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

Making your workstation comfortable? - tiredhands

Posted: Nov 11, 2010

Hi ladies,

I'm coming to realize that even though I've been searching and searching for another job, I'm going to be MT'ing for some time to come.

I'm rather uncomfortable while typing all day, from my hands, arms, bottom, ears from the headphones, my foot from hitting the pedal. I have pillows under my foot and bottom and even my back and it doesn't help as much as I would like. I'm using a regular Microsoft keyboard and mouse, neither really ergonomic. I'm using the mouse now with a new account and I'm noticing more pain and discomfort in my right arm...wondered if a rolling mouse is really worth the investment.

But, I would like to invest in some new equipment that would make my life a little easier and would love to hear suggestions on a mouse, keyboard, headphones, really anything that makes your day a little easier and more comfortable.

Thanks in advance!

My best investment (and it's not cheap) is an -sm - Idle MT

[ In Reply To ..]
adjustable keyboard tray - 4G by Humanscale. It mounts under your desk and can be raised, lowered, swung right and left, tilted, and the mouse-platform mounted either on the right or left, or both. I like my keyboard at lap-level, because I've had neck and shoulder injuries in the past from my keyboard being up on top of the desk.
I also got a good gel wristpad, and that works well.

The other great investment is my chair. It's a Sealy Posturpedic leather chair with 6-way adjustment, and I can spend 18+ hours a day in it quite happily!

I keep an oil-filled space heater next to me to hover over during the winter months, and use fingerless gloves almost year-round to keep my hands warm, and thus typing faster. I found some cute, neon-pink knit ones at a teen fashion shop in a mall that I just love.

I'm right-handed, but use the mouse with my left hand most of the time. Among other things, I notice that since I use left-click much more than right-click, holding the mouse with my left hand, my index finger is exactly where is should be. If I'm mousing & clicking a lot with my right hand, the index finger knuckle gets sore from constantly stretching my finger to the left to try to left-click.

Finally, I like my monitor just the right height, so for me, I found a large ring-binder notebook , about 1-1/2 inches thick, gives it just the right height and angle.

I also like to wear comfy slippers on my feet, too!

Yeah, I forgot about the space heater. I have one too. - NKC

[ In Reply To ..]
Also everyone in my house absolutely knows they are NOT to adjust mommy's chair when they sit at my desk. If they do it, they DIE! Just kidding, but you get the point.

And DO NOT touch the monitor either. Not only can I not stand to have the height of my monitor adjusted, I abhor finger prints on my screen. I can't focus when there are little smudges and finger prints on my monitor screen.

Also mom is the only person allowed to eat or drink at the desk PERIOD. I know it's not fair, but I'm the dictator of this house and that's the way that it is.

I use the Microsoft Ergonomic keyboard which I love. - NKC

[ In Reply To ..]
Best purchase I ever made. My desk is in front of a window because I find it relaxing to be able to look outside and open the window for fresh air.

The big thing is the chair which took me forever to find one I liked. I have a huge executive desk chair. I like to be able to tuck my left leg up under me when I'm sitting and typing and not all chairs have a big enough seat to let me do that, but the executive chairs are made bigger. I know it's not ergonomic posture, but I have to be able to do it. I basically went shopping for a chair and sat in probably 100 chairs, tucking my leg up under me just to see how comfortable it was. The sales people looked at me like I was a freak, but when you spend half your day in a chair, you have to make sure it is the right one.

Finally, I'm a shortie. So when adjusting my chair the right height for my keyboard and monitor to be right where I want them, my feet don't touch the ground. So my step-dad who works with wood as a hobby, made me a wooden step that I can put my pedal on and rest both feet one, so they aren't just dangling.

I think I've tried a million different headphone styles over the years and I settled on Koss DC-10. They are sort stethoscope style, which I hate, but these come with these comfortable rubber ear pieces so it doesn't feel like the headphone is boring into your brain and the sound quality is excellent.

Basically, you just figure out what makes you comfortable and then you become an inventor, and invent ways to adapt your surroundings and furniture to your specific comfort.

It only took me 20+ years to figure it all out though. :)

Good luck!

Is that the Microsoft Ergonomic keyboard 4000? nm - tiredhands

[ In Reply To ..]
n/m

I believe so, but my current one is by PC Concepts - Saugust

[ In Reply To ..]
If the hand positioning feels right, I pick it up if the price is right. Right now, more than ever, I'm all about the cost savings.

A friend of mine suggested the ergo boards several years ago. It was instant pain relief, seriously. It feels a bit odd at first having your hands spread so far apart, but it's so worth it.

Most definitely a marble mouse. Mine's from Logitech. - RoadRunnerMT

[ In Reply To ..]
nm

Comfort measures - Saugust

[ In Reply To ..]
A good chair - Definitely! I've had the same one for over five years now. I used gift money to purchase it. The seat is just now starting to not feel as cushiony. That's fixable with a small pillow.

It has three-way adjustment. The back can be raised, lowered, and tilted. Same with the seat. They can be moved as one unit or individually. The seat and lumbar support are also shallower and lower than a lot of chairs, so my knees can actually bend instead of sticking out like a little kid on a big chair, and the lumbar support isn't hitting me just below the ribs.

It wasn't an overly expensive chair, at the time, at $100.

Good keyboard height. The adjustable one mentioned above is great, but pricey (about $100 last I knew). I'm lucky enough to have a carpenter for a fiance; he made a shelf based on my exact needs.

Rollerball mouse.

I started using headphones/earbuds as little as possible. If I can get good clarity through the speakers, I use them. Something about not being tethered is really liberating.

A heating pad at my feet. I found it works much better for me than a space heater, since it's usually my feet that are the coldest.

Adjustable foot rest. Again, made by my fiance, but the one I had before this one was from Ikea, and much cheaper than ones anywhere else.

Fleecy blanket. I found this idea in a book called "Living More With Less." Wool blankets are used as coats in Lesotho. Secure a blanket around your shoulders with a large safety pin. It feels much cozier than a robe or sweater. I'd think a poncho would be similar, just not as long.

If I could type while wearing gloves I would. I just can't get used to the feel of it.

Ergonomic keyboard. Check out thrift stores. People must buy them and not like them. Since discovering this, the most I've paid is $8; I was able to pick one up at St. Vinnie's for $1. At this price I can have a couple of extras on hand for those unfortunate spills, or if it just decides it's too old to work anymore.

Monitor stand. Homely, but I have a bunch of thin boards stacked up to juuuuust the right height for my eyeballs.

I've thought about trying out a Snuggie this winter. - Anyone tried to type with this?

[ In Reply To ..]
With the arm holes and stuff, I thought it would be perfect for wrapping up in and working!

I've made one with a blanket and a few big safety pins. Way cheaper. - Saugust

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I love it.

Love all the suggestions - tiredhands

[ In Reply To ..]
and looking into them already! Hopefully it helps with my concentration which is about shot these days :)

Mouse magnifier - Shipwrecked

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I ordered a Microsoft Comfort Optical Mouse 3000 (corded) on eBay for about $10. To my surprise, it has a little button on the side you can click for a magnification window to open. I no longer have to stand up and put my face against the screen to read small print. I ordered 2 more to keep in reserve, since I've become really dependent on it.

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