CAD designer with wrist & forearm pain seeking new career
CAD designer with wrist & forearm pain seeking new career
(OP)
I've worked for the last nine years as a CAD designer. Two years ago, I completed a Bachelor's Degree in Career and Technical Education and a year after that, I started having wrist pain. I tried several different mice and ergonomic setups but nothing helped much and the pain has now spread into my forearm and shoulder. I've seen several doctors, been to therapy and do daily stretches and ice, but nothing has helped and the pain is now starting to interrupt activities outside of work.
New study - wrist pain/mouse usage
I want to get away from using the mouse 8+ hours a day but I'm not sure what type of careers are available to someone with my background and education. I have thought of trying teaching/training but don't know how much mousing that would involve - probably some, but hopefully much less than I currently do. I've also thought of getting a Master's Degree in something (possibly education), but I'm not sure what.
Does anyone have any suggestions for other areas - consulting, etc. or does know anything about the teaching/training field?
Thanks for the help.
New study - wrist pain/mouse usage
I want to get away from using the mouse 8+ hours a day but I'm not sure what type of careers are available to someone with my background and education. I have thought of trying teaching/training but don't know how much mousing that would involve - probably some, but hopefully much less than I currently do. I've also thought of getting a Master's Degree in something (possibly education), but I'm not sure what.
Does anyone have any suggestions for other areas - consulting, etc. or does know anything about the teaching/training field?
Thanks for the help.





RE: CAD designer with wrist & forearm pain seeking new career
The way I have mine set up, I don't even ever move my wrist or arm, it's all in the fingers. I can move from the top of the screen to the bottom, and side to side by simply moving my fingers. Side to side has a bit of wrist movement, but not much.
I know this isn't the answer to your question, but you brought up a good subject, and I was just putting in my thoughts!
RE: CAD designer with wrist & forearm pain seeking new career
We used to use digitizers a lot. This may be easier on the arm, but I am not sure. As far as another career, I would guess that you really do not need a masters to teach AutoCAD (unless you just like going to school - nothing wrong with that). Try local trade or tech schools. We utilize those schools quite often for AutoCAD training. The caveat may be that to teach it, you have to show and use it (arm - wrist). If you want to avoid computers, you may have to go into a total different direction. Best wishes.
"Whether you think that you can, or that you can't, you are usually right "
.. Henry Ford
RE: CAD designer with wrist & forearm pain seeking new career
RE: CAD designer with wrist & forearm pain seeking new career
RE: CAD designer with wrist & forearm pain seeking new career
Thanks for the car salesman idea, advidana! They seem to be doing very well in my area of the country.
RE: CAD designer with wrist & forearm pain seeking new career
Being a lefty anyway, I simply switched mouse hands. It took a few days to get used to it, but I did. Note that it took a few years for the soreness to go away, since I still used the bad wrist for typing.
At home I purchased a tablet, and also use a touchpad on my laptop. I think the idea is to just keep switching devices and hands, so that you have variety over the course of the day.
I did experiment many years ago with the voice recognition. It wasn't really viable then, but I know this is something which has dramatically improved over the past 5 years. Consider setting the voice system to recognize certain key words which you use a lot of the time.
A short time ago, I experimented with a free program called "Visual Mouse" which uses a camera to watch your head movements to control the mouse. I don't think it is really viable, but perhaps you will want to check it out. There are ways to enhance its effectiveness, such as clipping on a red LED to a hat, and telling the software to only look at red. Note that they also sell a version for gamers at $10 to control your view out of an airplane.
http://www.mousevision.com/assistivetech.html
There is another product, Cymouse, which costs $80, but is definitely a more robust system. It comes with hardware.
http://www.cymouse.com/index.html
And despite all my writing to provide ways for you to still use the computer, it might be best for you to go for a period without using a computer so that your wrist can settle down. I also suspect that either teaching or software sales may be your best options... even if neither gets completely away from the computer.
Joe Dunfee
RE: CAD designer with wrist & forearm pain seeking new career
Im not a user myself, and certainly not endorsing it in any way - but I hear it has a unique 'speech interface' where you can say "Extrude" and "fillet 3mm" and it does it. Obviouly some mouse action is required, but it may cut down on clicks and general input device trouble (???).
Just an idea, I dont even know how sucessful the technology is, but Ive heard it works. You must have some mouse movements to select objects I presume however a lot could be cut down probably. The technology is almost there to try and use speech to fully control software I think.
See ya
Sirius2.
RE: CAD designer with wrist & forearm pain seeking new career
RE: CAD designer with wrist & forearm pain seeking new career
gesigner
RE: CAD designer with wrist & forearm pain seeking new career
While it is true that everyone is affected differently by this, I can only attribute my absence of pain to using my fingers and wrists extensively. I can remember people telling that my eyesight would diminish from drawing and using my monitor all day.....so far, so good, still 20/20.
Perhaps, taking up a hobby that really exploits your fingers would benefit you. When I am playing, I move my fingers differently than when at work. I assume this may be the reason why - kind of offsetting the repetitive motion.
In any event, good luck in the future.
RE: CAD designer with wrist & forearm pain seeking new career
RE: CAD designer with wrist & forearm pain seeking new career
Likewise given your situation you may even find an employer more likely to provide you with work over other applicants simply out of a sense of compassion for your situation. This of course would not eliminate your use of the mouse/keyboard interface but may more appropriate given your particular circumstance.
Good Luck
RE: CAD designer with wrist & forearm pain seeking new career
RE: CAD designer with wrist & forearm pain seeking new career
I have looked and assume that there is a need for CAD instructors, but I never seem to find many places hiring - maybe I'm looking in the wrong places (Anyone have any suggestions?). The community colleges in the area only want to hire adjunct and part-time instructors. I've thought of teaching high school level but have reservations about teaching that age group.
I started noticing my wrist/arm trouble soon after starting to work with Pro Engineer.