hi, I've been setting up my machine whole day yesterday and today (It's 2:30pm now) and my right arm hurts real bad from typing and using mouse. (I type only w/ my left hand today, but that's not so good on the mouse)

there's probably lots of you with similar experiences?

so is there any help? I've already tried different jumper settings :-)

yes, from when i used a trackball when i was siting up straight on the floor, and the trackball on the floor (so my wrist was bent), one it lasted for the whole of the next day (and the same day), the longer i had my wrist bent like that, the longer it lasted. To prevent such inquries, dont do weird things for long periods, if you have to type and use a pointer, then make sure your arms and wrists and whatelse are not bent in stressful ways.

But im not sure if they are the same as yours, it only effected my wrist on the trackball arm, as my other hand wasent in the same position for such long periods, and it only hurt when i bent my wrist in the oposite direction (toward my body).

A good cure: just wait it off, get some rest, and do not stress the ingury (so no more typing/mousing in ways your body finds bizare), if it dont go away, or your really worried, go see a doctor.

I have had some problems in the past and including symptoms of carpal tunnel. This is what I've done:
1. give your hand/wrist a brake
2. use a cold gel bag on the affected area
3. learn to use short-cut keys in your computer (konkeror supports custom short-cuts)
4. In the office I use a pad mouse, set for my left hand.
5. I home I use a tablet set for my right had (so non of my wrists get too much work)

the secret is!!!!, we shouldnt be sitting at our pcs this long. i used to ahve back neck and arm problems and bad viens. then is tarted doing 30 mins a day in the gym. jsut light wieghts and sit ups, anyhting tog et the heart going and strecth out the muscles. it works great and actualy leaves yo feels bwtter than before, and i sleep better.

With an ergonomically correct workstation, you can go days on the computer without injury.
I know from experience, as I survived a 5-year University Computer Science program.

+1

Its all about the position(s) your in. Technically your arms should be in right angles (in reguards to how bent your elbows are). But who is like that all the time? The gym couldn't hurt (well maby...), we all have to get up from the comppy once n a while

I had tennis elbow a while back and I got bad pain in the forearm area while at the pc. What helped me was stretching the forearm muscles and tendons.Saved me from having surgery which was the next step.

paddy>

In addition to what others have said, there are a few ergonomic issues you may need to address:

- make sure that the area between the middle and top of your screen(s) is at eye level, so you're looking slightly downward. You should NOT be looking up to see the monitor.

- your elbows should be level with or slightly higher than the keyboard and mouse

At my first computer job (Microsoft Product Support Services, second tier) I had early warning signs of RSI - numbness/tingling from my upper arm to my fingers, and a burning sensation in my wrists. I requested that my desk be lowered by four inches or they upgrade my chair so I could raise it four more inches. They refused, so I went to the top dog at the site I worked at and informed him I have early warning symptoms of RSI and requested an adjustment to my work surface, and my immediate supervisor refused. I informed him that adjusting the workplace is a cheaper solution than workers' compensation and disability, and all I want is to be able to do my work without sustaining a crippling injury due to improper ergonomics. He appreciated the way I approached him and the work surface was adjusted the next day (my immediate supervisor was pissed, but he was a horse's ass anyhow.) and my RSI symptoms went totally away within a couple of weeks.

Sometimes I program for so long that my fingers get stiff.

I've greatly reduced my arm problems by switching to the Microsoft ergo/split keyboard (whatever they call it). Takes awhile to get used to, but I can type all day with no problems (before I could only go a couple hours at a shot). I do still get mouse wrist, never found a mouse/pointing device that solves that problem. My current solution for that is to stick to command lines when possible and remember all the ctrl-key sequences that I can!

i found that the ergo keyboards are good and that learning key comands is helful buthonestly a warm or cold compress and some time on the bi-ceps machine acn stretch out those aches very nicely

very kind you guys. I'm feeling better now.