice Control which is one of the accessibility tools built in to the operating system on iPads and iPhones. It’s quite good for navigation.
As an example,
“turn on voice control. open Safari. Tap new tab. Tap MetaFilter. Tap AskMefi. scroll down. Repeat four times. Tap more inside. Choose two”
That took me from the Notes app to your post here and it’s just as easy to switch to the Mail app and begin composing an email.
You can even make custom commands and tie them to custom gestures. The last time I tried to do this it was a bit buggy. I did manage to set it up to play solitaire slowly but mostly hands-free.
If you have more questions, I can answer them here. If typing is bothering your hands/wrists at all, feel free to send me mail on MeFi and we can do a video call. RSI makes it hard to research how to cope with RSI!
posted by pickles_have_souls at 5:46 PM on November 3, 2022 [1 favorite]
If I am having an RSI flareup and want to use a touchscreen, I use Voice Control which is one of the accessibility tools built in to the operating system on iPads and iPhones. It’s quite good for navigation.
As an example,
“turn on voice control. open Safari. Tap new tab. Tap MetaFilter. Tap AskMefi. scroll down. Repeat four times. Tap more inside. Choose two”
That took me from the Notes app to your post here and it’s just as easy to switch to the Mail app and begin composing an email.
You can even make custom commands and tie them to custom gestures. The last time I tried to do this it was a bit buggy. I did manage to set it up to play solitaire slowly but mostly hands-free.
If you have more questions, I can answer them here. If typing is bothering your hands/wrists at all, feel free to send me mail on MeFi and we can do a video call. RSI makes it hard to research how to cope with RSI!
posted by pickles_have_souls at 5:46 PM on November 3, 2022 [1 favorite]
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I think your question makes a lot of sense. Personally I've never been able to find any kind of doctor or PT who was even interested in thinking that analytically about it, but I hope you do.
Fwiw I've found Google's voice recognition does much better with my voice than any other system I've tried. That doesn't help you with the vocal strain, though - though it does pretty well even if I speak quietly.
posted by trig at 9:18 AM on November 3, 2022