Your Old Laptop is a Pain in the Neck. Here’s the $2 Fix
The Doorstop That Saved My Spine
I was working from home on my old laptop, and by the end of each day, I had a shooting pain in my neck and shoulders. I realized I was constantly hunched over, looking down at the screen. The proper ergonomic position is to have the top of the screen at eye level. Instead of buying a fancy $50 laptop stand, I went to the hardware store and bought two rubber doorstops for two dollars. I place them under the back of my laptop, raising the screen by a crucial four inches. The pain was gone in a week.
How I Turned My Old Monitor into an Ergonomic Masterpiece with a Book
The Low-Tech Stand for a High-Tech Problem
My company gave me an old but decent monitor for my home office, but its stand was not adjustable. The screen was too low, forcing me to hunch over. This was causing constant neck strain. I was about to order a special monitor arm for $80. Then I looked at my bookshelf. I grabbed a thick, old textbook I hadn’t opened in years—my college calculus book—and placed it under the monitor’s base. It was the perfect height. The best ergonomic upgrade I ever made was completely free and finally put that book to good use.
The “Hunchback of Notre Dame” Pose Caused by Your Old Phone (And How to Fix It)
The Modern Ailment of “Text Neck”
I caught my reflection in a shop window and was horrified. I was hunched over my old smartphone, my neck bent at a sharp angle. It’s a posture called “text neck,” and it was causing my chronic headaches. I made a simple rule: instead of bringing my head down to my phone, I now bring my phone up to my eyes. I make a conscious effort to hold it at eye level. It felt awkward at first, but my neck pain and headaches have vanished. The best fix wasn’t a new phone; it was changing my relationship with my old one.
Why Your Old, “Mushy” Keyboard Might Be Giving You Carpal Tunnel
The Repetitive Strain of a Bad Keyboard
I was developing a dull ache in my wrists after long typing sessions on my old laptop’s “mushy” keyboard. The keys had no feedback and required me to press down hard to register a keystroke, a classic recipe for repetitive strain injury. I switched to using an old, clicky mechanical keyboard I found at a thrift store. The crisp, tactile feedback of the mechanical switches meant I didn’t have to “bottom out” the keys with so much force. My wrist pain disappeared within a week. The right old keyboard saved my hands from the wrong one.
I Built the Perfect Standing Desk from a Discarded Office Desk and Some Blocks
The Free Alternative to a $500 Desk
I wanted a standing desk to improve my posture and health, but new ones cost over $500. My neighbor was throwing out a sturdy old office desk. I took it. Then I went to a construction site and asked for a few leftover cinder blocks. I placed the blocks on top of the old desk and then put another sturdy plank of wood on top of them. The result was a rock-solid, perfect-height standing desk that I assembled in 20 minutes for a total cost of zero dollars. It’s not fancy, but my back has never felt better.
The “Screen Flicker” on Your Old Monitor is Giving You Headaches. Here’s the Fix
The Invisible Strobe Light Effect
After a few hours of working on my old secondary monitor, I would get a splitting headache. The screen looked fine, but I learned that many older monitors use a backlighting method called PWM that can create an invisible, high-frequency flicker. My eyes were straining against it. The fix was surprisingly simple. I went into the monitor’s settings and, instead of lowering the brightness, I kept the brightness at 100% and lowered the “contrast” setting instead. This often disables the PWM dimming, creating a stable, flicker-free image and eliminating my headaches.
How to Properly Position Your Old Tech to Save Your Eyesight
The Arm’s Length Rule
My eyes felt dry and strained after working on my old desktop setup for a few hours. My optometrist gave me some simple ergonomic advice. She said my monitor should be positioned about an arm’s length away from my face. The top of the screen should be at or slightly below my eye level. She also told me to position it so there were no bright windows or lights directly behind it causing glare. After making these simple, free adjustments to my desk layout, my eye strain was significantly reduced.
The “Gamer’s Thumb” from Your Old Controller and How to Prevent It
The Repetitive Strain of a Hadouken
I was playing a lot of retro fighting games on my old PlayStation controller, and I developed a painful ache in my thumb joint—a classic case of “gamer’s thumb.” The old D-pad was stiff and required a lot of repetitive, forceful movements. To fix this, I started doing simple hand stretches before and after each gaming session. I also made a conscious effort to relax my grip and not press the buttons so hard. The pain went away, allowing me to continue enjoying my old hobby without causing a modern injury.
