Please help with my repetitive strain injury.

[acrobat]

I'm not kidding, although it is a self diagnosis. If you don't know what RSI is, heres a link:
Repetitive strain injury - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I never thought I would be one to end up with that.. but I'm pretty sure that's my problem. I use a computer all day, and then most evenings I use a computer some more to play games, watch films and surf the web. I can't really function without it, so "just don't use a computer anymore" isn't an option.

The "injury" is in my hand. When you hold a mouse, your thumb holds the side of the mouse on the left to give you a good grip of it, and it pushes the mouse to the right when you want it to go right. I only hold it gently, like most people. It's not like a strain from squeezing with my thumb, its more of a problem due to me having to keep my thumb in, in an unusual position for long lengths of time. The discomfort is here:



I'm pretty positive it is from holding a mouse. I haven't done anything unusual lately and no injuries or anything. And when I hold a mouse now, it feels uncomfortable in the tendons area between my thumb and index finger. In the last few days, I searched for a new mouse because I figured if I could get a wide mouse, my thumb wouldn't be "in" all the time. I don't have huge hands, but they are fairly big I suppose. But I couldn't find any large mice! Even the fancy expensive mice are pretty much the same size as a normal one. Some of them are a bit bigger and have bumps in some places and stuff, but they aren't significantly wide enough to make a difference. I currently just use a Microsoft Optical Mouse, so everything else is similar shape and size to that.

After not finding one immediately, I made a temporary fix, and I found an old toy car I had since a kid, and I've sellotaped it to the side of the mouse. It now feels much bigger and chunkier when I'm holding the mouse, and it is SO much more comfortable, and the pain is gone when I use a mouse. But it's not ideal.. It looks stupid, it's going to get all full of gunk in a the coming weeks/months, my friends can't get used to it when they pop around to my house, etc.. So it works, but it's not a long term solution. This is kind of what it looks like:



So can anyone suggest anything? I can't find any mouse with big bulges on the left side of them. I am pretty sure this all stems from bad mouse holding technique by the way... I never knew there was a technique, but I think there is. I looked it up on the web, and it looks like you are meant to have your thumb flat against the left side of the mouse, and I never did that. I think it's too late now though.

[arthurleung]

I'm left-handed and using a right-handed mouse, which the thumb issue doesn't affect me at all. In fact my thumb's position is about the same as the top of your toy car (respectively)
Which makes me wonder why mouses are made like this in the first place.

Try sending a feedback to Microsoft?

[Flewis]

You could use a trackball when not gaming which would ease the strain on your thumb and save the mouse only for gaming.

[Hunain]

Likewise,im a lefty using a right handed mouse, its much more comfortable...

[peterb]

You could use a trackball when not gaming which would ease the strain on your thumb and save the mouse only for gaming.

I also find a trackball more comfortable to use than a mouse.

[madman045]

My only suggesting is getting it looked at correctly as if you are right in your self diagnosis and your not careful you can do more damage than good.

[kalniel]

I've not heard of RSI in that location before, but if it is RSI then you have to just STOP using your hand for the mouse altogether. RSI does not get better if you make slight adjustments, you have to completely rest the affected part for over a week. Switch your mouse to your left hand for at least a week. Stop playing games.

[acrobat]

All great suggestions, thanks! I might try a left handed mouse and see if that does anything. I also like the idea of a trackball. I could just use that in the days for work, and take a week off gaming.

[directhex]

can you take a photo of your hand on your mouse in your "normal" position? ta.

[Taz]

Sounds like tendonitis.

[mikerr]

How about a fingermouse?

No, not the 80s kids show, but one of these ?

[acrobat]

can you take a photo of your hand on your mouse in your "normal" position? ta.

I haven't got a camera unfortunately - even on my phone. I might be able to find a picture on the web though, either of someone who puts their hand in the same position, or I might have to doctor one.

EDIT: I looked but I can't really find one. All the pictures show people holding a mouse properly, and I don't think I hold it properly. In the pictures, their index finger is perfectly parallel with the side of the mouse. Mine isn't when I use a mouse. My index finger tip is on the left button, but the last knuckle on that finger (where it joins my hand), is off to the left of the mouse slightly. So I hold the mouse at a weird angle. And that no doubt makes my thumb have to stick in a bit further than most people I can try using it differently (properly), but it feels weird. Maybe I would get used to it? It just feels completely odd, like writing with your left hand as a rightly, or vice versa.

Sounds like tendonitis.

Ahh, thanks. I'll probably just go to my doctor if it doesn't get better in a few days. It actually feels ok today, but I haven't really been using a mouse today.

How about a fingermouse?

No, not the 80s kids show, but one of these ?

WOW! You just point at your mouse mat? That thing looks great

[mrt9888]

I think its the design of the mouse as its made for left and right handed users so it is not as moulded to either hand properly, you could get a mouse like the Logitech G5 design. I had a similar Microsoft mouse and after using it for long periods you notice you mainly use your thumb to grip the mouse when moving it. You could also get a key board with a trackpad (like a laptop) or a tablet and use the pen thing it comes with.

[acrobat]

I think I've just realised I hold a mouse funny. Problem with that G5 even, is that I'd just hold that wrong too. I think I need to start making an effort to relearn how I hold a mouse. It's gunna feel like im wearing my pants back to front for a while, but I'll probably get used to it.

I'm still super intrigued by that finger mouse though. I'm gunna have to look into that because it looks great. Not sure how left and right clicks would work with that, but I'll see. I think if I can get used to holding a mouse properly (more parallel), I might treat myself to a G5 or something like that.

edit: Ok ive taken the car off I'm now trying to use a mouse properly, but it feels awkward! I think my hands might be quite big. The two fingers on the right are completely off the mouse and I have to drag them around when I move the mouse I'm definitely going to try to buy a bigger mouse, which I think will help. Maybe that G5 would do the trick.

[Pob255]

well alot of mice, like the pictured microsoft one, are egonomically designed to fit no one. They are symetrical for nether right or left hand confort and sized to a mythical "avarage" hand that is always too large or small for you.

it does sound less like RSI persay as within the mouse hand it tends to be ether finger clicks or wrist movement that is the problem.
although pushing the mouse left and rigth with little finger and thumb could be causeing it.
A change in mouse may indeed solve your problem or might just push it somewhere else, especially if you get avery diffenr shape/style of mouse as that would force you to change your grip/mose usage.

One thing you could try is opening up your current moust and sticking a weight inside it, as it might be the weight of the toy car forceing you to push that bit harder that releaves your current problem.
When it occures with typeing often the best thing (after a period of rest) is a more "resistant" keyboard that requires more force on the keys to type.

Try to take more breaks and don't use the pc in the evening for a day or two.

You could try useing a tracker ball or a good old joystick. again same prinsiple of changeing the position and action of the hand.

[acrobat]

Thanks Good stuff. I never would have thought something like a blummin mouse could do this. But I do use it a lot.

I'm now holding it how it shows me in pictures. I could get used to it, but the wierdest thing is that the two right fingers are supposed to be off the side of the mouse and on the mat. So when you move the mouse, you have to lift those two fingers slightly... Very odd. The way I was holding it, had all fingers touching the mouse, so as I moved the mouse, all my fingers where resting on the mouse so they all slid together. Sounds better, but obviously it isn't