Defeating (or maybe just coping with) Mr. Arthritis

[RHPConsult]

For some years, I've enjoyed having an M$ wireless mouse on my G4 Igloo.

However, arthritis in my right hand (especially) is becoming quite troublesome. Thus, I'm considering a track ball, of some kind or another, as a useful replacement.

I'm assuming the various models these days are almost like TVs, so excellent in what they are supposed to do that you can almost throw a dart inside Circuit City and end up with a good one. But, I'm not really sure of that.

Is there anyone out there with "moden" trackball experience that they be willing to share? Because of my increasingly restricted right hand, personal pros and cons are solicited, since I fully understand that mileage-does-vary!

And, thank you very much.

[MacHeadCase]

A bit off topic to your question, RHP.

Just wondering if you have also considered all the possibilities offered, as well as trackball-type mousing.

Like Evoluent's VerticalMouse or Contour Design's RollerMouse.

You could also look at the Canadian Arthritis Society's webpage on repetitive stress injury and even post in their forum.

[gunug]

I switched mostly to Logitech Marble Mice (Mouses?) mostly since I came down with 1st) Carpel Tunnel, 2nd) Peripheral Neuropathy, 3rd) some arthritis resulting from the Neuropathy.  They have a golf ball sized ball and fit my hand comfortably.  I use them on both MAC's and PC's and at home and work.  Some are the older 2 button type and some are like the picture and have 4 buttons.  I think there is a wireless trackball version but it's a lot more convoluted and has more buttons.

[DaveF]

I also switched to track balls due to arthritis.  First used a Logitech Marble Mouse but switched to a Logitech Trackman Wheel as the arthritis was less painful in my thumb than in the fingers.  There is also a wireless version.  With a little use, it becomes second nature.  

Dave

[RHPConsult]

Thanks all.

Originally the diagnosis was carpal tunnel syndrome, but subsequently my ortho-docs settled on degenerative osteoarthritis. That's what ate my right knee, starting about 10 years ago.

'Tis much more a thumb problem (at least now) than fingers. So, I'll look at the the Marble Mouse and Contour Design's Roller Mouse.

Vertical Mouse would not address the problem, I surmise.

Thank you for the help, guys.

[pendragon]

Dick,

FWIW, For years, I have ben using a two button Kensington Orbital Optical Trackball (and love it). I tried the four button model, but the fit wasn't right. Like you said, much depends on the size and shape of your hand, mousing habits, preferences, etc.

In your decision process, I encourage you to consider/evaluate the software, e.g., how well the trackball driver plays with OSX.

[sandbox]

I had an issue with constant hand, arm, shoulder, neck pain using a desktop and mouse. The 4 button Kennsington solved the hand issue but the arm-neck pain still persisted. Moving to a laptop and track pad, alternating with mouse, changing my seating position to support my arm in a reclining chair has enabled me to extend my computer time. I use Tai Chi formulas to Exercise the injury/degeneration with remarkable results.

I know I continue to emphasize seating position for computing ills, but I work with many disabled seniors and have found that position makes larger gains than equipment in many cases.

So when you find that Mouse that fits, try to slowly experiment with arm-hand positioning.

Raising and lowering the elbow, bring it closer to your torso, turning and rotating your wrist, working with your hand under a heat lamp & 20 minutes at a time. Little gains will take on a life of their own.

[george]

by way of a diversion (to a lower part of the body)

as Napoleon's (foreign to France) chiropodist said to him (after Waterloo)

"defeet is good".

     
George

p.s
sorry Dick, not the answer you were looking for.

[RHPConsult]

Sandbox
Your emphasis on adjusting posture (in all its varieties) as "therapy" was heavily emphasized by my physical therapist over the last couple of months. Sounds good, too, in your experience.

Harv
I will also look at what Kensington has that's new. Between the 2 of us, I suspect we've had 4 or 5 Kensington track balls over the past 20 years. Lillian is using one with her new G5/AIO, which she contends she prefers strongly over the OEM wireless mouse. Marital Note: I've always tended to pay careful attention to her strong preferences.

George
Go to your room!


More thanks to everyone for the good advice . . . (and humor)

[Gregg]

I've been using the Whale mouse at work for years. It's from ErgoView Technologies. I can't remember the name of the web site I ordered it from. It is, as the name implies, significantly larger than your standard issue mouse. It allows me to spread my hand out naturally, rather than always keeping it in "squeeze mode". It has reduced my pain from tendonitis to almost nothing.

Oh, and it's adjustable in one direction...

[jcarter]

Hi Sandbox,  I sure had a nasty issue with neck pain, shoulder, and my right hand falling asleep.
It was due to a pinched nerve in my neck, and I had a topic here about 5 weeks ago.
I sure got some wonderful help and suggestions from you all.  Posture is so important!
I now use a rolled up towel under my wrists when typing and mousing.  I had to stop doing much computer work for several weeks and couldnt drive my truck either.

It is a whole lot better now!   Thanks to the physical therapy people and their magic traction machine.  The nerve is healing and the pain is gone, but I will never ever never ever dig and plant 8 azaleas again or strain the neck.  Arthritis is part of it too, according to my x-rays.
Posture, adding pillow to my computer chair so my eye level is much higher.  Not staying in one position for more than 10 minutes, take frequent breaks.  Now I am back driving, but not cranking my head around as much as used to.  Use those mirrors!
Therapists gave me strengtening excercises to do, they help too.  
Getting older is a pain in the butt sometimes, we sure cant the heavy work that we used to.
Swimming helps too.  But the physical therapy people are the key to recovery, I am following their instructions exactly, and sure look forward to my 2 appointments per week.
Good luck!  
Jane

[Gary S]

Ergonomics is so important.

Since everyone is a different size there are no pat dimensions for any of this but in any case I have found that supporting the joint that hurts is the best way for me lessen strain on the joints.

Hand is supported by the wrist and forarm, back is supported but an ergonomic chair at the proper height with lumbar support and the Monitor is at eye level to lessen the strain.

My 2$.

There's a great picture in every Apple manual.

Oh, and stop, get up, and do something else when pain begins. Move around.

[sandbox]

I'm glad to hear your doing better Jane, it's an experience that makes you focus on small favors. I speak from personal as well as professional experience myself, I set off the Metal Detectors at airports,Court Rooms and secure facilities everywhere I go.

[jcarter]

I realize how important the exercises that the physical therapy people give me to do.
They sure help.
Jane

[PussEFoote]

Hi RHP...

This is just a comment - not very useful to you as it's *very* low tech!
I have osteo arthritis in various bodily locations, including hands with fingers that have the top joints heading in odd directions & trouble in the joint at the juction of wrist/base of thumb.
When I got the strawberry imac several years go I found the "hockey puck" a pain to use.

For AUD$10.00 I purchased a set of 4 (various colours to match imacs) contour shells .. they only came in sets of 4 - 3  have never been used!)
The hockey puck sits inside the shell with it's roller protruding at the bottom.
Of course it's still a one-button mouse.
I found it fits my hand exactly,allowing me to just rest the hand on the shell in a very natural position & in, I guess, nearly 7 years of use, often for several hours at a time, I've had absolutely no pain or problems.
In fact the newer imac I've got has a "better" mouse, but I'm pretty sure I'll go on using the older one with the contour shell as it's so comfortable!
Might change the shell to get a better match to the graphite colour though!!

BarbZ
BarbZ