A track ball mouse cured my carpal tunnel !

[melodymatters]

Ok, this is hardly life altering info, but it is worth a try ! I was having every carpal tunnel symptom one can have, and was just planning to live with it. My mouse broke, and a comp geek friend had a track ball laying around. I TOTALLY rolled my eyes, and was like : Is that from the 80's or something", but after a few weeks, my hand,wrist issues were totally gone !

 

I now live in fear that this one will break and I won't be able to find another one !

 

I am obviously not a physician, and it might not help really advanced cases, but it's been an amazing "quick fix" in a life where there haven't been many of those, so thought I'd share !

[Stung]

Interesting--I'm pretty sure my husband has one or two of these stashed away in a supply closet somewhere. Might have to try it next time I have a flare up. Thanks, MM.

[In_Repair]

I only use trackballs. I do a lot of design work using CAD and the trackball is so much better all around. There is less wrist and arm movement involved and you can sit in a more natural position while you work since it doesn't have to slide across a flat surface to operate, plus it is more precise.

 

 

Periodically pop the ball out and clean it, as well as the tiny little balls inside that it rides on. You will have smoother movement. Also, go into your mouse controls and increase the speed and acceleration as much as you can stand, which will reduce thumb movements.

[melodymatters]

Cool ! I actually didn't expect ANY responses, but felt that if it helped ONE person, I would be being selfish by not sharing this tidbit !

 

It really is amazing the difference it's made, glad to have some professional " back up" too !

 

So, when this one breaks, they still sell them somewhere ?

Edited October 7, 2010 by melodymatters
spelling

[laRubiaBonita]

track ball is the one you use just your thumb for right?

 

that is what i use! i love it!

 

i started using it about 10 years ago- i cannot stand the regular type mouses.

 

the bonus is- because that is what i have at work- and no one else- NO BODY ever uses my computer!!!

[melodymatters]

track ball is the one you use just your thumb for right?

 

that is what i use! i love it!

 

i started using it about 10 years ago- i cannot stand the regular type mouses.

 

the bonus is- because that is what i have at work- and no one else- NO BODY ever uses my computer!!!

 

 

Hmm, I'm sure we are talking about the same thing....mine is a roll-y red ball in the center...I don't move the mouse, I roll the ball ? Yeah, well I don't just use my thumb, though I just tried it and that works too. I use my first two to three fingers.

 

I think it's because ones hand isn't contracted around the damned thing for hours on end. With the track ball, the mouse stays still and I just groove my fingers along it !

 

And YES, LRB, People HATE them ! I was annoyed at first too, but now I will never go back as long as they make them !!!!

[In_Repair]

 

So, when this one breaks, they still sell them somewhere ?

 

Yes. I just noticed a couple of models at Best Buy when I was in there this past week looking at something else. They have cordless models too now. I was scared they were going to stop making them.

 

Does your model have a rather large trackball located under your index and middle fingers, with four buttons and a scroll wheel/fifth button? If so, I had that one on my work PC for a little while. I liked it because I could assign functions to all of those buttons in some of my design software, but you might find even more relief by switching to a more conventional three button model with the smaller trackball located directly under your thumb.