aches from using a mouse | Arthritis Information

Has anyony got any ideas how to reduce the pain from constant use of a computer mouse?

Noy using the computer is not an option as i am currently doing an online course in microsoft developement to help me get back into work.

Thanks

This is only a temp solution...can ya switch hands? I'm a lefty and since most people are right handed most pcs have the mouse set up for right handed use. but i switch mine to left hand use if my right hand is bothering me. i frequently switch it back and forth. even being a lefty, it took some getting used to.

I am sorry to hear that your wrist and hands feel so bad when having to use the mouse alot. I have the same problem and I have been looking into buying a Touchpad to replace my mouse. You only have to move your fingers over it to do the same things that a mouse can do.

Addesso, puts out a pretty good Touchpad and has a few models to choose from. I also have been thinking about getting a new keyboard with a Touchpad on it and maybe a different layout for the key board to see if it makes it easier for me to use too. Right now I am using a Logitech MX wireless mouse, which has some nice features to it and has helped lessen the stress of using a regular mouse, but as my hands get worse, I am sure I will have to try another type mouse.

I hope this helps you a little bit. Like I said I know exactly what constanly using a mouse can do to your hands.

Hope you have a good week.

Waddles

Hi Clufus... WELCOME!!!

I have problems using a mouse too and am on the
computer all the time. And my hands are my main
RA problem right now.

What helped me some was getting a type of mouse
that has a sideways slant to it. It allows a more
natural position for my hand (It's higher on the left
side and lower on the right side. It also has
programable buttons on it where I can set one of the
side buttons (used by my thumb) as the 'double
click'.

I also have anaother regular type mouse (whith a
small gel pad on top to rest your hand) that I
sometimes switch too for a couple of days.

Hope this helps some....

blessings,
Tara L

Hi Clufus

Do you know that there are keyboard shortcuts for just about every mouse movement? e.g. Ctrl/C for Copy, Ctrl/V for paste, moving around the screen using the Tab key and/or the arrow keys at the right hand end of the keyboard.

I hardly ever use the mouse since I found out about theses keys.

The Windows key (usually found between the Ctrl and Alt) is also very useful e.g. Windows Key/E gets you straight to Explorer

Isabelle

Clufus check with Best buy ands check with Athritis foundation website there are products out there for us that help us with using the mouse and keyboard. Gald to see ya!!! meme

Hi Clufus -

Just about my only RA pain now comes from overuse of the mouse with my right hand - wrist pain, and across the back of the hand, also finger stiffness in both hands.

Advice from my occupational therapist was to take frequent rests and go through my 'range of movement' exercises. This helps.

Advice from the physio has been 1. wrist supports (I have an array of different supports but none is totally effective and I think you would have to find what worked for you) 2.equipment (I have a gel wrist rest on my mouse mat and other equipment is available if you can afford it) 3. excercise (as per OT advice, plus doing the range of movement exercises under hot water).

All these things help a bit on a day to day basis, but I have found that exercising the wrist and hand under hot water is very very helpful in the medium to longer term. Have the water as hot as you can stand, almost to scald point - immerse your hands as deep as you can and flex and stretch everything as much as you can - especially side to side movements of wrist, and back and forward movements, opening and shutting your grip, stretching the hand span - just slowly stretch it all as much as you can bear. When you take your hand out of the water, keep it as warm as you can for as long as you can. I do this morning and night - for about a month now - and my pain is getting less and less and my ability to use the mouse and type for long periods is gradually increasing.

I'm lucky - my kitchen sink is huge - but you might have to buy a large plastic washing up bowl - or maybe a second hand baby bath if you can't get full immersion in your sink.

Best of luck with it,

Maggie