I Used an Old Tablet to Force Me to Take Breaks
The Digital Nag That Saved My Body
I have a bad habit of getting into a “flow state” and working for hours without moving, leaving me stiff and sore. I repurposed my old, slow Android tablet into a dedicated wellness timer. I installed a simple interval timer app and set it to flash the screen and play a loud, annoying alarm every 45 minutes. I placed it just out of arm’s reach. That alarm is my non-negotiable cue to get up, stretch, and walk around for five minutes. That “useless” old tablet has done more for my physical health than any fancy app.
The Best “Free” Software to Remind You to Stretch
The Pop-Up That Prevents Pain
Staring at my computer all day for work was wrecking my back. I needed a constant reminder to move. I downloaded a free, simple program called “Stretchly.” Every hour, it takes over my screen with a simple instruction like “Reach for the ceiling” or “Look out a window for 20 seconds.” It’s a brilliant, minimalist tool that forces me to take micro-breaks, preventing stiffness and eye strain. It runs silently in the background on my old PC and has become an essential part of my healthy work routine.
Why an Old, Heavy Mechanical Keyboard Can Be Better for Your Hands
The Tactile Advantage
Modern, thin keyboards encourage a light, gliding style of typing. For me, this led to wrist pain. I switched to a vintage IBM Model M keyboard from the 1980s. It’s a heavy, clunky beast, and each key press gives a satisfying, tactile “click.” This strong feedback encourages a more deliberate, rhythmic typing style that comes from the fingers, not the wrists. It also prevents me from bottoming out the keys. My typing speed is the same, but the strain on my hands and wrists is gone.
How to Adjust the “Color Temperature” on Old Screens to Reduce Eye Strain at Night
Saying Goodnight to Blue Light
Working late on my old laptop was messing with my sleep. The harsh, blue-toned light from the screen was telling my brain it was still daytime. My old version of Windows didn’t have a built-in “night light” feature. I installed a free program called f.lux. It automatically detects the time of day and gradually shifts the color temperature of my screen away from blue and toward a warmer, orange-red hue in the evening. It makes looking at the screen much more comfortable and has significantly improved my sleep quality.
I Built a DIY Laptop Stand from PVC Pipe for $5
The Tinkerer’s Ergonomic Solution
I needed a laptop stand to raise my screen to eye level, but didn’t want to spend $50. I went to the hardware store and bought a single ten-foot stick of half-inch PVC pipe and a few corner connectors for about five dollars. I used a simple hand saw to cut the pipe into a few specific lengths. I then assembled them into a sturdy, lightweight, custom-height laptop stand. It’s not the prettiest thing in the world, but it’s incredibly functional and cost me less than a fancy cup of coffee.
The “Mouse Shoulder” and How to Fix It by Moving Your Mouse
The Pain from Reaching Too Far
I started getting a sharp pain in my right shoulder after long days of work. My physical therapist diagnosed it as “mouse shoulder.” Because I was using a full-size keyboard, I was having to constantly reach far out to the side to use my mouse, straining my shoulder. The fix was simple: I switched to a compact, “tenkeyless” keyboard (one without the number pad). This allowed me to bring my mouse in closer to the center of my body, keeping my arm in a much more natural and relaxed position.
Why Your Old Office Chair is Ruining Your Back (And How to Mod It)
The Lumbar Support Hack
My old, hand-me-down office chair had zero lumbar support, and it was causing me serious lower back pain. Before throwing it out, I tried a simple modification. I took a small, firm pillow from my couch. I then used two bungee cords to strap the pillow horizontally across the lower back of the chair. This created instant, adjustable lumbar support that followed the curve of my spine. That simple, two-minute hack transformed a back-breaking chair into a comfortable, ergonomic seat and saved me from having to buy a new one.
The “20-20-20” Rule: The Best Health Hack for Staring at Old Screens
The Easiest Way to Prevent Digital Eye Strain
My eyes would feel incredibly tired and dry after hours of staring at my old computer monitor. A doctor told me about the 20-20-20 rule. It’s simple: every 20 minutes, you look at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds. This forces the tiny muscles in your eyes to relax from the constant strain of focusing up close. I set a simple, recurring timer on my phone to remind me. It’s a free, easy habit that has made a world of difference in my daily comfort.
