Hand Damaging Mouse Pain

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Updated: 07/22/2022

Since the mouse was invented, it has never gotten old or obsolete. It remained the favorite computer input device to date. Every year many companies introduce new mouse design and models with different shapes to make it more comfortable. 

According to the National Institute of Health, computer users use the mouse nearly three times more than the keyboard. As computer mouse use grows, several medical problems are increasing due to its excessive use; more people suffer from mouse pain, also called computer mouse syndrome. 

Most affected users of computer mouse syndrome are people who spend long hours working on the computer. Computer gamers particularly get mouse pain faster due to the repetitive move they have to make during the gameplay. 

What causes hand pain from the mouse?

According to the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety, there are mainly two reasons for mouse pain.

1. Repetitive small hand movements involving wrist and fingers movement for a long time. This repetitive action could make your muscle tired. As a result, you could feel pain in the wrist joint on top of the wrist. In some cases, pain could be felt in the forearm, elbow, and shoulder.

2. Second reason could be the way you are holding the mouse. Your posture also matters; the congested workplace sometimes forces you to hold the mouse unnaturally, resulting in hand pain.

A trackball mouse does not require you to move your wrist while using it, but repeated use of fingers for several hours could hurt your fingers in the long term.

What is RSI (Repetitive Strain Injury)? The primary cause of mouse hand syndrome.

Repetitive strain injuries are developed over time. It’s a gradual process that slowly harms your muscles, tendons, and nerves due to negative repetitive motion. RSI directly impacts hand, forearm, shoulder and neck caused by the excessive use of computer mice.

If not taken care of this problem in early stage, these injuries could lead to more complex medical conditions which are difficult to cure. You may face various physical challenges if it develops further and is not taken care of in time.

Note: RSI-related issues are not only caused by mouse use. There could be other factors that might be the reason you feel pain in your hand. You can find more details at MedlinePlus.

What are the reasons for Mouse Shoulder?

Mouse shoulder pain is caused by repetitive strain due to overuse of computer mouse. This pain could also transfer to your neck joints, to the side of your shoulder. You could feel sensation with pain or inflammation. 

The actual reason for this mouse shoulder could be a small working area where you can not move easily, or your mouse is far away from the centre of the body, and you have to stretch your arm to operate the mouse.

Lastly, your hand is in pain already; and you are putting your shoulder in the wrong posture to use the mouse.

What are the reasons for Mouse Arm Syndrome?

Mouse arm syndrome usually occurs due to overall bad posture; one of the probable causes is keyboard and mouse use. It is caused due to other relative problems club together like the forearm pain, wrist pain, and shoulder pain.

When a problem grows, and no proper measures are taken, eventually, your full arm gets affected. You feel pins and sensations in hand. In some situations, your hand could swell. 

Note: It is advised to consult with a qualified practitioner for proper advice and treatment.

What are the reasons for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is a complex continuous, and painful situation caused by putting pressure on fingers and hands overall. According to Wikipedia, there are 5 million affected people alone in the USA who suffer from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. 

The reason it is developed is when the median nerve, which is located just above the wrist joint on your wrist, is damaged to the point where it becomes difficult to work with your hand in a carpal tunnel condition. If this medical condition persists, it affects your fingers, also known as the trigger finger problem.

When you put pressure on the wrist, it starts damaging the median nerve, and over time, its condition worsens, and the hand starts to feel weakness, pain, tingling, or numbness.

Carpal tunnel syndrome could also lead to trigger finger issues. According to research, carpal tunnel syndrome and trigger finger are correlated as they have a common mechanism.

What mouse should be used to relieve your hand from computer mouse chronic pain?

There are several ways you can achieve this if the problem is due to mouse use. Several mice are available that can provide relief in the above mentioned medical situations.

First, you can start using ergonomic mice instead of regular mice. Even if you have no mouse hand problems because it’s better to avoid any mouse pain problems in the future. A ergonomic mouse that is easy on your hand while working is the best mouse.

If you have developed severe mouse hand problems and it has become challenging to work, you can use the special mice to help you do your work while keeping your hand, forearm, and shoulder at ease. 

And if you are unable to work with a regular or ergo mouse and your whole arm is in pain. I would suggest you use a ergonomic computer mouse alternative. These alternative mice could greatly help you to complete your work without hurting your hand further and treating pain.

Alternate mice can perform all the functions that you can do with the regular mouse. It just takes time to get used to these moue alternatives.

In general, you should always use ergonomice vertical mice if you work for long hours because these mice keep your hand neutral position which is good posture.

What other preventive measures can you take to prevent mouse pain?

There are a number of steps you can take to prevent mouse pain from happening.  below are some suggestion for using a mouse.

1) Take frequent breaks every 30 minutes

2) Make sure you are sitting in the right posture

3) Use wrist or forearm support if you work for prolonged hours

4) Explore non-conventional computer mice

 (Preventive measure information reference University of California, Berkeley)