Hey, all! I failed to anticipate that sharing my inability to type would prompt such an outpouring of comments... that I would want to type responses to. Blarg. In the spirit of typing less, I am going to just put one message here, and I am going to write it via dictation.
(The only reasonably effective dictation I've found so far is the voice typing in Google, which only works in Google Docs and Gmail. I tried using voice control in the Mac OS, but it is a nightmare, generally more trouble than it's worth. For whatever reason Google's dictation, at least in Google's apps, seems to work pretty well, so I'm trying it here.)
I just want to say thank you to everyone who has said such kind things and offered such thoughtful and generous suggestions. I can't respond to all of them, but I've read every single one. I'm quite touched and overwhelmed.
Dave, as a long-time yoga practitioner and now teacher, PLEASE seek the advice and maybe at least one or more private yoga sessions with the best yoga teacher you know who is good at managing injury. Heading full steam into a full hot yoga practice while having active tendonitis is potentially quite risky. There is of course a lot to be gained from a tailored yoga practice for you, but it really needs to be individualized. Please consult the best teacher you can find. Best of luck to you on a complete recovery, however long it takes. I look forward to the additional podcasts!
Two simple words: Child labor. Get your sons in the room, lock the door, and say "fellas, it's time for you to earn your keep and those fancy tile backsplashes aren't going to pay for themselves. So get your fingers on the keyboard and buckle up to hear some real climate hawk brilliance with a little Manchin hate sprinkled in."
Longtime freeloading Volts reader/podcast listener, first time (it's about time) subscriber and commenter. So grateful for all you've done so far. We need you and you need your arms to recuperate. Please make the time to do whatever it takes to heal and to learn new dictating skills or whatever is necessary. We will wait as patiently as we can.
Hey Dave! I'm actually on the tail end of recovery of tendonitis in my bicep (my trade is writing code), and have done almost all of what you've done. University of Michigan's Occupational Therapy group had some bananas technology. Happy to share notes on some additional ergonomic details, or what things helped and what didn't. You are right though, rest is the best thing you can do right now.
I'm 4 months in and I still feel tender at certain points, but I'm pretty functional.
You mentioned back pain. As someone who also found yoga to heal and strengthen your lower back, you are probably familiar with the relationship to things like tension in your hamstrings being the thing that actually throws low back muscles into spasms. Similarly, having our arms in front of us when we type tends to overuse the pectoral and bicep muscles which all connect at various points down the arms. It seems counter-intuitive, but working your upper back (when your docs say it's okay), keeping better posture, and making sure you have a good 90deg angle in your elbows when you type is just as, if not more important than the rotation of your wrist.
Anyhoo. I quite literally feel your pain, but can also report back from the other side. It is a totally resolvable situation, and you don't have to completely abandon typing. The pandemic has just exacerbated many bad, work-related habits, and this is just another another one on the pile. Dialing back will be good for your health on every front.
One other thing I forgot to mention, if you're using a sit/standing (or just a standing) desk, arm-rests don't really work very well, forcing you to hold your arms up all day long while you type. I got a pair of these (pulled off the ones attached to my office chair) and attached them to my desk and they help out tremendously.
Long time reader, first time writer. I went ahead and subscribed.... been meaning to for some time now.
I really appreciate all you put into the podcasting and transcribing as well (that takes a lot beyond just doing the audio work). Yours is my favorite podcast and I have listened to every episode for months now.
Rest up; we only get the one body. I appreciate all that you do, Dave. I am glad that this community is such a wellspring of knowledge and clever thinking!
Good on you for putting your health first! Take care and I hope your injuries heal promptly :) Good timing too, with Inslee soon ending the mask mandate. I can't imagine doing hot yoga with an N-95 on...
I've been reading and loving your work for years. This post drove me to subscribe, not for what I expect you to produce in the future, but for what you've already put out in the world, which is a great deal of awesomeness.
I've subscribed so that you'll have just a little more in your bank account, telling you that you can take some time off and it'll be okay. 'Cause it totally will be. Take a 6-8 month sabbatical. Go hiking. Enjoy the world that you've been working to save!
Hang in there. Repetive injury for us "knowledge workers" is a real deal. Big RFP deadlines generally have me working in a reduced state following them (tendonitis and wrist troubles). Along with all the other "what worked for me" suggestions you've received - I have a sit/stand desk - just moving the impact around all day seems to help. I have big, gushy pads supporting my wrists and when I am standing the standing desk supports forearms. And keep up with the PT ... or try different PT! We'll miss your writing but get the rest you need to keep writing!
I am so sorry to hear about all your pain. As an incentive for you to rest, I just bought my friend in Italy a year subscription. Maybe other members can chip in similarly to take some stress off of you and make you feel ok about some relaxation time.
Hey, all! I failed to anticipate that sharing my inability to type would prompt such an outpouring of comments... that I would want to type responses to. Blarg. In the spirit of typing less, I am going to just put one message here, and I am going to write it via dictation.
(The only reasonably effective dictation I've found so far is the voice typing in Google, which only works in Google Docs and Gmail. I tried using voice control in the Mac OS, but it is a nightmare, generally more trouble than it's worth. For whatever reason Google's dictation, at least in Google's apps, seems to work pretty well, so I'm trying it here.)
