fv1609 Posted October 10, 2007 Share Posted October 10, 2007 In my last couple of years of work, I got RSI which caused parathaesia in some fingers. I thought this was MS or something nasty starting but nerve conduction tests ruled this out. I retired a year ago & parathaesia gone! But now, I get intense pain in my right elbow very much related to computer use. It took a while to twig it was PC related but within 24 hrs of heavy PC useage a small area of the elbow is so painful the tension of my shirt causes pain. If I leave off the PC then things improve. I am trying to use my left hand, which is not too difficult. I think the PC work station is optimised. I have also started to see if using the mouse on a book placed on my lap means the arm/elbow position is more favourable. Has anyone tried this? I also wondered whether a thumb ball mouse might help. Anyone used one? I know the simple answer is don't use the PC so much. The problem is there is nothing much else to do round here. Now that shows are over, I can't do much. The problem is the house has had builders for 6 months, I have no hot water, heating or electricity. Existing in a caravan, stable & a shed from where I am now. The vehicle sheds are cold & damp, no lights, no electricity, no dehumidifiers. I don't share my wife's enthusiasm for watching endless repeats of CSI on the telly. So I come out here & play on the PC. That's why there are streams of mystery objects & then all quiet when the elbow plays up. So how do others get round the mouse issue? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Posted October 10, 2007 Share Posted October 10, 2007 I use a wireless mouse which enables me to use it in the most comfortable position for me, saying that I do get aches in the forefinger after a period of time. You might have to move onto the tablet PC :dunno: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fv1609 Posted October 10, 2007 Author Share Posted October 10, 2007 I use a wireless mouse which enables me to use it in the most comfortable position for me, saying that I do get aches in the forefinger after a period of time. You might have to move onto the tablet PC :dunno: Yes it is a wireless mouse. Only started trying using it on a book on my lap today. But it does give an entirely different wrist/arm/elbow position. Tablet PC don't know what that is. Someone said use a drawing pad, I can see that might help with image editing, but couldn't see how that would function instead of a mouse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony B Posted October 10, 2007 Share Posted October 10, 2007 Someone where I worked had this. She was given a joystick type thing, unfortunatley didn't take a lot of notice of it but it worked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArtistsRifles Posted October 10, 2007 Share Posted October 10, 2007 Alternatively - leave the mouse out of the equation and go for something like IBM's "ViaVoice" or Dragons "Naturally Speaking". This then switches control of the PC to spoken words - be it the actual warding of posts/e-mails/documents etc or mouse actions. You can even control the DB functions with it..... See: IBM - http://www-306.ibm.com/software/pervasive/embedded_viavoice/ Dragon - http://www.nuance.co.uk/talk/ Takes maybe a day to setup up to your voice then just fine tuning for anout a month afterwards....... No more RSI then!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fv1609 Posted October 10, 2007 Author Share Posted October 10, 2007 Someone where I worked had this. She was given a joystick type thing, unfortunatley didn't take a lot of notice of it but it worked. Yes that's the sort of thing. I have seen a big ball for the thumb to work, but that had to be plonked on the worktop & still operated from there. These seem to be sold on the basis that the mouse saves space by not having to move around on a pad, rather than any anti-RSI benefits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony B Posted October 10, 2007 Share Posted October 10, 2007 There are also the formable foam mouse mats that has a wrist support that cradles the wrist. Try the local shopmobility place they sell things like that for people with virtually no use of their hands. At least they should know what is available to help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N.O.S. Posted October 10, 2007 Share Posted October 10, 2007 Here's a compact mouse designed specifically for women.......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fv1609 Posted October 10, 2007 Author Share Posted October 10, 2007 Here's a compact mouse designed specifically for women.......... Not at all suitable I'm afraid, its just not my shade ;-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Farrant Posted October 10, 2007 Share Posted October 10, 2007 Clive, Being left handed, I find it easier to use the mouse with left hand and find no problems, considering they may well have been designed for right hand use. Might be worth trying, until that elbow gives you trouble :-( Richard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlienFTM Posted October 10, 2007 Share Posted October 10, 2007 In my last couple of years of work, I got RSI which caused parathaesia in some fingers. I thought this was MS or something nasty starting but nerve conduction tests ruled this out. I retired a year ago & parathaesia gone! But now, I get intense pain in my right elbow very much related to computer use. It took a while to twig it was PC related but within 24 hrs of heavy PC useage a small area of the elbow is so painful the tension of my shirt causes pain. If I leave off the PC then things improve. I am trying to use my left hand, which is not too difficult. I think the PC work station is optimised. I have also started to see if using the mouse on a book placed on my lap means the arm/elbow position is more favourable. Has anyone tried this? I also wondered whether a thumb ball mouse might help. Anyone used one? I know the simple answer is don't use the PC so much. The problem is there is nothing much else to do round here. Now that shows are over, I can't do much. The problem is the house has had builders for 6 months, I have no hot water, heating or electricity. Existing in a caravan, stable & a shed from where I am now. The vehicle sheds are cold & damp, no lights, no electricity, no dehumidifiers. I don't share my wife's enthusiasm for watching endless repeats of CSI on the telly. So I come out here & play on the PC. That's why there are streams of mystery objects & then all quiet when the elbow plays up. So how do others get round the mouse issue? A friend at work suffers RSI from her mouse. Our H&S got her a small keyboard (like something out of a laptop) without number pad so she didnt have to reach for the mouse. Saves reaching so far past the number pad from the letter pad to the mouse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fv1609 Posted October 11, 2007 Author Share Posted October 11, 2007 Clive, Being left handed, I find it easier to use the mouse with left hand and find no problems, considering they may well have been designed for right hand use. Might be worth trying, until that elbow gives you trouble :-( Richard Yes that's what I'm currently doing. Much easier than I would have thought. Difficult though doing picture editing quickly. I have a 5 button mouse & use one button for copy & another for paste. Lots of the images I work with have bits of grot or labels on them & I need to paste bits of adjacent image to cover these up. Can take an hour or two just on one image. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fv1609 Posted October 11, 2007 Author Share Posted October 11, 2007 A friend at work suffers RSI from her mouse. Our H&S got her a small keyboard (like something out of a laptop) without number pad so she didnt have to reach for the mouse. Saves reaching so far past the number pad from the letter pad to the mouse. Ah yes I have seen slightly curved keyboards. I don't think I have ever used the numbers bit really. But know you say that I wonder now if it is all mouse problem or how much is keyboard. The trouble is I type with one finger, if I try to use another finger or the other hand, my brain has to disconnect & switch over to the other side. So there is no benefit in speed, but I might try it to rest the right side. In fact I am trying it now, but is fiddle when I want capitals or ctrl button. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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