Slight health problem

**Uesugi Kenshin** · 03-10-2008, 21:19

Anyone have a clue if trackball mice help prevent carpal tunnel?

**Good Ship Chuckle** · 03-10-2008, 22:43

Best case: You'll have to take a break from computers, and wear a brace.

Worst case: ...Surgery. My friend's mother had to have surgery for carpal tunnel. She wasn't even allowed to drive a car. Good luck.

**naut** · 03-10-2008, 23:59

A laptop touchpad you say? I can see the problem; even though its your index finger that moves up and down your wrist has to constantly move sideways if you want to scroll across, putting unusual strain on those tendons.

Hope the pain goes away soon.

**The Wandering Scholar** · 03-11-2008, 00:12

hmm use your left arm for a bit... (or if you are left handed use your right..)

**Somebody Else** · 03-11-2008, 01:07

I get the same thing going on - pretty sure it's over-use of the computer. Don't use my touchpad much, but I do have my mouse sensitivity high enough that the only movement (much like a touchpad) is just a few milimetres in each direction.

Take a break, I bought myself one of those elasticated wrist supports - it didn't get rid of the pain when it happened, but did soften it somewhat, and stop it happening so often.

**Puzz3D** · 03-11-2008, 01:51

Originally Posted by Somebody Else

Take a break, I bought myself one of those elasticated wrist supports - it didn't get rid of the pain when it happened, but did soften it somewhat, and stop it happening so often.

The wrist pad can be counter productive if it causes you to flex your wrist left and right as you move the mouse. The preferred motion is to keep your wrist straight while moving your arm from the elbow. The best solution I've found is to place the mouse on a small table that's just below elbow level next to my chair. You won't need any wrist rest with that setup.

I also found that a wireless mouse was too heavy (due to the batteries) to push around and eventually caused me to have the wrist pain. I changed to a wired optical mouse because it was light weight and easy to move, and I haven't had any wrist pain since (about 5 years). My mouse sensitivity is set for 7 cm (2.75 inches) to move it all the way across the screen, and I can use my computer as many hours a day as I want with that setting. This mouse also has low resistance microswitches which makes pushing the mouse buttons very easy, so that helps if you do things that require lots of mouse clicks. A keyboard with easy to push keys is also important if you do a lot of typing.

**Somebody Else** · 03-11-2008, 20:51

Originally Posted by Puzz3D

The wrist pad can be counter productive if it causes you to flex your wrist left and right as you move the mouse. The preferred motion is to keep your wrist straight while moving your arm from the elbow.

That's what I meant, essentially - I used the support to stop my wrist moving at all, forcing, as you said, movement from the elbow. (Though, to be honest, I do most of the side-to-side movement by nudging the mouse with either thumb or ring finger)

**ReiseReise** · 03-13-2008, 17:35

If it just started with the touchpad but you have been using a mouse for years with no problems, it would be logical to use a mouse with your laptop.
If you have insurance, go to a doctor ASAP.
If you don't have insurance, I would try not using the touchpad for 2 weeks and see if that helps, rather than seeing the doctor immediately.
You: "Doctor, it hurts when I do this"
Doctor: "Then don't do that."