My Nerd Injury

It started with an aching chest in the middle of the night. Over the course of two weeks, the pain crept into my shoulders, neck, and back. Then, I started to feel "nervy" in my left leg. I started to lose sleep.

Naturally, I got anxious. I even searched web MD at 2:00 a.m.

They say once an ailment is causing sleep disruption, most people will stop ignoring it. In my case, "they" were right.

Using my internet tools, I self diagnosed: Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI). In short, I have taxed certain muscles to the degree that they are inflamed and causing painful tension and strain to other areas of my body. It was while mimicking my daily office tasks that it clicked (literally... my back, breast bone area, and shoulders) and I knew then--I was suffering from a nerd injury. The doctor confirmed my suspicion and my physical therapist has since reconfirmed it.

It seems that twenty-seven years of poor posture combined with an average of twelve to eighteen hours of computer use a day can really take a toll on one's body. Perhaps my deteriorating eye sight should have clued me in to the benefits of moderation. But hey, I am a full-time student and a part-time teacher-- my life revolves around my laptop.

I must admit I felt a little silly being prescribed therapy sessions. After all, I'm not entirely athletic and I haven't fallen or been involved in any accident. I felt sillier when the PT imitated my slouchy posture (Mom you were right).

So I am here today to post some advice for my fellow grad students and daily computer users: Attend to your body's needs. When you begin to feel a burning sensation in your shoulder and you have not applied IcyHot, step away from the computer. When after ten hours at the library your spine begins to resemble the letter "c," call it a night. When your laptop causes you to sit in a semi-meditative position on the couch, get up and stretch. If after grading fifty-three papers you have lost significant range of motion in your neck, apply some heat and take it easy.

In fact, here are some exercises I'm trying:

• shoulder rolls

• chin to neck stretches

• hamstring stretches (on back, hand behind knee, leg stretched into straight position)

• hip rolls (on back, hands to the side, slow left to right pivot)

• leg curls (on back, squeeze knees to chest, have someone apply slight pressure from above)

• press ups (on stomach, slow upper body lift, hold head at neutral position, then slowly lower the body)

• exercise ball stretches
  
  
• corner stretches (stand facing a corner, keep arms symmetrical, lean in slowly, hold)
  
  

And I have been advised to get back into my regular walking schedule, practice good posture (poor posture is a hard habit to break), and consciously adjust my study and work habits.

I must say, as a life-long side sleeper, this occupational injury is really cramping my style. I guess I'm off to do some lumbar pillow shopping!