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I had a brief but serious bout of RSI in my right wrist in my early 30s. Ergo keyboards and novel typing layouts didn’t help at all, nor did a wrist brace. What

I had a brief but serious bout of RSI in my right wrist in my early 30s. Ergo keyboards and novel typing layouts didn’t help at all, nor did a wrist brace. What eventually relieved it was a trackball (which the author of this article also used) and a wrist pad for that hand. I avoided normal mouses, trackpads, and the IBM/Lenovo “mouse nipple,” going so far as to bring my trackball with my laptop. I’ve switched back long since, for precision, but the RSI never returned. Definitely check out trackballs if keyboard mitigations aren’t helping. Also, buy wrist rest pads!

Xevi 6y ago
Which trackball did you use? I have tried almost every different kind of ergonomic keyboard / mouse alleviate my pain, but I haven't tried trackballs yet.
- robotmay 6y ago
  I have a Logitech MX Ergo which I quite like, which is a thumb trackball. I'm not sure how that compares to finger-trackballs though as I've never owned one, but a few friends have things like the Kensington one and like it a lot.
  - Xevi 6y ago
    Alright, thanks. I've looked at that mouse before but I'm afraid that the ball will wear out my thumb even more. Maybe it's worth a shot though, or maybe I should go for one of those Kensington trackballs that you use your whole hand with.
    - robotmay 6y ago
      Yeah it’s a shame they’re all quite expensive really and thus quite hard to try a few different ones longer term. A vertical mouse might also be worth investigating perhaps? One thing I like about the MX Ergo is that it’s very easy to use reclined with it on your chest, which sounds odd but can be good when you’re just clicking about.
      - retzkek 6y ago
        The Logitech M570 and new M575 are a cheaper way to try out a thumb trackball. I've been using an M570 for a couple years, quite happy with it, except that I've found it needs to be put on a 20-30 degree wedge to reduce wrist strain (the Ergo MX has this built in).

Xevi 6y ago

Which trackball did you use? I have tried almost every different kind of ergonomic keyboard / mouse alleviate my pain, but I haven't tried trackballs yet.

robotmay 6y ago
I have a Logitech MX Ergo which I quite like, which is a thumb trackball. I'm not sure how that compares to finger-trackballs though as I've never owned one, but a few friends have things like the Kensington one and like it a lot.
- Xevi 6y ago
  Alright, thanks. I've looked at that mouse before but I'm afraid that the ball will wear out my thumb even more. Maybe it's worth a shot though, or maybe I should go for one of those Kensington trackballs that you use your whole hand with.
  - robotmay 6y ago
    Yeah it’s a shame they’re all quite expensive really and thus quite hard to try a few different ones longer term. A vertical mouse might also be worth investigating perhaps? One thing I like about the MX Ergo is that it’s very easy to use reclined with it on your chest, which sounds odd but can be good when you’re just clicking about.
    - retzkek 6y ago
      The Logitech M570 and new M575 are a cheaper way to try out a thumb trackball. I've been using an M570 for a couple years, quite happy with it, except that I've found it needs to be put on a 20-30 degree wedge to reduce wrist strain (the Ergo MX has this built in).