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Help My Hurt

Help My Hurt Ergonomic Week & a Contest!

by Marijke Durning, RN on April 13th, 2008

Do you have a repetitive stress injury (RSI) or does someone you know have one? RSIs don’t necessarily have to come from work, but can come from pleasure activities, like golfing or quilting. While many of RSIs can be prevented just by changing how we approach certain tasks - some of them require all out refitting. Unfortunately, that sometimes isn’t a priority for some employers.

This week, I’m going to be looking at all things ergonomic for our work (and play) environments. I’ll offer tips on how you can use available products and tools to make your work or play station more comfortable and I’m also asking you for tips and ideas of how we can prevent injuries.

 

Contest!!!

 

 

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So, here’s the contest part.

I’m giving away an ergonomic mousepad to the lucky winner of my

Work Safe, Play Safe Contest.

To enter the contest, all you need to do is post your story of an RSI or a tip on how to prevent an RSI. It could be sometime simple like you put a thick book under your feet to use as a foot rest or something more complicated like you had carpal tunnel syndrome and you had surgery.

Share your RSI tips and stories, and you may have yourself a new mousepad.

The contest will run for two weeks, ending midnight (EST- daylight savings) April 27, 2008. All entries will be given a number in the order they were submitted and a number will be chosen at random. You can enter more than once but all entries must be original. Please do not copy ideas or stories from other sources without attributing them.

 

Contest…. Contest…. Contest…. Contest….Contest… Contest… Contest…. Contest…. Contest…. Contest….Contest…

 

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71 opinions for Help My Hurt Ergonomic Week & a Contest!

  • Brain Break: Win An Ergonomic Mouse Pad!
    Apr 13, 2008 at 11:59 am

    […] Marijke Durning is currently hosting Ergonomic Week over at Help My Hurt - and holding a two-week long contest to win an ergonomic mousepad! […]

  • susan varney
    Apr 13, 2008 at 12:24 pm

    not to have to make a comment everytime you join an contest would help

  • Marijke Durning, RN
    Apr 13, 2008 at 1:12 pm

    True Susan, but then we can’t learn about other ideas and experiences, right?

    Thanks for stopping by and good luck!

  • Amy
    Apr 13, 2008 at 1:26 pm

    I ended up with some severe tendonitis from excessive keyboarding a couple of years ago. I tried physical therapy, braces, etc. Nothing seemed to help. Finally someone suggested acupuncture, which I’d never done before, but I was desperate. I had four treatments and improved greatly, but not all the way. The acupuncturist said she’d done what she could and she thought a deep-tissue massage would take care of it. So I did; let me tell you, deep-tissue massage is not the relaxing kind–it’s downright painful, and I even ended up with bruises! But I also ended up healed. I’m much more careful now about not overdoing at the keyboard, but if I ever get that bad again, I won’t hesitate to try the acupuncture/deep tissue massage combo.

  • Marijke Durning, RN
    Apr 13, 2008 at 1:30 pm

    Hi Amy, thanks for your comment.

    I am a total acupuncture believer now - I’ve done a few posts on it here. I have also had deep massage but I never thought to use the two together. That’s a great idea. (you’re right though, a deep massage is *anything* but relaxing!)

    What I think is cool too is that your acupuncturist knew when she’d done what she could and referred you to something else that might help, rather than just continuing treatment. To me, that’s the sign of a great healthcare provider.

  • Elaine Rosser
    Apr 13, 2008 at 2:29 pm

    I have carpal tunnel syndrome and tendinitis in my shoulder all caused from computer use. Presently I am taking physio but this mouse might help also.

  • Jennifer Cormier
    Apr 13, 2008 at 2:52 pm

    Three years ago I developed a RSI in my right shoulder at work. It was basically a combination of stress, holding the phone in the crook of my neck, typing on the computer all day, and sewing. It ended up getting so bad that I could barely move my arm without feeling pain. After meeting with an ergonomist, we fit me with a hands-free headset, I learned how to stretch and move my shoulder to prevent stiffness, and corrected my posture while typing. I reduced my sewing load at home to top it off.
    Honestly, if you work in an office and are at the computer all day, make sure your company provides you with a good ergonomist or occupational therapist who can make sure you’re doing the right things while sitting at your desk. I never realized how poorly I was operating, until I started to make the recommended changes.

  • Guilherme Paraiso
    Apr 13, 2008 at 3:02 pm

    nice!

  • Allan Schwartz
    Apr 13, 2008 at 4:14 pm

    I have carpal tunnel syndrome and tendnitis in both of my hands. It is currently treated by chiropractic care, but an ergonomic mousepad would be even more helpful.

