I've posted here complaining about my awful, terrible, no-good obeast receptionist before. Obviously I have other coworkers, they mostly range from average to fit to thin. (I'd describe myself as average BTW, not American average but actually average)
My work friend was seeing the doctor due to some symptoms of carpal tunnel. She is a tiny Pacific/Asian lady, probably 4-11" and around 99 lbs. She talks about her weight a lot, saying she wishes she could gain a few pounds, as being over 100 lbs would make her feel more "womanly." Haha, yes, turning the whole "REEEE-al Woman" thing around.
Totally unsolicited, her doctor started bugging her about her weight. She was repeatedly told she was MALNOURISHED. Based on nothing but her appearance. Friend said her BMI was calculated at 20. Twenty!!
She was almost in tears. I told her not to worry, 20 is totally good. It's on the lower side of normal, but it's not even in underweight category, is it? Besides, coworker eats plenty, I see her chow down at lunch on the daily and she's always talking about the endless dinners and banquets her friends and family put on. I asked her if the doctor was fat, and she said "she was American, it's hard to tell."
Burrrnnnnn. Would this be reverse-thin-privilege? Skinny shaming?
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[–] lystmord 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago
Unfortunately, repetitive strain injuries seem to be one of those things that you're prone to or not. I have some sort of injury in both wrists (officially carpal tunnel, but who knows), and I started getting symptoms by 12-13 just from writing by HAND. Never mind typing.
She's likely not going to find relief simply by changing her work station once. She's going to have to change it up constantly. It's probably going to be a lifelong issue for her. Being careful about the strain she puts her wrists under is something OP needs to tell her to constantly watch, or she will end up in braces and high levels of pain for months on end from pushing it.
[–] DammitMoonMoon 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago
I've had to get a wrist brace for my wrist pain. It helps during times when it's really hurting. just supports the wrist while I'm typing.
Also, I always tell people with unexplained joint pain like that to check your vit D levels. I was having a shit ton of joint pain and was afraid I was developing rheumatoid arthritis (it's in my family), doc did the blood test, no RA but I was deficient in vit D. He had me taking something like 3 times the RDA for 3 weeks and all the pain went away.
[–] lystmord 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago
Mine is some combo of nerve and muscle pain. My forearms basically just lock up into hard rocks, and I also get nerve symptoms (cold, heat, weird tingles and shit).