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June 16, 2006

Tendinosis ()

by fluffy at 11:57 AM
I've been going about treating my wrist problems all wrong. I mean, I was doing an established protocol for treating inflammation of the tendons, but cortisone didn't help at all. Reading further I found out it's much more likely I have tendinosis, which is caused by several microtears in the collagen layer of the tendons. In the case of tendinosis, the last thing you want to do is get rid of the inflammation, because that is how the body sends important stuff to the tendons to repair the collagen.

There is an experimental treatment for tendonosis called "prolotherapy" which actually induces inflammation to speed the natural healing process up, but apparently the best treatment is to exercise the muscles in "braking" motions, not stretch, not use anti-inflammatories (instead using painkillers like acetaminophen) to mitigate the pain, and not do the things which cause damage for a month or more. Argh.

The main thing is just stopping taking aspirin, naproxen, and ibuprofen. My response to the pain getting worse was just by taking more anti-inflammatories and wearing my wrist braces more. That was precisely the wrong thing to do.

So, work-wise I need to do less typing and possibly go on disability leave for a while (argh). Recreation-wise I think piano and guitar are okay in moderation but typing is right out (argh).

This is so frustrating...

Comments

#7600 06/16/2006 01:27 pm
You found this out via the work doctor?
If you can work a mouse, try out the software called Dasher which is used to enter text. It'll be a little slow, but it might help for being able to stay online. I bet it's not great for entering code, though.
-bill
#7602 06/16/2006 02:08 pm Yikes
Speech to text isn't an option, I'm guessing?
#7603 06/16/2006 02:32 pm
No, I found this out via doing my own web-based research of other forms of tendon overuse issues, and reading several published medical papers and so on. Dasher looks promising, especially since there's versions for all the platforms I use. I'll look into it. Thanks.

vlad: Why does everyone always ask about dictation software? Haven't I gone into that dozens of times, and shouldn't it be painfully obvious that in an office setting and for programming it's USELESS?
#7604 06/16/2006 02:42 pm
It only takes about five minutes with dication software to see how useless it is for a developer.
#7605 06/16/2006 02:42 pm Yikes!
fluffy:
vlad: Why does everyone always ask about dictation software? Haven't I gone into that dozens of times, and shouldn't it be painfully obvious that in an office setting and for programming it's USELESS?


Whoa whoa - don't shoot, I'm a friendly! Sheesh - sorry, I haven't seen anything from you on that topic before now! Exclamation Exclamation Exclamation
#7606 06/16/2006 02:46 pm
I actually played with it a bit just recently as my new laptop has a built-in mike and comes with the software. It's pretty useless. First, the Windows stuff only works with Word, so coding is right out. But even if you got one of the ones without, you need utter quite and clear annunciation to get it to work, and then you get to write at about half the speed most people can type. (Not counting all the extra editing required because of the inaccuracy. Personally, I'd rather tape a stylus to my elbow and type with that.
#7607 06/16/2006 03:12 pm
The first thing everyone and their dog always asks me is "Have you tried voice dictation software?" It gets old. And I'd think someone who at least knows what source code LOOKS like would know better than to ask such a stupid question.
#7608 06/16/2006 03:12 pm Hurrah for the march of technology
ucblockhead:
First, the Windows stuff only works with Word, so coding is right out. But even if you got one of the ones without, you need utter quite and clear annunciation to get it to work, and then you get to write at about half the speed most people can type.


The last Windows package I bought (for my wife) worked with pretty much any Windows application. But that was back when AMD 1.1Ghz chips were close to state of the art, so it was some time ago.

The problem, as I understand it, is that all the speech reg vendors moved from discrete recognition (pause slightly between words) to continuous recognition (continuous flow of words) because that's what the ``market'' wanted. The problem is that continuous recognition is a lot harder of a problem to solve and much less accurate. It's also more difficult for a number of people with disabilities to use. Discrete recognition, at the last time I looked at it (on OS/2 which tells you how long ago it was) was at the point where it was useful for programming. Continuous recognition is nowhere close.

That said, my memory may be overly hazy on the topic. All that I know for certain is that there are presently no good speech reg products on the market.
#7609 06/16/2006 03:48 pm
The. trouble. is. that. forcing. people. to. pause. between. words. makes. it. pretty. useless. for. anything. but. UI. commands.
#7618 06/17/2006 09:10 pm Pen
Mr. Dude,
May I suggest a pen stylus as an input device.
It has made a huge difference for me. Maybe if all ye do is typing it won't help that much, but doing graphics work, using a mouse is just a wrist killer.
Get a pen! Wacom!
#7619 06/17/2006 11:02 pm
I use a Wacom for my artwork but my job is programming and writing spec docs and answering clueless emails.

The Wacom seems like it'd work really well with Dasher though. I'm going to bring my spare 4x6 to work. (I've been looking for a use for it since upgrading to a 12x12 anyway...)