Thanks Emmie and Brokenwings, I will get a pair of these Ergorests. They already had appeal and I was considering trying them out, but your positive experience with them is the encouragement I needed

I got a pair of Ergo-rests, and boy, yes, they are great.

I can mouse & keyboard and remove load from my shoulders and traps without irritating my ulnar nerve. Also, compared to my previous Ergocloud/TC Rider thingy, I can now keep my arms and shoulders mobile and the shoulder back rather than drawn forward.

I was lucky enough to get a pair for 160 USD. In the UK, where I now live, they retail at over 100 GBP (160) each normally. I bought an un-used but second-hand pair via eBay.

Thank you for sharing those pictures. I have done a lot to try and improve my ergonomic situation as I am dealing with the early onset of this syndrome. My question and perhaps this is a difficult one… Is how much computer work you realistically do per day. I have the beginning stages of TOS and am interested in improving and or eliminating my symptoms. I have found improvement doing some PT, but I want to make sure my career will not force my symptoms return and/or worsen. My fear and irrational thought just to quit my job and never touch a computer again. But that is obviously unrealistic, and physical therapy is not cheap. So I have no choice but to work and I'm hoping to find a way to continue doing it.

I have bilateral symptoms though they are manageable. But I make my living at a computer and am concerned about being able to work despite having this issue. My workstation is very ergonomically set up, but I realize that reducing my amount behind the screen will ultimately help too.

On average, how often are you taking breaks? And during those breaks, what are you doing? I have been doing scalene stretches as well as back and shoulder stretches to try and get my shoulders loose.

Hey,

Sounds like you're trying very hard to keep it going.

I have managed to keep it going, but it's been painful.

I found the LED and infrared light therapy pads to be most relieving. They're amazing for me, my TOS and neck and back symptoms. I couldn't do what I do now without them. Please do look into them and consider trying to them. Lots of medical providers offer them these days. Chirpractors, PT, massage theapist. Check around in your area.

Here's the link to where I bought mine at. Loved them so much I wanted to start a business but I don't have the time to devote to it. They're also a little expensive. To me, they're worth it.

Check out Edna's site. http://www.healthlightz.com/

BTW: Keyboarding is an irritant to TOS/scalene/pec and neck problems.

I feel your pain. I've been where you're at. I had to work to pay for PT and medical care and tests. Work caused my symptoms to be worse. Yes, it was that way.

I lived through 7 1/2 years of hell and have been fighting my way to here since hell became humanly tolerable. I've tried so many things. I bought so many things trying to get relief or aid.

It's been rough. Wouldn't want to do it again.

I can tell you the lights helped me more than anything else. It's also a home unit so I can use it at my convinence and in the privacy of my home. Do consider them.

You're welcome to read my postings... warning some are very long. I've been very open here, just trying to help others and get help. I have been able to help others and I have been helped in so many ways by being a member of NT. It certainly is part of my recovery too.

You're not alone. We do understand.

Keep asking questions and don't give up. It's a tough diagnosis to live and work with.

Hello 343,

Leading up to the peak of my symptoms and diagnosis, I was spending upwards of 10 hours per day using a desk computer
I reduced this to a maximum of about 6 hours per day following diagnosis, albeit without any specific direction to do so from the medical professionals I consulted with

I too had and have bilateral symptoms. I have no explanation, beyond plausible theories, of the cause which meant that I do not have certainty that any particular activity should be avoided or modified. I also was fearful that, should my symptoms get worse, that I would be unable to continue doing my desk-based job, or pursue my career which consists of desk-based jobs.

I am delighted to have experienced relief of my symptoms, short of full recovery, and am able to continue working at least. I cannot say that my relief has been as a result of actions taken because I have no way of establishing causation, but two of those actions were to modify the way I used a computer, and also to reduce to an essential minimum the time I spent working at one.

As for breaks, I take breaks of at least 15 minutes 4 times per day and during these breaks proceed through a sequence of mobility exercises consisting of stretches, postural correction and nerve glides for the brachial plexus and ulnar nerves. All the physios I have worked with have recommended being as mobile as possible, and not sitting in a static position for extended periods (such as one does when using a computer). I also take far shorter breaks every half hour, during which I’ll just move around. These breaks are additional to a lunch break.