Pain when typing on a keyboard

[relaxandchill]

Hi, I have recently been diagnosed with limited scleroderma. I have been experiencing a lot of heat, joint pain, tingling and swelling in my fingers when typing at work. Is this something other people have experienced? I am looking to access a type to talk software, and discussing these symptoms with my employer. I am just curious as to whether this is something others have experienced and have any advice? Thanks.

[OldTed60]

Hi. Initially I was misdiagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis 14 years ago and had several years of the typing pain you describe. Wrists too. We had a car which needed ignition turning clockwise and I had to get one of my teenage sons to come out of sports training to help me start several times! I’m not sure whether this was palindromic rheumatism or Sjogren’s but when my systemic sclerosis was finally diagnosed in 2023 I was told it was still early stage. Due to all the other diagnoses I’ve tried most of the anti rheumatic drugs now and I think these have sorted out the inflammatory arthritis and now when I type I have more weakness and loss of sensation that pain. Iloprost infusions have helped my Raynaud’s and Erythromelalgia from causing fingertips to break down at least.

[Chumpy]

I have raynaurds and suffer when using a keyboard or touchscreen finger tips tingle more than they usually do and get sore I don't know how to solve the issue and I do more inputting and emails etc rather than typing onto keyboard I have found a stylus works quite well on my phone and use similar on the keyboard it just finding a way round that doesn't impact on my work/ health too much

[LadyTrundle]

yes, I do , and in fact, I believe that’s how my scleroderma started. I was quite sure using a trackpad had the tips of my fingers and I seem to get a white patch the pad of my index finger. This was denied by Apple and everybody course! But I did find whole chat streams of other people that seem to find the metal used in the mice and the burnt their fingers. Mind your response was to use only a wired in mouse, with a plastic coating. That stopped the burn. But as the scleroderma has developed., And I started to get digital ulcers on the tips of my fingers, pressing on keys became agony and definitely caused digital ulcers when I had to type a lot. I resorted to jabbing at the keyboard with the soft end of pencils or those pens designed to work on the touchscreen. when I had to type a lot. I resorted to jabbing at the keyboard with the soft end of pencils or those pens work on the touchscreens. Voice to text software has improved – a bit! It’s still requires quite post-editing. So you end up still using your fingers.

Between that, and a separate RSI condition of my back, I’ve have ended up having to give up work,, as my work was entirely and I was self-employed. I hope with an open conversation with your employer, they will find.

[Clangerscat]

Hi relaxandchill, the joints in my fingers are quite sore and swollen and I can only use a keyboard for a limited amount of time. I also have some clawing which means that the little finger on my right hand constantly presses random keys, very frustrating! Type to talk software would definitely be a way forward. I also exercise my hands every day to try and keep them moving. You can look these up on YouTube,think it’s hand exercises SRUK. Good luck sounds like your employer is at least engaging with your problems.

[Jacko37]

Yes, using a keyboard is difficult, can't hit the right Keyes. Also hurts my wrists and fingers hurt like mad even without ulcers. I have had to reduce my hours.

[Prettyfalcon]

Hello,

Ive had difficulties due to the swelling, more from my SSc than my Raynauds and before I was prescribed the MMF which has helped enormously, I used dictation tech (Philips speech mike) and I also wear a pair of Turtle Doves wrist warmers, which have been wonderful throughout some of the colder weeks of this winter.

Even just using the dictation capability on an iPhone helps limit the amount of typing. Yes, you have to edit and amend but it’s still far less painful than typing loads. Plus, you can always run the copy through AI to edit it for you, which is great for the bad days.

Hope you find a solution that works for you