Happenings: March 2005 Archives

So far, March has been kind of crappy. Back when I was in graduate school (early 2001), I took a class that was very demanding with the coding, and combined with some poor ergonomics with my PC, I started feeling some pain in my hands and wrists. At the time, I freaked out about it, and went to the University doctor.

At the time, the University doctor gave me a quick diagnosis, told me to take breaks and do stretches, and sent me on my way. A week or two later, I went back to see a different doctor, to get a second opinion. I received this same basic treatment and diagnosis, so I stopped going to the University doctor about this issue.

Up until last week, I managed my hand and wrist problems through improved ergonomics, taking breaks, exercise, and largely ignoring it. But a week ago, the pain that I was experiencing changed, and became something that it really wasn't wise for me to ignore any longer. So, appropriately freaked out, I was motivated to go to the doctor, which appears to have kicked off a journey to figure out what is up with my hands, and how I'm going to manage my interactions with the computer going forward.

This is taking quite a toll on me personally. Computing has pretty much always been my career focus. And outside of my career, I derive a lot of personal enjoyment from tinkering with computers. So my response to typing pain has not been altogether rational. It seems like I can deal with most of my body is changing hardships fine, but when something changes regarding my ability to type. I'd just go into the sky is falling mode. So, going forward, I have to convince myself that I have a future, and then I have to do the leg work with my doctors, etc.. In order to figure out how I'll be able to continue to lead the happy and productive life style to which I have grown accustomed.