I just want to say thank you to everyone who has said such kind things and offered such thoughtful and generous suggestions. I can't respond to all of them, but I've read every single one. I'm quite touched and overwhelmed.
Dave, as a long-time yoga practitioner and now teacher, PLEASE seek the advice and maybe at least one or more private yoga sessions with the best yoga teacher you know who is good at managing injury. Heading full steam into a full hot yoga practice while having active tendonitis is potentially quite risky. There is of course a lot to be gained from a tailored yoga practice for you, but it really needs to be individualized. Please consult the best teacher you can find. Best of luck to you on a complete recovery, however long it takes. I look forward to the additional podcasts!
Two simple words: Child labor. Get your sons in the room, lock the door, and say "fellas, it's time for you to earn your keep and those fancy tile backsplashes aren't going to pay for themselves. So get your fingers on the keyboard and buckle up to hear some real climate hawk brilliance with a little Manchin hate sprinkled in."
Rest up and heal! Thanks for your great work, my subscription ain't changing!
Longtime freeloading Volts reader/podcast listener, first time (it's about time) subscriber and commenter. So grateful for all you've done so far. We need you and you need your arms to recuperate. Please make the time to do whatever it takes to heal and to learn new dictating skills or whatever is necessary. We will wait as patiently as we can.
Thinking of you. I’d strongly recommend otter.ai dictation software. It is loads better than dragon in my experience, not to mention Siri or others.
Hey Dave! I'm actually on the tail end of recovery of tendonitis in my bicep (my trade is writing code), and have done almost all of what you've done. University of Michigan's Occupational Therapy group had some bananas technology. Happy to share notes on some additional ergonomic details, or what things helped and what didn't. You are right though, rest is the best thing you can do right now.
I'm 4 months in and I still feel tender at certain points, but I'm pretty functional.
You mentioned back pain. As someone who also found yoga to heal and strengthen your lower back, you are probably familiar with the relationship to things like tension in your hamstrings being the thing that actually throws low back muscles into spasms. Similarly, having our arms in front of us when we type tends to overuse the pectoral and bicep muscles which all connect at various points down the arms. It seems counter-intuitive, but working your upper back (when your docs say it's okay), keeping better posture, and making sure you have a good 90deg angle in your elbows when you type is just as, if not more important than the rotation of your wrist.
Anyhoo. I quite literally feel your pain, but can also report back from the other side. It is a totally resolvable situation, and you don't have to completely abandon typing. The pandemic has just exacerbated many bad, work-related habits, and this is just another another one on the pile. Dialing back will be good for your health on every front.
Looking forward to more podcasts!
Cheers!
One other thing I forgot to mention, if you're using a sit/standing (or just a standing) desk, arm-rests don't really work very well, forcing you to hold your arms up all day long while you type. I got a pair of these (pulled off the ones attached to my office chair) and attached them to my desk and they help out tremendously.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07RZX96QR/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Long time reader, first time writer. I went ahead and subscribed.... been meaning to for some time now.
I really appreciate all you put into the podcasting and transcribing as well (that takes a lot beyond just doing the audio work). Yours is my favorite podcast and I have listened to every episode for months now.
Rest up; we only get the one body. I appreciate all that you do, Dave. I am glad that this community is such a wellspring of knowledge and clever thinking!
Good on you for putting your health first! Take care and I hope your injuries heal promptly :) Good timing too, with Inslee soon ending the mask mandate. I can't imagine doing hot yoga with an N-95 on...
Oops, so much for that hot yoga sans N-95 thing: https://www.thestranger.com/slog/2022/02/18/66955902/slog-am-no-more-racist-helmet-law-king-county-to-keep-local-mask-mandate-and-everyone-in-this-goddamn-city-hates-the-homeless
I've been reading and loving your work for years. This post drove me to subscribe, not for what I expect you to produce in the future, but for what you've already put out in the world, which is a great deal of awesomeness.
I've subscribed so that you'll have just a little more in your bank account, telling you that you can take some time off and it'll be okay. 'Cause it totally will be. Take a 6-8 month sabbatical. Go hiking. Enjoy the world that you've been working to save!
So sorry to hear this, Dave!
Use voice to text.
Use shitty voice to text.
Only correct the very worst of the errors. Put a disclaimer at the top.
Everyone will understand.
You might want to consider switching to dictation software:
https://www.dragon-naturally-speaking.com/
Also, descript doesn't entirely suck as a podcast captioning/transcription option
https://www.descript.com/
p.s. ditch Twitter. As much as I enjoy reading you there, it's physically and mentally damaging.
Wow. Take care. You’re excellent
Hang in there. Repetive injury for us "knowledge workers" is a real deal. Big RFP deadlines generally have me working in a reduced state following them (tendonitis and wrist troubles). Along with all the other "what worked for me" suggestions you've received - I have a sit/stand desk - just moving the impact around all day seems to help. I have big, gushy pads supporting my wrists and when I am standing the standing desk supports forearms. And keep up with the PT ... or try different PT! We'll miss your writing but get the rest you need to keep writing!
We take so much for granted that is fragile and precious. Glad you are taking time to heal.
I am so sorry to hear about all your pain. As an incentive for you to rest, I just bought my friend in Italy a year subscription. Maybe other members can chip in similarly to take some stress off of you and make you feel ok about some relaxation time.