May 29, 1997

Left Handedness

Diane feels twinges of fear -- and a dull ache -- in her arm.

I'm sitting at my desk to write this, and I'm using both hands, wrists resting on the section of the PowerBook by the trackpad. No more sprawling on the couch and typing. If I play NetHack, it has to be with my left hand. I'm trying to remind myself to use the trackpad with my left hand.

I've developed a fairly constant dull pain in my right forearm. From the fleshy bit just north of my elbow to the middle of the back of my hand.

I am very scared. Please note the complete lack of amusement as I describe this.

Last night I had insomnia again, this time because of worry. I rooted around for a book on Repetitive Stress Injury that I knew Darin had around somewhere and read some of it. There were some physical exercises in it you can use to stretch muscles. Here's one:

Hold your arm straight in front of you from the shoulder with the palm facing your body. With your other hand, being careful to keep your fingers over the knuckles of the flexed hand, gently press your hand toward you to a count of ten. Be careful not to raise your shoulder when you do this exercise.

I can do this with my left hand no problem. My left hand goes down 90 degrees, and pressing it is mildly uncomfortable, mainly because this hand has never really bent more than 90 degrees down.

My right hand drops to about 75 degrees. Pressing it towards my body is painful -- I can feel it all the way up my forearm.

Because of this, I'm trying to convince Darin to write an entry or two for me. If nothing else, he should let his friends know how he's doing. I hope I can convince him.

(Darin says programmers rarely get RSI because they have to rest while the program compiles.)