  • It’s Ergonomic Week at Help My Hurt
    Apr 13, 2008 at 4:45 pm

    […] b5 blogger Marijka, who hosts the pain management blog Help My Hurt, is focusing on ergonomics and repetitive stress injuries all this week — and she’s giving away an ergonomic mousepad to one lucky winner who enters the Ergonomic Week Comment Contest. Read more and enter to win at Help My Hurt. […]

  • Gretchen Taylor
    Apr 13, 2008 at 5:54 pm

    Too much sweepstaking has caused pain in wrists. Different mousepad would be a godsend.

  • Phyllis Silverstein
    Apr 13, 2008 at 6:06 pm

    Many hours on the computer has left me with a big callus where my palm meets my wrist. Ouch! I would love to try an ergonomic mousepad.

  • DONNA ARSENAULT
    Apr 13, 2008 at 6:07 pm

    HAVE HAD SURGEY ON RIGHT HAND FOR CARPAL TUNNEL. MY DOMINAT HAND IS MY LEFT LETS SAVE THIS ONE ..GOOD LUCK TO ALL

  • Meredith Peters
    Apr 13, 2008 at 6:09 pm

    I used Serrapeptase for about a year and now I don’t have any carpal tunnel syndrome or other joint aches. It’s made from the spit of silk worm caterpillars and decreases inflammation. Wierd but true!

  • CLifton Wade
    Apr 13, 2008 at 6:50 pm

    Sounds just what I need for my problems with my fingers. Thank you for this great contest!

  • Brian E.
    Apr 13, 2008 at 7:16 pm

    …In my case, all it took was teaching myself proper posture & positioning, a new chair, and a new cushioned mousepad.

  • Nicholas Karpen
    Apr 13, 2008 at 7:46 pm

    I stopped going to sites that have flash forms or where my voice typing software will not work.

  • Cindi
    Apr 13, 2008 at 8:35 pm

    Greetings! A few years ago, I was awakened in the night by intense pain in my lower arm and wrist. i went to the doctor and was given a protective cast to wear at night. It did take away the pain, but then numbness came in my fingers off and on. The cardiology dept. at the hospital further checked me and found I had carpel tunnel in both wrists. I had the surgeries done about two weeks apart. What caused it, was being on Ebay pretty for about a year! Now, is use a long, rubberized wrist pad in front of my computer. So far, so good. My husband even bought me a great ergonomic chair. I don’t have an ergonomic mousepad, though! Please enter me in your drawing. Many thanks…..Cindi

  • Cheryl English
    Apr 13, 2008 at 8:37 pm

    I have stopped hitting the keys really hard when my computer does not respond to what I am typing. It’s so frustrating when your almost done with a form, and out of no where, your computer locks up. By hitting the keys with extra force just sends my computer on it’s own destructive behavior. I need something to rest my fingers and wrist on. It would take tension off my fingers and wrist. Thanks for the giveaway.

  • christopher h
    Apr 13, 2008 at 10:56 pm

    i have to take a break from work every hour or so, to relax my wrists

  • Tara Hill
    Apr 13, 2008 at 11:21 pm

    Move your mouse pad occasionally so that your arm is not in the same position all the time.

  • Rita Orwosky
    Apr 13, 2008 at 11:34 pm

    I always sit up straight in my office chair when I am typing or on the computer. That protects my back and arms from aching at the end of the day. It also is good posture.

  • R Hicks
    Apr 14, 2008 at 12:05 am

    KEYBOARDING EXCESSIVELY

  • Stephen Saunders
    Apr 14, 2008 at 5:42 am

    Exercise at least several times a week to keep your joints loosened up, it helps me.

  • Dinah
    Apr 14, 2008 at 1:39 pm

    Doing hot yoga several times a week helps my posture

  • Christine Groce
    Apr 14, 2008 at 1:51 pm

    I did keypunching for years at a former job. They didn’t have things set up to promote good ergonomics and subsequently I had carpal tunnel surgery done on both hands.

  • sarah
    Apr 14, 2008 at 3:00 pm

    I used to have bad shoulder, elbow and wrist pain. I went to a doctor and he told me my keyboard was sitting too high. I lowered it and haven’t had problems since.

  • M.A.
    Apr 14, 2008 at 3:29 pm

    Here I sit with my wrist actually hitting along the edge of a marble table. How dumb is that?????

  • Alicia Sparks, NAMI Affiliation Leader
    Apr 14, 2008 at 6:24 pm

    Does sitting on a heating pad to keep my bum nice and toasty count?

    Hmm…probably not.