I Turned My Old TV into a “Walking Pad” Treadmill Display
The Entertainment That Keeps Me Moving
I bought a cheap, under-desk “walking pad” to stay active while working, but staring at the floor was incredibly boring. I took my old, 32-inch “dumb” TV that was sitting in the closet. I placed it on a low table in front of the walking pad and connected it to my laptop. Now, I can watch shows, attend video meetings, or have a massive research screen right in front of me while I walk. It turned a boring exercise into an engaging and productive part of my day.
How to Clean Your Grimy Old Keyboard to Avoid Getting Sick
The Grossest Thing on Your Desk
I read a study that said the average keyboard is dirtier than a toilet seat. I looked at my old, grimy keyboard and felt sick. I unplugged it, took a picture of the key layout, and then carefully pried off every single keycap. I let the keycaps soak in a bowl of warm, soapy water. While they were soaking, I used a can of compressed air and a damp cloth to clean out all the hair, dust, and crumbs from the keyboard base. After reassembling, it looked and felt brand new.
The “Blue Light Filter” You Can Enable on Any Old Device
The Built-in Night Shift
I used to think you needed a special app to reduce the harsh blue light from old screens at night. But the feature is now built into almost everything. On my old Windows 10 PC, it’s called “Night Light.” On my old iPhone, it’s “Night Shift.” It’s a simple toggle in the display settings. Enabling it automatically warms up the screen color in the evening, which reduces eye strain and can help you sleep better. It’s the most important setting you can change for late-night computer use.
I Made a DIY Wrist Rest from an Old Sock and Some Rice
The Comfiest, Cheapest Ergonomic Hack
My wrists were getting sore from resting on my hard desk while I typed on my mechanical keyboard. I needed a wrist rest, but I didn’t want to buy a new one. I took an old, clean tube sock and filled it with uncooked rice. I sewed the end shut. The result was a surprisingly comfortable, pliable wrist rest that perfectly conformed to the shape of my wrists. It’s a completely free, five-minute DIY project that has provided hours of ergonomic comfort.
How to Fix Your Posture While Using an Old Laptop on the Couch
The Pillow Method
I love working from the couch on my old laptop, but it always leaves me feeling like a human pretzel. The solution isn’t to stop, but to do it smarter. I use a firm pillow to support my lower back, which prevents slouching. More importantly, I place another large pillow on my lap to raise the laptop itself. This brings the screen higher up, closer to eye level, and allows my wrists to rest in a more neutral position. A few strategically placed pillows can turn a posture nightmare into a comfortable workstation.
The “Glare” from Your Old Monitor and How to Eliminate It for Free
Fighting the Reflections
My old monitor had a glossy screen, and the glare from the window behind me was giving me a constant headache. I was trying to read text through a reflection of my own face. I didn’t want to buy an expensive anti-glare filter. The solution was free: I just rearranged my desk. I rotated my desk 90 degrees so the window was to my side, not directly behind me. The glare instantly vanished. Sometimes the best ergonomic fix isn’t about the tech itself, but about its position in your environment.
Why a “Vertical Mouse” with Your Old PC Can Change Your Life
The Handshake That Ends Wrist Pain
After years of using a standard mouse, I developed a persistent pain on the outside of my wrist. The problem was the constant twisting of my forearm to lay my hand flat on the mouse. I bought a “vertical mouse.” This type of mouse holds your hand in a more natural “handshake” position. It felt strange for about a day, but then the pain started to disappear. Within a week, it was gone completely. This one ergonomic change has probably saved me from a future of chronic wrist problems.
How to Use an Old External Keyboard and Mouse with Your Laptop to Save Your Body
The Docking Station You Already Own
Working directly on a laptop is an ergonomic disaster. The screen is too low, and the keyboard and trackpad are cramped. The solution is to treat your old laptop like a desktop tower. I set my laptop on a stand (or a stack of books) to get the screen to eye level. Then, I plugged in an old USB keyboard and mouse I had in a drawer. This allows me to work with my neck straight and my arms in a comfortable, neutral position. It’s the key to using a laptop for long periods without pain.
