I use the computer too much, do you?

So, at my job (8 hours a day), I use the computer non-stop. I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of us here did, even when we're not working. Two semesters ago I started taking classes in the IT field, thus making my computer usage at home, school, and work. My mouse hand has really started to feel it. I get crazy pains almost constantly when I'm using the mouse now. It isn't just the pain, playing piano is one of my passions in life and now it's harder for me to do so with a hurt hand.

At home/school I can remedy this by switching from my right/left hand and also switching from mouse/touch pad. However, at work I have my mouse in a very specific place on the right side of the keyboard, and there is really no easy way to use it with my left, nor is there a touch pad. If you've had a similar problem, what do you do to overcome it?

*thinks post #7 could have been easily expressed in the form of a thumbs up*

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Sit up properly. Good posture affects more than just your back, you might well find the benefits extend to your legs and arms too.

Also, use more keyboard shortcuts so you're on the mouse less, although you didn't say exactly what it was you do with computers all day.

I'm on the computer pretty much constantly at work which can be as much as 12 hours a day lately, and then usually another hour at home. I mainly use Excel and Sage though which is primarily keyboard work rather than mouse stuff and my wrists and fingers are fine, despite the fact I'm a terrible slouch when I sit at my desk. I also have the mouse sensitivity turned up ridiculously high so I barely have to move my hand to cover the whole screen. I don't really move my wrist at all when I use the mouse, just hold the thing in my fingers and there's enough movement there to get to anywhere on the screen.

Edit: I just measured it and I never move the mouse more than 2cm in any direction, which I would think helps reduce the risk of RSI.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Ever since I indulged in too much Spore for a couple of days, I started to get stiffness on my mouse hand.

If you found a non-surgical remedy, I'd be happy to hear about it. Even after I quit that game (too much mouse wheel scrolling in the space stage), the soreness won't go away.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Just need to evolve to include psychokinesis in your range of computing functions. It is not the mouse wheel that scrolls but only yourself.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Check to see if your mouse cord is catching on anything. I've had a number of people complain to me about terrible wrist/arm fatigue while using the computer for extended periods of time, and I managed to remedy a few by moving their mouse cord somewhere that it wouldn't constantly be getting caught or falling off the back of their desk so they'd have to lift it. I've found the easiest solution is to pull all the slack in the cable you can and then tape it at the back of the desk so you get as much cable to move the mouse as needed.

I was speaking idiomatically.

Any possibility of you getting a tablet to substitute for your mouse? Holding a pen is supposed to be a much more natural position for your hand and wrist compared to operating a mouse.

Most amazing jew boots

The idea about taping up the slack is genius, surprised I never thought of something so simple myself as I'm always pulling up the slack on my mouse cord. Thanks RR, I salute you!

How ya doing, buddy?

Originally Posted by Sakabadger

Any possibility of you getting a tablet to substitute for your mouse? Holding a pen is supposed to be a much more natural position for your hand and wrist compared to operating a mouse.

I hadn't thought about that. After reading your post, I was browsing through them on geeks.com. After reading the specs, I'm confused about whether or not this can be used as a mouse... any insight?

DigiPro T-4000U 4x3" USB Graphics Tablet w/Cordless Pen DigiPro T-4000U

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

Yeah, it can be used as a mouse. Personally, I'd go with something made by Wacom, but I'm more into the art thing, so I'm willing to pay a bit more for something like that.

The stylus pens [in my experience] have worked like this: hovering the pen tip above the pad is like moving the mouse around. Touching/tapping the pad is like clicking. Some have a button on the side that you can set to an alternative click or right-click, but I've always found that 'clicking' while holding the pen is not an exact science.

It DOES take some getting used to, but it's probably still a pretty sound investment.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

A good tablet can be nice to work with, but a cheap $25 one may prove to be ridiculously inaccurate around the edges of the surface. Have fun selecting your start menu, or closing/resizing maximized windows.

I have a few questions about your current problem though:
- Can you describe specifically what and where the pains are?
- What is your keyboard/mouse setup like? Is it one of those pull-out trays that hangs from under the desk? If so, can it change angle; and if so what angle is it currently set at in relation to the desk?
- What is the angle between the mouse surface and your forearm?
- What mouse are you using?

For reference, I'm pretty much always on the computer too, and the only time I have any pains is when I angle my wrist so that I put too much pressure on the pisiform bone.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

I use the computer all the time, especially when I am not working during the day. I use the mouse a lot, but usually I don't have a sore hand. On occasion, I have a sore hand if I am playing Civilization IV or some other game that requires a lot of mouse work. But, when surfing the web or anything like that, I don't have an issue. I do a lot of typing when I am on the computer, so I give my hand the opportunity to rest up from the mouse moving for a bit. Switching things up works the best. Also, taking a break for 5 or ten minutes every 45min to an hour works well too, as well as stretching you hand often.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Originally Posted by DeLorean

I hadn't thought about that. After reading your post, I was browsing through them on geeks.com. After reading the specs, I'm confused about whether or not this can be used as a mouse... any insight?

DigiPro T-4000U 4x3" USB Graphics Tablet w/Cordless Pen DigiPro T-4000U

I use a tablet myself sometimes, but I'm not sure how good of a substitute it would be for a mouse... I suppose if you use it for a while though you can probably get use to the change, and if you are already experiencing carpal tunnel syndrome then you probably have no choice but to give it a try. Those trackball / roller-ball mice may be another option worth trying as well.

You could also try getting a program like dragon naturally speaking, or another voice-to-text program, and substituting that for your typing and that may help a bit. I tried it a while back and the technology has really come around in the last several years.

My biggest advice though, as in piano playing, would be to continuously take breaks when you feel fatigued. NEVER work through pain as that is only compounding the problem and making it so you have to work through more pain the next time.

Since you play the piano as well, if you opt to continue using a keyboard, type like you would play the piano and lift and relax your hands after sentences as you would at the end of the phrase. On that note make sure it is not your piano technique that is the cause of your hand pains.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?