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thumb issue

Posted By: mt on 2006-02-02
In Reply to: Probably something to do with carpal tunnel - The rare times mine acts up - sm - Laura E.

I was thinking that might be it. I do not have an ergonomic keyboard as of yet. I might want to get one pretty quick. I did try buddy taping it to my index finger and hand earlier. That seemed to help too, but took a little getting used to.




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my thumb issue was due to
De'Quervans? (I'm not going to look it up right now) tendonitis.  It's located on the side of your wrist by your thumb.  Mine got pretty nasty, had to go the route of cortisone injections then finally surgery but 7 yrs out and no more issues or pain. 
thumb issue
it is DE Quervain's, I know because I do PT reports. Whether or not this is my problem, we'll find out. I have an ergonomic keyboard coming, as I am not going to mess around with this. I did put a hand towel under my wrist pad. It is helping for now. At least, I don't have to buddy tape. That's a pain. lol. Pun intended!
Is this a semantics issue or is it a you versus frustrated issue?
Which ever it is, if your feeling superior on a board makes your day go on ahead. I am sure frustrated knows what she is doing and now so does her boss. I am also sure that in the future frustrated with think twice about how she words every sentence perfectly so that you can perceive it correctly. After all, that is what she would rather be doing than kissing her little daughter. NOT.
Good for you frustrated, for handling it in a professional manner. For the other MTs on here who need to get a life, well, maybe they shouldn't bother since feeling superior here seems to suit well. JMHO.
It isn't a Smartype issue it is a Word issue
On the Word toolbar at the top, click on Tools, then Autocorrect, then check the box that says "capitalize first letter of sentence."  That will do it for you.
One for the thumb!!! nm
tt
I know what you mean about the thumb.

I also stretch my wrists, hands, fingers often and it helps a lot!


I agree, my right thumb too, cause it's the
My right thumb aches constantly, sometimes to the point of almost a burning feeling. I know it's because I use this thumb only for the spacebar!
thumb w/ mind of its own
I just recently noticed that my left thumb likes to extend when I use that hand to type.  It is not to the point of being sore or achy, but it is feeling kind of stressed.  I don't know of any other way to describe it.  Does anybody have or has had the same issue?  How do I make it stay down?  Help!
thumb problems
It could possibly be DeQuervain's tenosynovitis.  I had it.  I was in a lot of pain for a long time.  Finally had surgery after several cortisone injections and physical therapy.  All better now, though.  Good luck.
Actually the ones I have do not have fingers, just a thumb.

I really love them, There is a strap around the wrist to adjust the tightness, but the neoprene is a great fabric that seems to work really well for me.  I hate to recommend anything because sometimes what is good for one is not so good for another.  I would recommend going to a surgical supply store and they should let you try them on, that is what I did. 


 


Thumb soreness
Anybody have any remedies to help with sore thumb.  My thumb is constantly sore from hitting the space bar. The longer I type, the more my thumb is tender.  Any suggestions to soften the blow to the space bar
A good of thumb is 30%, that should cover everything.
x
My rule of thumb is a $100 minimum
Of course, closer relatives and friends receive more, but always at least $100 for graduations, wedding gifts, etc. when someone is an acquaintance.
ExText-sore thumb

Does anybody have trouble with a sore left thumb from doing speech recognition in ExText? I have been doing it now for 5 months and have constant pain in my thumb. Just wondered if there was a better way of doing it.


Rule of thumb - THERE'S NO FREE LUNCH
If you don't want to do much, don't expect to make much. That's just the way it is.
Rule of thumb in the NE is October & April when

the time changes. Daylight Savings starts in April and Standard Time in October. It always works for me. Change all the clocks and change all the batteries.


For those who haven't done so yet, though, better get changing.


Left thumb backspace keyboard
I can backspace with my left thumb and space forward with my right thumb. No reaching up with my pinkie to the backspace key at top right. It's called an "Erase Ease" I think. Let's me fly.
But it isn't a "rule of thumb" anymore...Carla is right...sm

Bella, it's not a "rule of thumb" anymore. That was before the advent of word processing software. Word and WordPerfect do automatically adjust the spacing at the end of a sentence to make it more readable and pleasing to the eye. The only reason so many companies still ask that it be done is because that USED to be the norm in the time of typewriters and that's what we learned from Gregg. Companies I work for who are newer generations and know about the ins and outs of Word and WordPerfect know that they adjust automatically in order to put a clear, able to see, nice looking space at the end of a sentence.


However, with this being said, the original poster should still ask her contractor/client/company what they prefer. It is never left up to us unless we're the owner of the contract and developed the template or format ourselves. Especially if it's an MT account that pays based on character lines. Some would say that extra space is no big deal, but just how many Keystrokes do you think that is in a day hitting that extra space after a period? Maybe enough to make up about 10 extra lines or so? Probably. I'd rather get paid than not if they don't want you doing it and you are anyway.


Soooooo, after my ramble....always ask your supervisor, etc.