    I do, however, take plenty of breaks throughout the day. This is sometimes difficult, because I hate breaking my work flow, but I manage to throw in some multitasking to motivate myself (”Oh, I need more coffee. The dog needs food. I really should put that load of laundry in the dryer.”) Each time I get up from my desk, I do a couple of stretches (and vow to get back into yoga).

    Great contest!

  • Sylvia Belle
    Apr 14, 2008 at 8:32 pm

    I have pad in front of computer and in front of my mouse as well as a pillow on my chair.

  • Mike Weisberg
    Apr 14, 2008 at 9:27 pm

    i use an ergonomic keyboard and wear a wrist brace when I type

  • Jessica Applegate
    Apr 15, 2008 at 1:14 am

    i spend to much time on the computer please help my hurt…enter me please.

  • Linda
    Apr 15, 2008 at 5:10 am

    Too many hours at the computer causes my neck, arm, and hand to really ache. I use acupuncture and acupressure and it helps. The mousepad when be great to try.

  • Veggie Links for 15-Apr-2008
    Apr 15, 2008 at 6:31 am

    […] b5, go tell Alicia at Mental Health Notes why you rock! and check out Ergonomic Week at Help My Hurt and enter the contest. And if you haven’t yet, enter to win a copy of Gorgeously Green here at Veggie […]

  • Belinda
    Apr 15, 2008 at 7:01 am

    I found that snuggly wrapping the wrist eases the ache after overuse.

  • Carol Drury
    Apr 16, 2008 at 7:54 pm

    as a psychotherapist I know that exercise can become an addiction and work with a number of athletes with these types of injuries for just this reason - other forms of stress reduction are required - guided imagery is an option and also increases performance!

  • Grace
    Apr 17, 2008 at 6:45 pm

    Three years ago, I had tendonitis from carrying my baby the wrong way, and didn’t know anything then except go to the orthoped doctor. Who gave me antiinflammatory shots and later released the nerve with surgery. unfortunately, a scar formed over it (duh! why the doctor didn’t tell me that a scar over the tissue brings it back to square 1 pain)… so I went to the OT. the short story of it, aside from therapy she used a band called kinesiotape, and amazingly the pain - nerve, muscle tightness etc - went away. I now use the tapes for other muscle/nerve aches.

  • cynthia
    Apr 18, 2008 at 1:10 am

    I have carpal tunnel syndrome and take pain killers would love to try the mouse pad for relife

  • Lisa Fosses
    Apr 19, 2008 at 12:41 am

    I’ve had surgery on my right wrist. I still have to be real careful and only use an ergonomic office set-up.

  • Gregory Hill
    Apr 19, 2008 at 4:44 am

    I got carple tunnel from shearing titanium all day

  • Chris
    Apr 19, 2008 at 4:13 pm

    I recently purchased a new office chair, which has greatly increased my computing comfort. I guess using a dining room chair at the desk was not a good idea.

  • Donald Martin
    Apr 19, 2008 at 6:16 pm

    cool pad!

  • James Jenkins
    Apr 21, 2008 at 11:02 am

    exercise several times a week

  • Kathy Scott
    Apr 21, 2008 at 11:33 am

    I was in a wreck and broke the window with my fist. It still hurts especially when it is cold.

  • Tia Carter
    Apr 22, 2008 at 10:10 am

    i hope i win

  • ted roebuck
    Apr 22, 2008 at 12:06 pm

    my hand falls asleep in 5 min whils holding the mouse i need help

  • Carolyn
    Apr 23, 2008 at 7:24 pm

    I have a bad back so I use this old heater under my desk as a rest stool at my job. Yes I work for a lawyer.
    ;-) Thanks.

  • David
    Apr 23, 2008 at 7:39 pm

    With this pad, I’ll be able to enter more sweepstakes!

  • Tia Carter
    Apr 25, 2008 at 8:40 am

    i hopei win

  • Angie Bradley
    Apr 25, 2008 at 3:49 pm

    My Mother was about 22 when she worked at a restaurant in GreenHills, Tn setting up the breakfast bar. After a few weeks of lifting 27 lb tubs she ended up at the hospital because her fingers were tingling so bad she couldn’t stand it. They put a cast on her and she found out she had carpel tunnel syndrome. Now she takes it easier and cuts down on her 5 hour garden pruning and such or it will affect her. She doesn’t want to have to have surgery, so sometimes when she has to she wears a removable wrist guard. She could really use it, she’s 48 and still types quite a bit.

  • trudee carreiro
    Apr 25, 2008 at 6:17 pm

    I would love to win this pad

  • Gayle Morgan
    Apr 25, 2008 at 8:33 pm

    I have tedonitis in my right elbow and carpal tunnel is starting and I am on the computer all day - I have a brace on right now and use ice and pain relievers when it flares up.