The “Foot Rest” I Made from a Dead PC Tower
The Ultimate Upcycled Ergo-Hack
My feet were dangling from my office chair, causing pressure on the backs of my legs. I needed a footrest. I looked over at a dead, empty PC tower that was waiting to be recycled. I turned it on its side, and it was the perfect height. The flat, sturdy side panel created a wide, stable platform for my feet. It’s a weird, nerdy, but incredibly effective way to upcycle old e-waste into a genuinely useful piece of ergonomic furniture.
How to Calculate the Perfect Monitor Height for You
The Simple Eye-Level Test
For years, I just put my monitor on my desk wherever it fit. The result was constant neck pain. Here’s the simple trick to find the perfect height. Sit back in your chair in a comfortable, neutral posture. Close your eyes. When you open them, your eyes should naturally land on the top third of your computer screen. If you have to look up or down, your monitor is at the wrong height. Adjust it with a stand or a stack of books until you pass the test.
The “Text Neck” Epidemic and How Old Tech Makes It Worse
The Weight of Your Head
Your head weighs about 10 pounds. For every inch you tilt it forward to look down at your old phone or laptop, you add another 10 pounds of pressure on your cervical spine. Tilting your head at a 60-degree angle is like having a 60-pound weight hanging on your neck. This is “text neck,” and it’s a modern epidemic causing chronic pain. The solution is awareness. Consciously lift your old devices up to eye level, and you’ll save your spine a literal ton of work.
I Used an Old Webcam to Analyze and Fix My Sitting Posture
The Digital Mirror
I knew my posture was bad, but I wasn’t sure what to fix. I set up an old webcam on a shelf to my side while I worked. I used a simple program to record a 10-minute time-lapse of myself. The results were shocking. I was slouching, my shoulders were rounded, and my head was jutting forward. Seeing the visual evidence was a powerful motivator. I used that video as a reference to adjust my chair and monitor height, creating a setup that encouraged a healthier, more upright posture.
The Hidden Health Dangers of Dust Buildup in Old Electronics
The Allergen Amplifier
I was sneezing constantly in my home office and couldn’t figure out why. I finally decided to deep clean my old desktop PC. When I opened the case, I was horrified. The fans and heatsinks were caked in a thick, dense mat of dust, hair, and skin cells. The computer’s fans were basically acting as a high-powered allergen-blower, constantly circulating these irritants into the air I was breathing. A thorough cleaning with compressed air dramatically improved the air quality in my office and my allergy symptoms.
How to Stop Squinting at a Low-Resolution Screen
The Font-Smoothing Fix
I was using an old monitor that had a lower resolution, and the text on the screen always looked a bit fuzzy and pixelated, forcing me to squint. The solution wasn’t a new monitor, but a software tweak. I went into my Windows display settings and found the “ClearType Tuner.” This utility walks you through a series of text samples and lets you choose the one that looks clearest to you. It tunes the font rendering to your specific screen and your eyes, making the text dramatically sharper and easier to read.
The “Focal Length” Trick to Relax Your Eyes
Give Your Eyes a Workout
When you stare at a screen up close, the ciliary muscles in your eyes are constantly tensed to keep the lens focused. This is what causes eye strain. The best way to combat this is to periodically change your focal length. I placed my old monitor next to a window. Every so often, I look away from my screen and focus on a distant tree or building for a minute. This forces those tiny eye muscles to relax, providing instant relief and preventing long-term fatigue.
Why a “Trackball” Mouse is the Ultimate Ergonomic Throwback
Let Your Thumb Do the Walking
I was suffering from wrist and shoulder pain from using a conventional mouse. I decided to try a “trackball” mouse, a piece of tech that feels like a throwback to the 90s. With a trackball, the mouse itself stays stationary; you just move the cursor by rolling a large ball with your thumb. This means all the movement comes from your fine motor skills, not from your whole arm. It took a day to get used to, but it completely eliminated my wrist and shoulder pain.
I Sound-Proofed My Old, Loud PC for Mental Sanity
The Quest for Silence
My old desktop PC was powerful, but its noisy fans were a constant, annoying drone that made it hard to focus. I decided to sound-proof it. I bought some cheap, automotive sound-dampening foam. I opened my PC case and cut the foam to fit on the inside of the flat, metal side panels. This simple, ten-dollar modification absorbed a huge amount of the fan noise and vibrations, turning my roaring machine into a quiet whisper. The peace and quiet has been incredible for my mental health and concentration.
