Changing to non-dominant hand for the computer mouse

[Patiod]

and it's driving me crazy. I'm so right-dominant that it's really slowing me down, but I'm sorting to get some twinges in my right wrist, and don't want to develop carpel tunnel.

Anyone else ever try this?

[AllegroRondo]

1. no, but I dont think I could do it

Im SO used to using my right hand for the mouse, i learned to type nearly everything using only my left.

[Orrex]

2. Whoops--wrong place!

Whoops.

[Orrex]

3. I'm lefty, and so is my mouse

Whenever a rightie has to use my workstation, no matter how many times I warn them about the reversed buttons, they still click it wrong for about ten minutes, becoming increasingly irritated the whole time.

In this regard, lefties have a small advantage; chances are good that anyone else's mouse will be right-configured, so we get used to it. (IMO)

[Roon]

4. My Mother likes her lefty configured mouse

because it keeps people off her computer.

[murielm99]

31. My son is a lefty.

When he lived at home, we had the mouse set up for his convenience.

After all, he helped build the computer and taught me a lot about computers in general. It was the least I could do for him.

It was set up that way for so long that I got used to it. I only changed it a couple of years ago after my youngest daughter complained. She had her own computer and did not use mine much. But she left hers at college, and used the family computer on breaks. It was time to change things.

[deepthought42]

36. Ha ha, righties...

I've managed to learn how to use my mouse with my left hand w/o re-configuring the buttons. It's weird, I know, but it's second nature to me now.

[Lowell]

5. I'm amphibious

so it doesn't matter.

[havocmom]

29. so, your mouse can be operated under water

or do you use a frog?

[Lowell]

32. Actually I can use a mouse

or frog. Either way works for me.

[skygazer]

6. I actually love doing this

And do it purposely on occasion.

A friend and I had a version of Pac-man on his computer back in the early 90's - you played it with the directional keys and it was kind of fun. We decided we'd only play left-handed.

We were HORRIBLE at first. But after a while, we got so good, we had to crank the speed way up and we were blazing through screen after screen.

It's a good exercise and from what I understand, exercises your brain as well.

[Patiod]

21. I make a point to rent cars & navigate in strange cities

I have a theory it's good for the brain to have to figure out how to drive around a completely strange city, too. It certainly FEELS like it's keeping the mind awake.

But then again, I think crosswords are good, too, so what the hell do I know?

[LynzM]

7. That would be tough!!

Do you have a wrist rest/support for your mouse hand? I got one that has small beads in it, and the pain that was starting in my wrist went right away, and has stayed gone for about 18 months, now. I'd recommend it, if you don't already have one!

[Patiod]

11. thanks for the suggestion

I'm going to try the lefty thing, but will look into the wrist support as well

I already have split keyboard, which I love

[TOhioLiberal]

8. I am...

...an iconoclast. I use my right handed mouse with my left hand. :):crazy:

[Control-Z]

9. Have you tried a trackball mouse?

"It takes some time to get used to. But your wrist is worth the pain of migrating from mouse to trackball."

I started using the finger operated style when my wrist was in such bad shape I could no longer move my standard mouse. I will never go back. I love it.


Cordless Optical TrackMan w/ Finger Operated Trackball



Logitech Cordless TrackMan Wheel, w/ Thumb-Operated Trackball

[zingaro]

10. I dig my trackball but haven't seen the thumb one. Hmm...

[Richardo]

12. I'm a lefty, but I mouse right handed...

Tried it on my left and it drove me crazy. x(

[GoddessOfGuinness]

13. What a neat idea!

I think I'll try it!

[Deja Q]

14. I'm ambidextrous... bi-handy.

:evilgrin:

[KenHodson]

15. great idea....

my left palm was getting pretty hairy.

[Patiod]

16. That's nice - get my computer-oriented thread locked~

I called IT and told them it was making my brain hurt. No sympathy.

[Orrex]

26. I'm lefty, but sometimes I mouse with my right

So that it feels like someone else is doing it.

[OllieLotte]

17. Yep. I'm in inside sales, I can write with my right hand that way. n/t

[schrodingers_cat]

18. I had to do it after shoulder surgery

I'd had pain in that arm for years. Then the post surgical pain made it a neccessity. It took about 2 weeks to feel comfortable mousing left, but I attribute my current pain free status to this switch. Stick with it - it is so worth it - you NEED to heal that wrist before you find yourself with irreversible pain - a real possibility. Not to mention the arthritis potential later in life.

