Saving my elbows and wrists with a new office layout

It all started when my children were off for Christmas holidays. I played Just Dance 2015 with my daughter on the Wii. And let me tell you, I get really into it. Well, the next morning, I woke up with a pain in my right shoulder, and all the way down my arm. I figured I pulled something and that the pain would eventually go away. It did in my shoulder, but not in my elbow and wrist. Being as that is my writing hand, and half of what I need to work on the computer, it was a problem.

I scheduled an appointment with my family doctor. She made some recommendations, including wearing a wrist splint at night and physiotherapy. It was at my first physio appointment that my physiotherapist made some recommendations for changes to my work station.

This was where I used to do most of my work. Not recommended.

I was not allowed to work on the loveseat anymore, but had to start working at my desk. She gave me a sheet with recommended heights for various things I would be using at my desk. I though, okay, I can make the necessary changes. Not a problem.

I moved to the kitchen table while I made the necessary changes. It was better than the love seat.

I ordered a separate keyboard for my laptop so I could have the keyboard and the screen at the necessary heights. My husband found a keyboard drawer and built a stand for my laptop to raise it up. This is the result…

Unfortunately, this setup didn’t work. The keyboard drawer didn’t fit my new ergonomic keyboard properly. I couldn’t reach the number keys. Plus, I still had to lean up and forward to reach the mouse. I was also feeling squished in the corner. My chair didn’t fit in properly and it was just plain uncomfortable. Not was I was going for at all. Back to the kitchen table I went…

But my husband and I came up with a solution. I would switch desks. We also had a corner desk in my office that my kids used. I bought a new keyboard drawer with a mouse pad and moved the entire office around Wednesday afternoon. On Thursday, I spent my first day in my new ergonomic office, and things are going well. I might still get a slanted bench for my feet, but I don’t need that right away. Here’s what it looks like now…

So, now I will continue to use this setup, do the exercises my physiotherapist gave me, and hope everything gets better.