Do you suffer with hand or elbow pain? Do you know you are not alone? There are literally thousands of people in the same boat.

I started typing on an old manual typewriter in high school many years ago. I was in typing class and I remember completing the exercises of the key placement and stretches. The numbers and symbols were harder because you had to reach.

When years later I was working in a doctor's office my wrist started to ache. I made my first orthopedic doctor's visit regarding hand pain. I was then given a cortisone injection and the problem resolved itself for years.

Now keying on a computer day in and day out for years my hand pain had returned with a vengeance.

After several hand surgeries on both hands I consider my hands "delicate".

Many years ago my sister in law a hand therapist told me to fold a towel and place it under my keyboard.

I tried that but I found that it did not give me the cushioning I needed when touching the keyboard. I finally found a pad that worked. I cut it from a larger pad that was used for something completely different.

It worked!

I noticed the difference in my hand pain immediately. I could key on a computer for hours longer and the pain was never as severe as it was in the past.

I use an ergonomic keyboard at home and it makes a huge difference when typing for hours.

The only other option that doctor's love to tell you is to wear a hand splint. If you have ever worn a hand splint you know that I was not a happy camper.

Now I do not wear hand splints and my hand pain is severely reduced.

I know there are thousands of men, women, and children who are suffering from hand and elbow pain from continuous keying on their computer keyboards.

My suggestion is to try a pad under your keyboard. What can it hurt?

Remember keying on a keyboard is like hitting a brick wall with your hands.

Thank you for reading my article. Please check out my other articles. I would love to hear from you.

Copyright 2006 Linda Meckler