  • Betty
    Apr 25, 2008 at 9:34 pm

    I’ve worn out 3 ergonomic mouse pads. More people should consider these low cost preventative measures.

  • Joan
    Apr 26, 2008 at 8:55 am

    I’m now retired but when I was working I had pain in my right wrist, hand and right upper back. When I developed a ganglion cyst in my wrist, I went to the doctor. He gave me oral meds and had me wear a wrist support which seemed to transfer the pain further up the arm. He agreed that the cyst and my pain problems were a result of my computer use and assisted me in submitting a workers compensation claim. My employer had people knowledgeable in ergonomics look at my workspace which resulted in a new adjustable chair and wrist support in front of the computer. There were times during “hot” projects when I was constantly using the computer that my hand and wrist hurt so much I had to tell my employer I had to take a break from using the computer for a awhile. It didn’t take too long after retirement for the pain in my hand, wrist and back subsided.

  • Lyudmila
    Apr 26, 2008 at 11:30 am

    I would to win ergonomic mousepad!
    Great prize !!!

  • Linda R
    Apr 26, 2008 at 12:16 pm

    I have “Mouse Elbow”, formerly known as Tennis Elbow! I am on a computer many hours of the day and I can’t find a mousepad that helps relieve the pain and discomfort in my arm. When I was diagnosed with tennis elbow I told my Dr that I never play tennis! He asked what I did do all day and I told him, “it’s that darn computer mouse!” He laughed and decided he had a new name for it, as so many other patients suffer from the same thing.

  • phillip stacy
    Apr 26, 2008 at 2:50 pm

    nice looking

  • A Casson
    Apr 26, 2008 at 2:59 pm

    Oh I would just love this! I have carpal tunnel so badly and anything would help so if I’d win I know I will enjoy it and put it to Good use!

  • Michelle Simons
    Apr 26, 2008 at 6:29 pm

    Take a break and go for a walk.

  • Ed Nemmers
    Apr 26, 2008 at 7:10 pm

    I cajole my partner into giving that part of the body a massage.

  • hazel hunt
    Apr 26, 2008 at 8:17 pm

    nice

  • Alecia Gibson
    Apr 27, 2008 at 2:37 am

    I take frequent breaks to avoid stress on my joints.

  • charles pellin
    Apr 27, 2008 at 8:02 am

    I had carpel tunnel surgery, but working on the computer seams to just aggravate the problem.
    Being left handed, I use the mouse with my right hand, so my right wrist is swelling from the constant use, or abuse.

  • GTaylor
    Apr 27, 2008 at 8:32 am

    Less sweepstaking would help the wrists. And more walking would have the legs…. Would love to win this for my admin asst!!

  • Elizabeth M.
    Apr 27, 2008 at 9:58 am

    I have carpal tunnel syndrome which all began from spraining my fingers while sleeping last year. I think they were curled in and I slept on them like that and it caused a sprain. I do a lot of work on the computer so I was using my sprained hands and they were really hurting but I just kept typing and I realized after a couple of days that it was getting far worse and turned into unbelievable pain. My hands would turn to ice and go numb whenever I used them and there was just a constant pain. I couldn’t even hold a fork without having pain. It was excruciating. I went to the doctor and he diagnosed it as CTS and gave me a prescription to bring down the inflammation and started me on exercises. I also started wearing wrist braces at night. It’s a year and a half later and it still flares up sometimes but now I know better and rest my hands when I get the feeling they have had enough. It took about 15 months for me to feel like I might be over the worst of it. Unbelievable.

  • Buddy Garrett
    Apr 27, 2008 at 12:01 pm

    It’s all about having the correct furniture. The right chair desk aand arrangement of your phone system and computers can work wonders when workers are taught correct posture and work positions.

  • sarah woods
    Apr 27, 2008 at 3:07 pm

    I utilize two therapy tools to relieve the should/appeandage/arm/hand/finger/wrist casulaties by utilizing a physical therapy squeeze ball and utilizing putty/occupation therapy. These help DRASTICALLY!!!!! many Thanks SW

  • Janet
    Apr 27, 2008 at 4:47 pm

    ty 4 the contest!

  • Donna Kozar
    Apr 27, 2008 at 11:00 pm

    I have carpal tunnel syndrome from using my computer.

  • jackie lewis
    Apr 28, 2008 at 1:58 am

    Sounds just what I need for my problems with my fingers. Thank you for this great contest!

  • Lily Kwan
    Apr 28, 2008 at 5:25 am

    take periodic breaks

Have an opinion? Leave a comment:




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