[Patiod]

19. Bingo - that scares me

I was at the gym, and using the elliptical hurt. That finally pushed me out of my "mouse denial"!

Thanks for the words of encouragement, S_cat! :hi:

/yikes - even switched at home!!!

[Aristus]

20. Um...none of my business, but...if you're pointing and clicking with the

non-dominant hand...


...whatcha doin' with the OTHER one? :evilgrin:

[Patiod]

23. At work? Resting it on the desk!!

Yikes! Someone is going to get this innocent thread locked!

Besides, my idea of porno is websites that offer discount shoes and boots........

[Left Is Write]

22. I use my right hand for my mouse, and I am left-handed.

Very, very left-handed. It's just something I learned to do years ago, and I'm used to it now.

[kedrys]

24. I'm left-handed and mouse with my right

Using mouses and scissors with my left feels weird. I cut with my right so I can hang on to what I want to keep, and I mouse with my right so I can write at the same time.

Makes perfect sense to me. :)

[Flaxbee]

25. I haven't done this with a computer mouse, but I try to use

my left hand for other stuff -- brushing my teeth, cooking/chopping veggies (carefully!), etc. I forget about it for a while, then do a flurry of left-handed things in an effort to maintain dexterity in both hands. Just for kicks. But it irritates me after a while, I don't think I'd have the patience to try switching mouse handedness.

[CC]

27. I'm left handed and have always used

a right handed mouse. Once you get used to it you will be fine unless that only works for southpaws.

[Jamastiene]

28. Quit using a mouse and go to a trackball or some other

input device. Also, learn keyboard shortcuts. They will save your wrists some major pain. I'm left handed and have always both used the mouse right handed and played guitar right handed. Never had any problems. Of course, we lefties have to constantly adapt so we CAN do it. Righties are not accustomed to it, so I'd suggest you try the other input devices out. It might help you more than you'd know.

[Patiod]

33. I learned to use a computer before there WERE mice

so I know all the keyboard shortcuts!

May look into the other devices like trackball.

[crispini]

30. I've done it. Took me about three weeks. Well worth it.

Now I can switch off at will, and do so whenever one hand starts bugging me!

[raccoon]

34. It isn’t just carpal tunnel you need to worry about.

Take it from someone who knows.

Lots of people, even lots of doctors, think "carpal tunnel" and that's all they know about it. Thanks to the media's misinformation.

Find out all you can about RSI.


"What is RSI?

Repetitive Strain Injuries occur from repeated physical movements doing damage to tendons, nerves, muscles, and other soft body tissues. Occupations ranging from meatpackers to musicians have characteristic RSIs that can result from the typical tasks they perform. The rise of computer use and flat, light-touch keyboards that permit high speed typing have resulted in an epidemic of injuries of the hands, arms, and shoulders. Use of pointing devices like mice and trackballs are as much a cause, if not more so. The thousands of repeated keystrokes and long periods of clutching and dragging with mice slowly accumulates damage to the body : another name for the condition is Cumulative Trauma Disorder. This can happen even more quickly as a result of typing technique and body positions that place unnecessary stress on the tendons and nerves in the hand, wrist, arms, and even the shoulders and neck. Lack of adequate rest and breaks and using excessive force almost guarantee trouble.

You may have heard the term Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in connection with these injuries, but in fact CTS is only a small and dangerous percentage of typing injuries. Tendinitis, Bursitis , Tenosynovitis / DeQuervain's Syndrome , Tendinosis , Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, Trigger Finger/Thumb , Myofascial Pain Syndrome, Cubital Tunnel Syndrome, and several other related conditions may also be involved. All of these are serious and in advanced cases can cause great pain and permanent disability. In addition, patients injured by repetitive strain sometimes develop Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy."

http://eeshop.unl.edu/rsi.html

[Patiod]

37. Thanks. You sound like our IT guy

he's a good source of info (he gave me a lecture much the same as your post), and he's good about providing folks with anything they believe they need to avoid RSI. He got one of our VPs ine if those trackball things that people upthread had raved about, and it seemed to help.

Thanks raccoon :hi:

[deepthought42]

35. I've done that.

I'm a lefty, but I've grown up using my right-hand for my mouse. But between typing all day at my full-time job, and making lattes and stuff at my part-time job, my right hand had taken a beating. So I switched my mouse over to the left side. It was surprisingly easy to adjust to; I don't know if I could go back to using my right-hand now.