A community of 30,000 US Transcriptionist serving Medical Transcription Industry

What do you do to make yourself comfortable - at your desk?

Posted: Jul 30, 2010

I get soo uncomfortable sitting for at least 8 hours every day. My right arm and hand just ache/sore constantly, and my fingers, especially on my right hand, are really getting painful. I sit with my keyboard on my lap (on a pillow), sit with a pillow underneath and behind me. My heel even hurts from using the foot pedal. I'm wondering if a left hand keyboard would work for me, or an ergonomic. I've used an ergonomic before (it broke) and didn't recall it making a huge difference.

Any tips on how I can make myself more comfortable?

my work station - deenibeeni

[ In Reply To ..]
Kinesis keyboard.

Downview desk - view monitor through glass - prevents the "chin-jutting" posture that crunched cervical spine & caused arm & hand numbness.

Knees lower than hips. Encourages straight spine & discourages rounded back that goes with "chin jutting"

Pedal on a foam pad used for gardening to cushion heel. Switch R/L foot periodically.

No problems in 7 years.

to be comfortable - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
I have to have my Kinesis (ergo) keyboard. Not all ergos are equal. It is worth the investment (IMO) and of course tax deductible. I use ergo gloves, which although I don't really understand why they help so much, they do. I have a fan on me, water and often coffee beside. Cat often sleeps beside me. I have Bose noise-canceling headphones. A good chair. I get up very frequently and move around. Try to exercise 30-60 min a day, which I think helps whole body/mind. I also put the keyboard in my lap. I tried it on a pillow, but it made it too high and too hot. When my heel bothers me, I slip a beaded wrist rest or a slipper turned sideways under my heel. Because I wear bifocals, I put my monitor a bit lower than I used to (4-6 in lower). There is a lot of science behind the Kinesis. Got my first one on ebay (now have a backup too). You might check it out. Hope something helps. Contrary to what others think, it is hard sitting down all day...

p.s. - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
I think it is standard for Kinesis to give you a 90-day "trial" on a new one. Don't like it, no charge, just send it back. It does take some effort to retrain yourself, which I was able to pretty much get done on one weekend off.

Yoga - magicfingers

[ In Reply To ..]
Try yoga between breaks. Gets the blood moving.

changing your habits - to help hand pain

[ In Reply To ..]
It sounds like you will need to make a major change of some kind-- not just sitting a different way. You do not want to damage your right hand. It is too bad someone cannot observe you working to see what hand positions/actions you are doing. At my former workplace, when we went to VR, we actually had an occupational therapist to observe us and make recommendations. She saved a lot of us from disability, but we had to make a major and inconvenient change in the "home position" of our hands. Then we had to re-learn and work back up to speed. It was worth it. If I were you, and having that much pain, I would take myself and my keyboard to a therapist or hand doctor and let him/her make suggestions. I hope you can find something to help!

Thanks for the awesome - suggestions

[ In Reply To ..]
I'm definitely going to look into that keyboard. Yes, my right arm and hand hurting so bad has me concerned. I try to pay attention to my posture and all, but I very well could be doing something wrong that's causing this pain.

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