For what ails youApril 17th, 2007 @ 7:01 am
You’ve heard about tennis elbow, right? I guess you get a sore elbow from too much tennis. Or something like that.
Yeah, I don’t have that.
From time to time I do get what I call mouse roller ball-thingy finger. On days at work when, for whatever reason, I have to use the little roller thingy a lot, my finger gets rubbed raw and it hurts to even touch my mouse. But it’s work and I have to touch it. This is mostly caused when I’m working in a spreadsheet.
I also get something I like to refer to as chair blazer elbow. This is caused by wearing a blazer and having my elbow rubbed freakin’ raw by said blazer on my chair arm rest.
Not only does it make my elbow all red and stingy, it also rubs clean through my blazers and makes me almost want to put those sweet elbow pads on that are straight out of the 70’s.
You know what I’m talking about.
I really have totally worn through the elbows of some of my sweaters.
This last week I’ve noticed that I’m getting another awesome ailment that requires a lame name. This one is called fingernails jammed into finger. It’s exactly what it sounds like. When I type it feels like my nails are jamming into the delicate skin on the top of my fingers.
I’ve been typing for years. Back in middle school I was even asked to the be teaching assistant for the Typing Class. (I got to walk around the tell kids they were positioning their fingers incorrectly and also teach them how to center the title on the page. Remember when we used to have to do that before computers?!) So since I’ve been a master typer for over 15 years, it’s very odd that this new fingernail jamming thing has only just started to affect me. (Frema, did I use the correct word there, or should it be effect? I can’t ever remember.)
I seriously sat at work yesterday and thought I was going to have to go home. Dude, if I can’t type at work then I’m pretty much of no use to anyone. I was paying attention to how I was holding my fingers to see if I was doing it different then I used to. I couldn’t tell what I was doing. But dang it, it hurt.
I did notice that my nails were a little longer and thicker than normal, thank you breast feeding. So yeah, maybe it was my nails being too long. Last night before bed, I cut my nails and shaped them. Hoping that they were the culprits.
Here I sit on my laptop typing away. And get this, my fingers are killing me. It is seriously like pulling teeth. And I still have like 7.5 hours of work yet. And it’s only Tuesday morning.
(My mom and dad are flying in tomorrow for Babboo’s first birthday. Hooray.)
Work · I rock
Operation Pink Herring
said,
April 17, 2007 at 3:01 pm
Dude, is your chair made out of razorblades? I can’t believe you’ve worn through clothing!
I totally understand mouse rolly ball finger though. I am having major problems typing lately. I had an our institution’s ergonomics guy come and recommend all kind of things, and none of them helped. I look forward to the weekends as a chance to rest my wrist. In fact, my wrist hurts so bad that I can’t even type any more right now.
I think you need a softer chair. Can you try using the mouse with your non-dominant hand? I’ve heard that helps with mouse rolly ball finger (I know people who have had it, you’re not the only one).
Ow. My wrist.
heidikins
said,
April 17, 2007 at 3:46 pm
Ohmygoodness!! I’ve never heard of that, either the vicious chair, or the roller-ball thingy ailment…I hope they make some kind of happy pills for that! Or hey, maybe you need to get a new chair? And a padded mouse…maybe you could get an upholstered mouse? haha - ok, too girly for even ME to imagine.
xox
Rachel
said,
April 17, 2007 at 4:17 pm
Firstly, OMG I cannot believe Babboo is going to be 1 already!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That sucks about your typing! Maybe you should see a doctor about it if it is affecting your work (don’t know if I used the right one either). For the last 2 weeks or more my wrists and lower arms hurt something fierce after I’ve been typing for just a short period of time. I googled it and came up with, possibly, tendonitis. but I tried all the stuff that was suggested, moving the keyboard and such and it didn’t work.
Get thee to the doctor (maybe I should take my own advice).
Lizzy
said,
April 17, 2007 at 4:58 pm
Happy birthday Sweet Babboo! What a wonderful year!
And dude, these are some of the reasons that I QUIT MY JOB. I used to get numb arms and hands because my office chair was not ergonomic. Seriously, the right chair and office set up? THAT will cure what ails ye.
Kait
said,
April 17, 2007 at 7:21 pm
Awww!!! I totally get Rollerball Mouse Finger! So annoying. It usually goes away, though.
My mom goes in for corporal (spelling?) tunnel surgery next week. I can’t believe how easy the fix for that is now!
I’m sorry that you’re wearing out your clothing. That’s sad.
Frema
said,
April 17, 2007 at 8:17 pm
I’ve never heard of the problem you described. I’ll be interested to see how you go about taking care of it!
Carrisa
said,
April 17, 2007 at 8:34 pm
Haha… I love that Kait typed corporal instead of carpal… that’s funny. ( I love you Kait! )
And wow… a year old? Didn’t you tell him he wasn’t allowed to grow up?
I think you could totally rock the elbow pads. And it could be one of your “new things”
TV Goddess
said,
April 17, 2007 at 11:46 pm
OK, first, I get carpal tunnel symptoms, so I use a lefthanded mouse now.
Second, I CANNOT BELIEVE BABOO IS ALMOST 1 ALREADY!!!!
-R-
said,
April 18, 2007 at 1:32 am
Yes, you used “affect” correctly, although you did not ask me.
Also, I think blazers with elbow pads are sex-ay.
CPA Mom
said,
April 18, 2007 at 2:49 pm
Dude, I’ve never heard of that one but I am getting a callous on my hand at the base of my thumb from using the mouse so much.
angela
said,
April 19, 2007 at 12:54 am
Goodness, you sure have it rough.
SBF
said,
April 22, 2007 at 8:45 pm
OHH! I get what I like to called irritated elbow syndrone from my elbows against the chair arm. Akin to IBS I think. I also get sensitive spot disease. This is the disease that I get when I have some ailment somewhere on my body and I have decided that rather than leaving it be, I will pick/itch/dig it until fully irritated and if I am lucky bleeding. Oh I have said just enough to make myself barf.