sign up for the sorehand list, if you haven't already done so. it's free and you will automatically gain access to all of the archives that way. you will get tonz of ideas about ergonomics from those guys, as a lot of them are techies from the silicon valley... actually many it seems became practitioners post-RSI in alexander technique, feldenkrais, bowen work, etc., etc.

sharon butler subscribes to that list and chimes in occasionally. she loves to help little old ladies with knitting RSI's; it's hilarious (to me, anyhow - i'm sick that way, dabbo...).

wish i knew the exact link to throw up here for ya. but just go to www.ucsf.edu and use the search engine, enter the word 'sorehand' and you should be able to find it handily that way. oh, christ, i know that was terrible.

on the other hand, we have... 4 fingers and a thumb.

seriously, though, you do get some nonsense when you sign up for this email service, dabbo, but some of it is really good stuff. there are a lot of brainiacs on the sorehand list.

it is very amusing to watch the ones with raging TOS try and think their way out of it. but actually, with a swift dx and early and appropriate tx, i believe it IS possible. if you do decide to sign up, watch for a canuck engineer by the name of jonathan swann...

this young guy has spent the summer in allentown, PA with a PT by the name of suparna, who by all accounts is running one hell of a program for TOS'ers. she has been able to help many severe cases, including failed surgical cases, where others fear to tread.

if you google her name i believe the book she co-authored on RSI's, which is very highly regarded (and so of course i can't think of the title right now, sorry) will pop up, as will her website and info about her facility.

this is what i mean when i say the commonwealth of PA ain't a bad place to live if you HAVE to be stricken with the dread TOS monster. togut, fried, schwartzmann, suparna... all right there. and i think it's awesome that the latter has a set-up which encourages out-of-towners to come and stay for 6 to 8 weeks of rehab for an intensive program of recovery. she actually can help you get sustainable results if you are willing to do the work.

the trouble with switching to your opposing hand is that sooner or later that hand will become symptomatic, i'm afraid. so regardless of how you choose to approach it, dabbo, i really would explore those ergonomics as soon as you can.

dimarie's suggestion to another poster to have an OT come in to the workplace for a consult is an excellent one. this is what they do best. but i am big on self-help (not as big as i am on giving unsolicited advice and then not following it for myself, but still...)

hang in there. you are asking all the right questions. finding the right keyboard, the right mouse, chair, chair height, screen/height, lighting, etc. are all important aspects.

there is a fairly new software program out called desktop dr. i believe which probably costs less than $100, but still available for free promo trial if i'm not mistaken. i hear it's very sophisticated; it will give you the appropriate stretches to do for your particular dx (or whichever area of the body feels tight or in need of attention), tell you when to take breaks from your computer, do breathing exercises, all that crap (oops, i mean valuable important stuff).

you don't want to end up like me, dabbo. save yourself, man!

alison
"Be Brave"