How to Create a “Separation of Church and State” Between Work and Life with Old Tech
The “Work Only” and “Life Only” Machines
I used to do everything on one laptop, and I found it impossible to switch off from work. My solution was to use two old machines. My refurbished ThinkPad is my “work” computer. It has only work-related software on it. My old personal MacBook is my “life” computer. It has my games, social media, and photos. At the end of the workday, I physically close the work laptop and put it away. This physical separation has been a powerful tool for creating a healthy work-life balance.
The “Brain Fog” from Poor Air Quality Caused by Your Old Electronics
The Invisible Pollutant
I was feeling sluggish and had trouble concentrating at my desk, a kind of “brain fog.” I learned that old, hot electronics, especially those with dusty fans, can heat up and release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from their plastic and circuit board components into the air. This can impact indoor air quality. I bought a small air purifier and placed it next to my old PC tower. The difference in my mental clarity and focus after a few days was remarkable.
I Made My Own “Monitor VESA Mount” from a Piece of Wood
The DIY Floating Screen
I wanted to mount my old monitor on an adjustable arm, but it didn’t have the standard VESA mounting holes on the back. A special adapter was $40. I took a thin, strong piece of plywood and cut it to the size of the monitor’s back. I drilled holes in the wood to match the VESA pattern on the monitor arm. I then used a combination of strong adhesive and some carefully placed screws to securely attach the wooden plate to the back of the monitor. It’s a sturdy, custom solution that cost me almost nothing.
How to Deep Clean Your Old Mouse to Make It Glide Effortlessly
The Gunk That Slows You Down
My old mouse felt sluggish and was stuttering on my mousepad. I looked at the bottom and was disgusted. The smooth plastic “feet” were caked in a grimy buildup of dust, skin oils, and other debris. I took a cotton swab dipped in isopropyl alcohol and carefully scrubbed the feet clean. I also used a toothpick to scrape the gunk out of the tiny crevices. The mouse instantly started gliding across the mousepad as smoothly as the day I bought it.
The “Digital Eye Strain” Checklist for Your Old Tech Setup
The 5-Point Eye Exam
Whenever my eyes feel tired, I run through a quick checklist for my old monitor setup. 1) Glare: Is a light source reflecting on my screen? 2) Brightness: Is my screen significantly brighter than the ambient light in the room? 3) Distance: Is the monitor an arm’s length away? 4) Height: Is the top of the screen at eye level? 5) Blinks: Am I remembering to blink consciously? 99% of the time, adjusting one of these five things provides immediate relief from digital eye strain.
I Used an Old Phone as a “Pomodoro” Timer to Boost Productivity and Reduce Strain
The 25-Minute Focus Block
The Pomodoro Technique—working in focused 25-minute intervals with 5-minute breaks—is great for productivity and ergonomics. To avoid getting distracted by my main phone, I use an old, wiped smartphone as a dedicated Pomodoro timer. I installed a simple timer app and put it on my desk. When the timer starts, I work without interruption. When it rings, I get up and stretch. It’s a single-purpose device that helps me manage my time and my physical well-being without creating new distractions.
The Surprising Ergonomic Benefits of a “Split” Keyboard
The Natural Hand Position
I noticed that when I typed on a normal keyboard, my wrists had to be bent outwards at an awkward angle. This was causing strain. I decided to try a “split” keyboard, which is physically separated into two halves. This allowed me to position each half directly in front of my shoulders, so my wrists, elbows, and shoulders could all be in a straight, natural line. It felt weird for a day, but the relief in my wrists and shoulders was immediate and long-lasting.
How to Optimize the Font Rendering on an Old OS for Readability
Making Text Easier on the Eyes
The text on my old Windows 7 machine always looked a bit thin and jagged compared to modern computers. I installed a free utility called “MacType.” This program replaces the default Windows font rendering engine with one that is more similar to Apple’s macOS, which is known for its smooth, easy-to-read text. The difference was subtle but significant. All the text on my screen became slightly thicker and smoother, reducing the strain on my eyes during long reading and writing sessions.
The “Cable Management” That Prevents Tripping Hazards
An Organized Desk is a Safe Desk
The space under my desk used to be a chaotic “rat’s nest” of power cords and cables. It wasn’t just ugly; it was a safety hazard. I was constantly getting my feet tangled in it and had almost pulled my PC tower off the desk twice. I spent an hour unplugging everything and using cheap Velcro ties and adhesive cable clips to neatly route all the wires along the back of my desk. It not only looks better, but it also eliminated a major tripping hazard from my workspace.