DG


Is it at the thumb base? I had mine x-rayed, and it
NSAIDs and wearing typing gloves seems to help. Also, after the initial 1-2 yrs. of constant pain, it did settle down considerably, now only hurts if I use my hands for twisting, such as opening jars, wringing out wet washcloths or laundry, or using screwdrives instead of a power drill bit to assemble, dissasemble things. I also have a lot of pain riding a bike. I padded the handlebars as much as possible, and try to ride with the the sorer of the 2 thumbs resting on top of the handle bar with my other fingers, not gripping it.

Anyway, good luck, and hopefully it'll settle down in a few months!
Rule of thumb on dictation. A dictated
minute on average takes 3 to 5 minutes to transcribe. So, at the top, 60 minutes of dictation can take up to 5 hours to transcribe. Would not do it for less than $20 personally, and then based on what I do now I would be losing money.
My left thumb is the only "finger" I don't use, carpal tunnel is bad enough already.nm
x
I just noticed my right thumb twitching. I tell ya I'm falling apart! Last week my rear end and

left leg were going numb and now my thumb is twitching.  Ya know how you have your thumb poised above the space bar, well whenever I pause my typing my thumb twitches slightly and softly taps the space bar.  I keep rubbing my hand hoping it will stop.  Anybody else have this problem?


Maybe I'm getting to old to be an MT anymore.  Been doing this for almost 14 years and never so much as had a headache.  Now within the last year, I have head, neck and shoulder problems with muscle spasms and tightness, my rear end problems, and now this!  Frustrating to say the least! 


Had a Sony hand control years ago, then my thumb killed me! nm
..
I use Verizon mobile and the rule of thumb with mobile broadband is...
Basically, it will work whereever your cell phone will work.  If your too remote, it may not work, but I do know a lot of campgrounds like KOA offer Wifi, which means you should be able to pick up that signal too. You can always call ahead to the campground etc. I use mine going down the road for the most part but every great while going through the mountains I lose reception.  
That's not the issue..
The Canada-American thing's not the issue here, but believe you me, if all I could earn in this profession was $18.00 an hour plus bennies, I'd get out of it in a heart beat.  We are worth much, much more than that!
Same issue!!!
Funny I was just thinking of posting. My company just changed systems. To what I have no clue, but they seem to think it is great. This new system has a lot of static. It is thier end and they admit it, but why not fix it. I have about had it. There is static and if you go past the static and back up "5000 times" it will finally play but it is nerve racking. There will also be blank sections where the tape will run for about a minute. Like they paused it. Absolutely no sound but tape is running. I just ignore those because they always pick up right where they left off. I try to catch most of it but don't hesitate to leave them a blank and let them figure it out!
VPN issue
Do you have a static IP address? If you have DSL Extreme, it's free, otherwise I think it's about $15. I had to get one to keep from losing my connection every little while (not connected to getting phone calls, though.)
Best regards!
It isn't always a pay issue. Most of you just want to
There IS a need for offshore for what you won't do.

Same with other jobs. NO one here wants to pick crops so we have Mexicans come do it.

Stop complaining.

Thanks, but that isn't my issue. nm
 
I have this issue....sm
When you are an independant contractor you just get what they can give you and that's it. I hired on full time when I hired in almost 2 years ago. I have yet to work a full 40 hour week. I am lucky to get half that. I actually have just started venturing out into side jobs that aren't MT. I am gonna see how that goes.
Actually a cut-and-dry issue ... sm

IF YOU HAVE UE TAXES TAKEN OUT OF YOUR PAY BY YOUR STATE, YOU'RE COVERED if you meet all of their other requirements.


Look on your pay stubs or W2 for the last 6 months (although not that sure about SE status).  Look at the part of ductions that your STATE takes out - it may not specifically mention deductions for UE, but if your state deducts state disability taxes, you're certain to be covered for UE as well. (For some reason, my own  check only showed NY State disability insurance taken out, so I had to verify with my payroll dept. that I was actually covered for UE).


