I've been a Dvorak user for over a decade, and have never turned back. However, I think the only reasons to switch are (one of): physical problems, and geek factor. I didn't get much of a speed boost, and I didn't have any pain or anything. For most normal people, it is not practical to switch, because you'll have too many days of horribly slow typing while you learn.
I just learned it for the same reason geeks generally use cutting edge stuff: Because I'm willing to try cool things out, and pay an initial learning curve cost on the chance that I might find something better to adopt and use.
I agree that using Dvorak is something you do for long-term benefit or prevention. Switching now probably isn't going to help the immediate physical problems of the OP.
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I've been a Dvorak user for over a decade, and have never turned back. However, I think the only reasons to switch are (one of): physical problems, and geek factor. I didn't get much of a speed boost, and I didn't have any pain or anything. For most normal people, it is not practical to switch, because you'll have too many days of horribly slow typing while you learn.
I just learned it for the same reason geeks generally use cutting edge stuff: Because I'm willing to try cool things out, and pay an initial learning curve cost on the chance that I might find something better to adopt and use.
I wrote more extensively on the Dvorak layout here: http://forums.gentoo.org/viewtopic-p-437068.html#437068
I agree that using Dvorak is something you do for long-term benefit or prevention. Switching now probably isn't going to help the immediate physical problems of the OP.