Tennis (mouse) elbow and 'ergonomic/upright' mice...

[Koldov]

Before the half-term holidays I began to feel pain in my elbow (mainly on the bit that sticks out of the outside edge)...

 

 

Since I have been doing less around the school and trying to hide in my office more, I guess I have been sitting at the computer for longer (it didn't really occur to me but that's all I can put it down to), I mean given my job it's not like I haven't sat at a computer for hours on end previously (maybe it's just my age)... It doesn't seem to hurt much whilst using a mouse, only when I straighten or stretch my arm afterwards, I also play a lot of guitar and similarly can feel it when I stop.

 

Anyway, it got so bad that it was even painful to lift anything with that hand, as squeezing my fingers together to hold something is enough to immediately make me want to let go.

 

I thought it would ease over the holiday, but unfortunately I had quite a lot of DIY which meant I couldn't really rest it, so it is still as bad as it was.

 

Now, I'm obviously not a doctor, but I diagnosed myself with some sort of RSI/Tennis Elbow and thought I'd research if a vertical/ergonomic mouse would help. Actually going to the doctor would probably result in them saying I need to rest it, which again given my job is not actually going to happen...

 

Anyone had anything similar and found that these mouse designs actually help?

 

EDIT: Not an actual photo of me....

[NokiX]

I started to get pains in my wrist and arm however I quickly made the decision to try alternative mice to see which one helped best. I initially tried the Logitech M570 Trackman however I ended up with pains in my thumb (I'm sure I would have gotten over it in time) and now I daily drive a Logitech MX Vertical. I've had it for about 2 years now and haven't had any pain in my wrist or arm since switching to it full time so I suspect you'll see a huge difference if you make the change!

 

There's other vertical mice you can get which operate more like a joystick which are also supposed to be quite good however I've got no complaints over the MX Vertical so that'd be my recommendation.

 

Edit: Just to note, I've never had a diagnosis and I doubt mine was tennis elbow but I'd hope that a vertical or ergo mouse would help with some of the pain.

Edited April 19, 2022 by NokiX

[Foresthippy]

My experience with tennis elbow suggests that a) it never really recovers once it's done in and b) you might need a steroid injection to improve it. Mine comes and goes.

[Oaktech]

We've got a teacher with elbow and wrist issues following a cycling accident and we bought her an Anker vertical mouse under occy health advice and she loves it; which is good because they're only £20!

 

This bad boy... https://www.amazon.co.uk/Anker-Wireless-Vertical-Ergonomic-Optical/dp/B00BIFNTMC

[Chris_Cook]

I struggled with cramps and pain in my arms during Lockdown as my desk setup at home isn't good for working.

 

I've found the Elecom Huge trackball works well. A bit pricey, but worth it. I'd been looking for a trackball similar to the original MS one for a while. I didn't like the layout on most, but this one has the ball under my index + middle finger and buttons either side.

[mavhc]

I've got about 4 Anker vertical mice, don't get the wireless ones though, they're paired to a specific easily damaged usb dongle and can't be re-paired

[Koldov]

Thanks all, I will have a look at the Anker one, it's worth trying at that price.

 

Good to know, although I never use wireless mice actually. I don't know, maybe it's a hang-over from gaming and a bit old school and still have concerns about battery life and the old ones used to be a bit heavier...

[DeGrimmy]

There was a member of staff here a few years back who used a Penguin mouse, or something similar to it, for medical reasons: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Posturite-Ambidextrous-Alleviates-Easy-Glide-Compatible/dp/B007GFYM1K

[Sensei]

Having had a replacement knuckle in my right hand forefinger and bad arthritis in my hand (probably due to having used a mouse for about 50 years!!) , I have now used a 3M Ergonomic joystick mouse for over 10 years. It's pretty expensive but it is the most comfortable one I tried.

[admars]

When I had it a few years ago, dr gave me a weeks worth of anti inflammatory, and that was enough, perhaps mine was more I had done something specific to it/overdone it one day, rather than a gradual thing. I said I'd taken ibroprofen which hadn't helped, and she said, quite often the over the counter drugs aren't good enough for this sort of thing, as by the time you start taking them it's too late, and you need to keep taking them for a few days regularly, rather than when you remember/when it starts to hurt.

 

I've tried a few different trackballs and mice, but always end up going back to a normal mouse. I also tried using left hand, which was ok for some tasks, and ok for a "rest", but couldn't keep doing it.

 

I did ask an ex colleague at one place to keep an eye on my posture etc, I said there's no point doing a desk assessment right now, as I'll sit in perfect text book position with everything where it "should" be. After a few days he suggested making sure i use a mouse mat, with the mat closer towards me, so i don't rest my elbow on the desk and lean forward as much as i was doing

[Rob_D]

Many years ago I got a Zalman FG1000 (mostly to freak out the guys I was hotdesking with at the time) and found it comfortable when paired with a PUK wrist rest.

