I am having real trouble using my computer mouse for any length of time due to sore wrists and fingers. Can anyone recommend a good one?

[flw93]

[Someonesmother]

I use a vertical one at work it is kinder to my hands and wrists than the normal one.

[Ronnie63]

Hi

I've tried various, our IT team at work let me practice on them and will order in ones for me to try. I don't find the so called ergnomic ones helpful as I think my hands are better it they're stretched our rather than having to overtly grip something. So a standard, smooth, long mouse works for me, i.e. no bending of fingers necessary, a natural position

I do think it's a personal thing though so maybe go to a PC shop and try holding the various ones on demo and seeing what they feel like. Can you borrow different types from freinds to save investing in something that won't work for you?

Ronnie x

[Luthien66]

Hi, yes I also use a vertical one called Evoluent....like you I suffer holding a normal mouse and have found this one much better.

Hope you get something to help real soon xxx

[marmaduke]

I use a Kensington Orbit Trackball. It takes a bit of getting used to 'cos it operates so differently from the normal mouse, but I find it great. I can keep my hand flat to operate the ball (curser) and a quick flick with thumb or little finger for left and right click eliminates that 'painful' need to have my hand gripped round the mouse. Together with a gel wrist support, computing is no longer painful at all. Good Luck. Helen x

[donnalouisec]

I use a touch pad one, like a tablet or laptop called cirque. It's brill and has loads of short cuts when you get used to it

[fridayfever]

Hi I use an orbit trackball after trying numerous so I recommend but everybody is different so recommend trying as many as possible first.

[Scottishlad]

I use a chunky Logitech cordless mouse which fits the hand well. Small mice mice make you tense the muscles and tendons in your hands. This puts strain on the joints.

Try using a mouse pad with a gel wrist pad I find this helps a lot. It helps keep your wrist straight.

[summer32 in reply to Scottishlad]

I use the logitech one too ( cordless)

[earthwitch]

Its definitely better if you can actually find somewhere to try a few out. Our local college learning support centre has a range of them, but sometimes even a computer shop will let you look a bit closer at them. The easiest ones to grip seem to be the vertical mice - there are two types - one that looks a wee bit like an ordinary mouse, but a bit more upright and you hold it not with your palm down, but with your palm vertical. The other easy grip one is like a game joystick and has the buttons on the top that you operate with your thumb rather than your index finger. As others have said there are also track pads and roller balls as well as ones like the "whale" that are much bigger and supposedly easier to hold.

The other option is to get some voice recognition software and use that as much as you can so you don't have to be mousing much at all. The only problem with that is that it can take a while to "train" and if you have a weird accent like me it takes forever for it to learn to interpret what you are saying!

[126Jessie]

I use Evoluent mouse and it was provided free by access to work. Hope that helps x

[Hidden in reply to 126Jessie]

Hello K3let, I'm currently getting a new keyboard, headset at work, but we are a bit stumped about which mouse to order as there are so many, ATOS have recommended a flat one to keep my hand in a natural position, could you tell me more please about the Evoluent mouse and how you got on with Access to Work? Thank you

[126Jessie in reply to Hidden]

I had to visit an Occ therapist to get assessed for a blue badge. She then offered a home visit to get me some extra stuff like a bath manger and lots of things to help me. I work full time as a teacher and she asked how do I cope at work. I told her about the probs I have with my mouse etc and she gave me a council number to contact ( Scotland ) They sent a woman from access to work, she assessed my work place and advised on the best mouse, chair and key pad. She had a catalouge and suggested the best design for me. You hold your hand vertically and it is so much easier to click although it took me a wee while to get used to it. The A to work woman was an Occ therapist and she suggested that the most natural position is vertical and not flat as in a horizontal- traditional mouse' as this kind of mouse makes you twist your wrist, elbow and shoulder. Access to work were superb from start to finish. I have a better chair than ever too and all in all it has improved my working life. The total cost came for all the adaptions came to under £500 pound and they were paid by my employer as they are obliged to pay a set amount. Anything in excess of the cut of amount is paid by Access to Work. If you leave your employment the items purchased are yours for life and not the property of your employer. Hope this helps you. Best of luck xx

[Hidden in reply to 126Jessie]

Thank you very much for this, we've talked about Access to Work at work so I will mention this again on Monday. I used to work for Access to Work 5 years ago believe it or not. ATOS were ok but I thing ATW will be more beneficial to me. Good luck and thanks for your help. Xx

[SaraF]

As others have said Vertical mouse is the way forward and what Access to Work recommend. Good Luck x