I Blame My Computer

by Hans
(Seattle, WA)

Ever since I was a teenager, I have loved working with computers. My family was always an early adopter to whatever the latest new technologies were, and computers were no exception. We got our first Macintosh in 1991, which was when I was introduced to the mouse. This is when my repetitive stress injury to my right wrist began. I wish I knew the total number of hours I had spent in front of the computer, moving the mouse around, but it must have been astronomical.

I had no support for my wrist, and as the years passed, this took its toll. After years of pain, I was diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome in 2005. Surgery seemed too expensive an option (I was uninsured) so I dealt with the pain through over the counter medication. Eventually, I could no longer live like this, so I bit the bullet and had the surgery done. While I am still paying off the astronomical expense, the change in my quality of life has been worth it.