I'm a heavy emacs user and occasionally get hand pains for a few days or weeks. As everyone else will suggest, swap your caps-lock and control keys. I also fo

I'm a heavy emacs user and occasionally get hand pains for a few days or weeks. As everyone else will suggest, swap your caps-lock and control keys. I also found it useful to have a single key on my keyboard that does M-x. You might already have one by default. It might look like a wavy window flag, or a cloverleaf, or a menu, or something weird. As you have said, start to learn to use more of the special keys on the right side of the keyboard. Don't forget shift. You shouldn't be using the left shift for capital letters whose keys are on the left side of the keyboard. You might find it useful to put your mouse on the other side of your keyboard and use it with the other hand a few days a week. It sort of trains your hands to do things differently. You might find it useful to try a different keyboard. I've found a Microsoft Natural keyboard to be great. Your employer will spring for this if you mention that your hand hurts. Adjust your chair height, display location, desk height, and the way you sit. Yeah, this actually affects the way you use your hands. Don't forget to take breaks. Go get some tea or something every once in a while. I think jwz wrote a thing that periodically makes emacs force him to do that when his hands started hurting. Don't be afraid to go see a doctor. Good luck!