Why a Dimly Lit Room and a Bright Old Screen is a Recipe for Disaster
The High-Contrast Headache
I used to enjoy working in a dark room with only the light from my old, bright monitor illuminating my face. I thought it was cozy. I was also getting constant headaches. The problem is the extreme contrast between the bright screen and the dark surroundings. This forces your pupils to constantly adjust, straining your eye muscles. The simple fix was to turn on a soft lamp behind my monitor, a technique called “bias lighting.” This reduces the contrast and creates a much more comfortable viewing experience.
The “Squeeze Ball” Exercise Every Old Tech User Should Do
The Antidote to Typing
After hours of typing, the muscles in your hands are all clenched in one position. To counteract this, I keep a simple stress ball on my desk. A few times a day, I’ll take a break and just squeeze the ball for a minute or two. This simple exercise strengthens my grip and works the opposing muscles in my hands and forearms, helping to prevent the muscle imbalances that can lead to repetitive strain injuries. It’s a cheap, easy, and effective piece of ergonomic equipment.
How I Configured My Old Setup to be Usable While Lying Down
The Supine Computing Solution
After a minor back injury, I had to work from my bed for a week. I used my old tech to create an ergonomic setup. I placed my laptop on my bedside table and connected it to my TV with a long HDMI cable. I used a wireless keyboard and mouse on a lap desk. This allowed me to lie comfortably on my back, looking up at the large TV screen, with my keyboard in a neutral position on my lap. It turned a painful situation into a surprisingly comfortable and productive work environment.
The “Heat” from an Old Laptop on Your Lap is More Than Just Uncomfortable
The Toasted Skin Syndrome
I used to work for hours with my old, hot laptop sitting directly on my lap. I started to notice a weird, mottled, discolored rash on my thighs. My doctor diagnosed it as “erythema ab igne,” or “toasted skin syndrome,” a condition caused by long-term exposure to low-level heat. The heat from the laptop was literally cooking my skin. I immediately bought a simple lap desk to create a barrier between the hot machine and my body, and the condition cleared up.
How to Reposition Your Speakers for Better Sound and Less Neck Strain
The Equilateral Triangle of Audio Bliss
My old computer speakers were just shoved to the side of my monitor. The sound was muddy, and I found myself craning my neck to hear properly. The correct ergonomic and acoustic setup is to form an equilateral triangle, with your head and the two speakers forming the three points. I moved my speakers so they were as far apart as my head was from the desk and angled them inwards towards my ears. The sound quality improved dramatically, with a clear stereo image, and I no longer had to strain to hear.
The “Wellness” Audit of My Decade-Old Desk Setup
The Ergonomic Self-Assessment
Once a year, I do a “wellness audit” of my old but functional desk setup. I take a picture of myself working and analyze my posture. Is my neck straight? Are my wrists bent? I check the height of my monitor and chair. I assess my lighting for glare. This simple, yearly self-assessment allows me to catch bad habits or ergonomic problems before they turn into chronic pain. It ensures that my comfortable, familiar old setup is also a healthy one.
Why “Good Enough” Tech with Great Ergonomics Beats “Great” Tech with Bad Ergonomics
Your Body is the Most Important Component
My friend has a brand new, top-of-the-line, ultra-powerful laptop. He loves its speed, but he uses it hunched over on his couch and is constantly complaining of back pain. I use a five-year-old “good enough” computer, but it’s connected to an ergonomic keyboard, a vertical mouse, and a properly positioned monitor. He has better tech, but I have a better experience because I don’t end my day in pain. Investing in ergonomics is always more important than investing in the latest processor. Your body is the one component you can’t upgrade.
The One-Time Fix That Saved Me Years of Chronic Pain
The Keyboard Tray Revelation
For years, I suffered from shoulder and wrist pain. I thought it was just the price of a desk job. I tried everything—new chairs, different mice. The real problem was that my desk was too high, forcing me to hold my arms up to type. I bought a simple, under-desk keyboard tray for $40. Installing it allowed me to lower my keyboard to a comfortable height, so my arms could rest at a natural 90-degree angle. The chronic pain that had plagued me for years was gone within a month.