No body issue
Yep, it has been done, next state over, young girl named Carrie Culbertson, missing now for close to 6 yrs?
They successfully prosecuted her ex-boyfriend and he got life..this w/o a body!
I can't believe the MD, DO thing is still an issue!
I've worked for both MDs and DOs.  I never found there was a difference in any way.  Our local hospitals have a mixed staff.  When are people going to put this "difference" to bed. 
Interesting...never been an issue before..sm
He has never ever in 15 years been in trouble. I can also say that had I been home, the second would never have happened as the fear of God would have laid down immediately the first time as they have been raised knowing that school is their job until they graduate, no ifs or buts about it, they are there to learn and follow the rules. He knew he could get away with her from her and fully expected her to talk us into no harm no foul and she took free advantage to tell all 4 children that if they loved her they would not tell us. LOL
Yes, really. It's a character issue.
When someone is a thief, it is only a matter of time before they start stealing from friends. I could never trust someone I knew to be a thief. I do not care to share any part of my life with someone of poor character.
I have this to say on the Katrina issue
I know a minute seems like a lifetime to the people suffering throughout this situation. BUT... American WILL respond. We will open our pocketbooks, donate our time, resources and supplies. Some have even opened their homes. Stop pointing fingers at what is not being done. This is an unprecedented catastrophy in our country. There are many issues to deal with. It's like our boss at work always says, we don't always know what is going on behind the scenes or why something is being done, but trust that things are being done.  Stop the blaming and complaining and do something positive.Put some effort into getting supplies together instead of coming to this board to point fingers and blame. Stop making it a political issue or a racial issue. It is neither. Spend your time in prayer instead of criticism.
MQ check issue
Another thing I thought odd, is that it says it's an adjustment, but under 100.00.  Anytime I've had to call payroll on a shortage, they won't issue the difference until the next payday IF it's under 100.00 (at least in my office)...so that is odd in itself that they are going against that rule??????????
Yeah, what she said! I have that issue now and then, but he also wants me to pay - sm
for their private school, so you can't have it both ways. What is funny is he usually only says I don't spend a lot of time with the kids during the Summer....when I try hard to re-arrange my schedule in order to either do something with them or spend a few hours each day with them instead of typing all day....so I actually do spend more time with them then. We kind of switch hit during school,I deal with all the morning stuff, get them to the bus stop and then I have them from 3:30-6 basically, unpack backpacks, supervise homework, etc. then at 6 he takes over so I can start on my next day's work, on rare occasion he will go out (on a Saturday night, maybe 1-2x a year) and do something and I actually encourage this since he looks after the kids quite a bit for me, though it can be counter-productive as he lets them trash the place half of the time which turns me into a total witch in the morning. But we have a lot of give and take here and it works well. Try to work out some sort of compromise. I try to take the kids out usually on Saturday for a few hours (3-5) to give him some time to himself, and he does the same for me though it is so I can work or clean and not to relax. I have to get out myself, have not been out for ages, though circumstances here have not been the greatest with my 5-y/o daughter's cancer, etc (though things are looking good, done chemo, just working through the nasty side-effects of it wearing off now). Just try and talk it out and come to a compromise, but he will have to cut back on his social life if it is more than 1 x a week. I have no idea why guys feel they are so entitled to go and chill out and us women are not "allowed", good 'ol caveman thinking. I know my husband wouldn't have a problem now, a few years ago he would have as he had NEVER watched the kids alone before until about a year ago, so he knows he can do it. Good luck in retraining him.
Somewhat agree on the cc/mL issue but...
Metric measurements (cc, mL, cm, kg, etc.)are always transcribed in decimals so "half" is always 0.5 rather than 1/2.

Nervous, good luck to you in the future!
Hygiene issue? What do you mean?
??
Legal issue
Received an email from the company with an attachment that says we have to sign it, giving them the right to access at any time our email and computer files.  We do not have email through the company and the computer is mine, not theirs.   Why would I be required to sign this to keep my job?  It's none of their business what's on my personal computer or what's in my emails!!!
Legal issue
They have absolutely no right to your private emails or personal files. If it is your computer, they have no legal right to access it in any way, actually, without your permission.

Check with an attorney.....I did.
Legal issue
My business attorney said NOT to sign such an agreement. They are free to access my MQ computer but not my personal computer. We have confidential financial data on there.
I'm amazed this issue came up because

just today, I transcribed a note where the PA dictated that the patient "felt crampier this month than last month."  Although I typed it as dictated, I haven't been sure all day that I was correct in doing so.


I can't find that word in any dictionary anywhere.  Just because I may have "formed" an English word correctly doesn't necessarily make it a word, does it?


You have still ignored the issue of celibacy.
nm
My biggest issue too. (sm)
Not only that, but I finish the part I wanted bolded, return, return, and use a shortcut for the next heading, and it changes that one to bolded. Grrrrr!
The computer is not the issue. If you know the

terminology you know it, it doesn't change when you hear it over the computer versus tapes.   It sounds like you are overwhelmed with the advancing technology and maybe you need to get used to the technology before tackling a new position.


I used to work with a woman who could work on her computer but when she had questions I would try to show her on my computer and she couldn't do it, wanted me to come and show her on her computer.  The computers were identical, the software/hardware were identical. 


 


Race issue
How in the world does one know what someone's race is when you are doing a class on-line?  I don't understand--please enlighten.  Thanks.
I just got a new job and it wasn't an issue
I think it was worse before I filed bankruptcy because my credit was really terrible then. Since I've filed you would not believe the number of offers I have gotten for credit cards and new car loans. Since you have a clean slate, your credit rating actually goes up in the first year after you file. The only place it really mattered to anyone was when I worked in a pharmacy right before I filed and had left MTing due to burn out. The report was supposed to be confidential, but everyone and their cousin knew everyones credit reports, drug screen and past criminal history (not just mine).

It might make more of a difference if you work on site rather than remotely. It was the best decision I had made in many years and I do not regret it in the least.
Please educate yourself on the issue before

making such ridiculous accusations.  "Thinking" is becoming obsolete....just a bunch of lemmings running off the cliff together.


Not word issue you need to get
There is a Service pack 1 for Smartype that has to be added. It takes care of the capitilzation problem. Go to their website, contact tech support and they will mail you the upgrade