RSI?? Repetitive SEX(?) Injury?? Can happen on here.
I wanna suffer :cry:
My advice is take it seriously, your dissertation is not as important as your wrist. I had to stop work when my RSI got so bad I couldn't carry on and I have not been able to earn a living since and have no prospect of going back to my old job. That's 2.5 years ago. I wanted a career change and am lucky that I had a supportive company and my own insurance, so this has been easy for me. For most people it is more like a disaster, even if they do recover and a high proportion don't. Some are badly crippled.
RSI varies a lot from person to person so my story will differ from yours (i.e. severity, damage done, recovery or not) but I joined an RSI support group and met a lot of people who were far more damaged than me. One thing that I think is universal is the longer you leave it before taking the pain (which is your body saying "stop this is causing damage") seriously, then the longer it will take to heal and the less recovery you are likely to get.
Most people find it harder to say no to the work than to their body and let it build up and build up until their body just gives in. This is a really really really bad thing to do. I've told several people with early signs this before, and none has taken heed. I didn't either, so I know how hard it is to do the right thing!
Sorry to be so drastic. And how am I able to type this you ask? Well, I have to pace myself very carefully, and not just typing. Yes, you probably realise that your wrist is handy for lots of activities, and the ones affected most probably involve rapid repetitive motions. Hmm, yes. THOSE ACTIVITIES WILL SUFFER!
What to do? Get it diagnosed and get serious about not causing any more damage. That will mean stopping doing anything that causes pain, and as for typing with the other hand, well that is a great way of damaging the other wrist because you'll be putting even more load on that (bin there done that).
It makes no sense to give out remedies because everyone's RSI tends to be different and I'd need to know a lot more to say anything. Ideally you need an expert. Your GP isn't one, and consultants are frequently not either. I know a good guy in Harley St. You could also try alternative health people who advertise expertise - look for a support group. Post on a mailing list devoted to RSI etc.
I think this is a good one and it has other useful links too
Speech recognition software might be your best bet for your dissertation, but it isn't easy to use. It frequently takes quite a bit of getting used to, and that takes time and patience, and if you are stressed and in a hurry you won't have that. I tried IBM ViaVoice and Dragon NaturallySpeaking and Dragon was by far the best, but other people will tell you the opposite (which is why I started with IBM ViaVoice!).
Hope some of this helps. If you want to speak to me about RSI I'd be happy for you to phone or email me about it.
Mark
Ty! I really appreacitate all your comments.
Luckily I only have 5 days left and I have so little left to do.. I have an appointment with my doctors in 7.. which is not so helful! But hopefully I will get it checked out...
I shall try those remedies and ty for the very long post and showing concern over my welfare... the only (very small) belssing is that Im left handed - so I can still write.. but meh!
I shall look into all your suggestions!
xxx
Sini
good luck with the dissertation, you'll feel fantastic once it's finished. just 5 days till chilling
I guess its a bit late now, but prevention is better than cure. so take a look at those rubbery wrist support thingys that clip onto the keyboard in your local computer shop, and remember to check your posture as you sit occassionaly er probably worth getting a sreen filter to reduce eye strain as well. and a mouse mat with support.
I had a real RSI wrist problem and I bought a Microsoft wireless keyboard with a hill in the middle of it and a bendy shape and a wireless mouse and it solved the problem.
However, 18 months on, I find I now have an RSI problem in the upper arm. It doesn't seem to affect strength but it certainly has limited my arm movement. Stretching over my head to adjust a pillow in bed can bring on an excruciating spasm, silly little things, not life affecting but a worry and I know I must do something about it.
Since I work alone I see no option but to take a retirement choice which I hope will come my way this year. It's important because I want to write and do some other computer related stuff and I don't want it to go on until I can't.
I suppose we should all take comfort from the fact the we're still in the tadpole stage with computers and within 20 years there won't be any keyboards, (they're just a temporary interface), and new builds won't have light switches, or remotes, or any other button pushers, we'll just talk to the things and they'll do what we ask. (Until they don't of course which will be at 4 a.m. when the repairman is not available and you're crawling about under the stairs trying to re-boot the house).
Hiya Sini,
RSI is often blamed on typing, but may actually be due to how you use the mouse.
Possibly a bit late for you dissertation, but making more use of keyboard shortcuts and macros can make a huge difference.
lhk
Kat
The only thing that give me any relief are the above .. 
The only problem is I have yet to find them through an outlet in the UK 
