3 Years of Worsening Right Arm Pain From Computer Work. Tried Ergonomic Changes, Still Struggling.
TL;DR: 22M with 3 years of worsening right arm pain from computer work. Multiple ergonomic changes provided only temporary relief, and symptoms now affect productivity and mouse control. An orthopedist suspects tendonitis, and I am looking for ways to reduce the discomfort while awaiting follow-up.
Hey guys. 22M here. I started working from home about three years ago, and since then I’ve been having discomfort in my right arm, the arm I use for the mouse. I used to be an intern before, and since the hours were shorter, the discomfort was manageable. Sometimes I had a weird feeling that “my right arm was crooked or smaller compared to the left,” but I only felt that after long periods of working. In the past few months, I started working full-time, and the pain has gotten a lot worse, to the point that it’s seriously affecting my productivity at work. On some of the more extreme days, it got to the point where sometimes I had trouble making more precise movements with the mouse, it felt like my arm wouldn't respond.
In the meantime, I switched from a regular mouse to an ergonomic mouse, which I felt helped for a few days, but then the pain came back. After that, I decided to try replacing the vertical mouse with a tablet, using it like a trackpad, and for a few days I didn't feel any pain at all, but again, the pain returned. I also changed desks twice, all three of different sizes, and honestly, I didn't feel any difference at all. I even went as far as investing in a left-handed mouse, and when my right arm is hurting a lot, I use the mouse with my left hand for a while, which eases the pain in my right arm a bit, but I quickly start feeling some discomfort in my left arm too. Another investment I made was in a height-adjustable desk - and when I work standing up, I feel less discomfort in my arm.
Thinking back, coincidentally, as soon as I started working from home, I invested in a new chair and an ultrawide monitor. Regarding the chair, its armrests are really are not the right height for the desk, which forces me to use cushions to match the desk height. For a long time, I kept my arms resting on them, but lately, I don't really feel comfortable using them, to be honest, so I just leave my arms hanging. But it's a good ergonomic chair – I used to have lower back pain that went away after I started using it. As for the monitor, it's a 27" ultrawide, and I feel like because of it, I constantly feel "tempted" to adopt a bad posture, tilting my neck toward the left side of the screen (where the page content usually is), which causes discomfort in my right shoulder, even if I'm at a considerable distance from the monitor.
I suspect it might be something related to RSI, because I only feel this discomfort when I'm in the posture of working on the computer (sitting with my arms forward). When I'm standing or doing another activity, my arm feels normal.
I made an appointment with an orthopedist, and he suspects it might be tendonitis. I’ve done some tests and need to go back for a follow-up to see what he says. I’m posting this as an emergency measure because I’m genuinely desperate trying to find ways to reduce the discomfort. Does anyone have any tips or suggestions for things I could do to ease the discomfort? Thanks in advance for your attention and any suggestions.
(Sorry for any spelling mistakes, I live in another country and used a translator to write.)