[mavhc]

Height of the desk vs chair and arm seems the most important thing to get right, when I moved my desk upstairs I forgot to measure what height it was, took ages to adjust it again properly

[Mr.Ben]

I have two of the Anker upright mice for at work and at home (work & gaming).

 

They are far more comfortable for long stints than the other mice I have used as I'm getting older.

 

Throughout our Trust that model is our first port of call for staff with RSI and tennis elbow, even before any formal assessment as the cost is so low it's a 'no brainer' to offer it. The staff member should still have an assessment though!

[flyinghaggis]

I also have an Anker vertical mouse which I find quite comfortable. I like the fact it's very light for a wireless mouse as well. My reason for making the switch was that I've been having back/posture problems (rather than arm/elbow issues) but I think it's probably RSI of some form from spending too much time reaching for a mouse with my right hand and sitting awkwardly because of it. Not quite sure what to try other than minimising time in front of a computer. Again, difficult given our line of work.

 

I notice that Logitech have released a cheaper vertical mouse which might be of interest if you're after a vertical mouse.

https://www.theverge.com/2022/4/19/23030160/logitech-lift-ergonomic-vertical-wireless-mouse-price-features

Edited April 21, 2022 by flyinghaggis

[Andrew_C]

Much to the confusion and disgust of anyone else who tries to use my desk, I use a track-ball thing. I alternate with ordinary mice every so often, and it has definitely kept carpal tunnel at bay.

[Squelch]

Before the half-term holidays I began to feel pain in my elbow (mainly on the bit that sticks out of the outside edge)...

 

Uncanny, I have the exact same problem which started at the same time as yours and I also failed to stop DIY'ing over the Easter break therefore not resting it.

 

I'm on day 1 of trying an Anker vertical mouse.

[E_G_R2]

I had it diagnosed after visiting the doctor and had a course of anti inflammatory cream and Physio.

 

The Physio told me that the condition would probably never go away but to do the Physio whenever I feel it coming on again (which I do)

 

I can trace the onset to working at a bench and not having sufficient support. It cleared up pretty much when I changed jobs and got a proposer desk but an now back to working on a bench and its coming back.

[the_quick]

I have suffered not along ago from tennis elbow. Started near xmas and it was getting worse, so I ask for GP appointment, but surgery sent me to physiotherapist and good that they did. He diagnosed me with tennis elbow and suggested 2 things.

Special exercise for the arm and Tennis elbow strap. It worked, before It was hard for me to lift cup full of tea. After 3 weeks almost no pain and 95% back to normal. Didn't use special mouse or pad, just recommended exercise 4-5 times a day.

 

Here is good one: https://www.nhsaaa.net/musculoskeletal-service-msk/musculoskeletal-service-msk-elbow/tennis-elbow-exercises-msk/

 

Physio gave me exercise very similar to 1st video on that website - I was told to do that in reverse with a twist. So extend your arm, angle your hand 90 degree and pull fingers towards your arm with other hand, and twist your arm while doing it, hold it and twist in other direction. I could see the results in just few days.

I hope I explained it clearly and hope it helps

[Danp]

...

Anyway, it got so bad that it was even painful to lift anything with that hand, as squeezing my fingers together to hold something is enough to immediately make me want to let go.

 

 

I have this too.

 

During bad spells, I get pins and needles in my ring and pinky fingers on my right hand for days. I've been through the GP and referral (March 2020) and had tests done on my nerves. They wired me up and sent electronic pulses though my arm and hand, it made my hand move on it's own! Turns out I have nerve damage in my elbow. Because of covid nothing else happened with it. I'm now on the list to be looked at again (reminds me, I need to call them today). The plan is steroid injections and see how they work. Otherwise it will be surgery.

 

As a work around, I've started using my mouse with my left hand. Also, I use a keyboard wrist support under my elbow for a few days as this tends to help.

Edited April 29, 2022 by Danp

[enjay]

I've got a formal diagnosis for golfer's elbow (like tennis, but the other side of the elbow) but it does seem to be a common complaint among computer users, and despite the name golfer's/tennis elbow is often a wrist problem even though you feel it in the elbow. I tried various upright mice but they didn't help me because the wrist movement necessary for upright mice continued to cause problems, and if I drilled myself to keep my wrist still and drive everything with the arm, I got really bad triceps pain! So, I use a Logitech M570 trackball. Yes, I get pain in the thumb but it is a pain I can live with, it only really happens on very desk-based days and it doesn't impact my life elsewhere, unlike the elbow/wrist pains which at their height before I started physio meant I couldn't grip anything between thumb and forefinger.

 

As a sufferer, I will say this to you all. Get it treated! You probably won't fully recover, but without treatment it will only get worse. Physio is worth every penny, you may even be able to get some on the NHS (I did, but that was in the pre-Covid world). Also, my physio had all sorts of exercises and advice to help my arm which I'd never have thought of doing if I had continued to self-diagnose.

[mavhc]

Also learn all the keyboard shortcuts you can.

 

Alt-d for browsers, windows-x, shift-insert for putty, right click key, or shift-f10 if some git's removed it.