Your laptop can be causing your carpal tunnel pain!
Laptops are hard to use because, well, they just are! If you watch someone using a laptop, they are probably curled up or scrunched over. The monitor is too close to the keyboard.
One day there will be a design where the monitor will lift off the keyboard so people can place both parts in a more comfortable,ergonomic position. (At least I hope so.) (If you design that, remember where you got the idea from and send me part of the profit, please.) 🙂
Update 2021: It’s been done! But I haven’t received any royalties. 🙂
If you can try to use a variety of positions when you are using your computer, that will help prevent carpal tunnel pain and neck and back pain, too.
If you are able to buy
a keyboard that plugs into your laptop that will allow you to work in a more ergonomic position. A new keyboard might cost $20 but perhaps you can find a good used one. You might even know someone who has one laying around that they aren’t using who will give it to you.
The new keyboard will have to be able to plug into one of the ports in your laptop unless it’s wireless. Keyboards don’t weigh much or take up much room so you will still be able to have a portable computer.
If you aren’t worried about portability, you can also get a new monitor for your laptop. That will give you even more of a desktop computer look and feel but monitors do cost much more than a new keyboard will.
The simple step of getting a new keyboard to plug into your laptop can help relieve your carpal tunnel pain!