[az_matt]

Guys/Gals,

I've recently been suffering a bit from the onset of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. My father went through this before me, and I know that the surgical route is something I want to avoid at any cost.

That said, any recommendations on Mac-friendly ergonomic keyboards and mice?

Thanks a bunch in advance!

Matthew

<fine print> I have used the search function, and nothing terribly recent or helpful came up. </fine print>

[ghporter]

Keyboarding is nowhere near the only thing that helps cause carpal tunnel syndrome. ANYTHING that works those flexor tendons is a potential problem, particularly if you don't keep your wrists at a good angle in all planes.

With that said, you want a keyboard that allows your hands to line up with your forearms, a la the Microsoft Natural Keyboard layout. (I have no clue whether or not that keyboard works well with Macs.) A mouse that fits your hand is a good choice. But get a mouse pad with a wrist rest-preferably a gel padded one.

Some twenty years ago I started having the symptoms, was diagnosed and even put in a cast for carpal tunnel. I still have some remnants of the problem. But between then and now, I got two associate degrees and a BS in Computer Science, and am now in an Occupational Therapy Masters program. All of these require significant amounts of typing, and while there is a twinge now and then, that's all I have. Good ergonomics beyond a particular keyboard and mouse are vital. Get your doctor to refer you to an OT or better yet a Certified Hand Therapist (OT or Physical Therapist, it doesn't matter) and ask THEM what you need.

[az_matt]

Thanks for the informative reply. I have been trying to work on other things - correcting my overall posture, bought some wrist braces to use while typing and sleeping, etc.

I bought a MS Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000 for use at work during lunch today, and it *feels* much better - and is very compatible with tying with the wrist braces on, which the original Dell most certainly was not. I guess I was hoping there was a more Mac-centric ergo keyboard for home use - as stylish as the Apple keyboard, and with the proper key markings. I'll keep my eyes open, but might have to just go with the MS keyboard if I don't find anything else.

I've heard anecdotal evidence that a trackball would be better on the wrists than a mouse... Any truth to that? Is this something I should look into?

Thanks again for your great response and any future help!

Matthew

[ghporter]

A trackball tends to get you to use your fingers instead of your wrist to move the pointer, but a lot of people have some sort of learning curve (steep or gentle, it depends) for picking them up. It is a GREAT choice, but get one that feels GOOD, not just OK. And use the wrist rest with it!

On the braces-if they are at all uncomfortable, go get custom ones made. They may run you as much as $75-100 each, but comfort and workability, not to mention real therapeutic value, make that worth it! A "carpal tunnel brace" off the medical supply house shelf may not fit you as well as it should, so if it rubs, pinches, or just doesn't work as well as you'd like, go get one made by a pro.

[az_matt]

Well, I liked the MS NEK4000 so much that I bought one for home use - even if the cmd and opt keys are labeled funny... I really like the angles on it - not just the curve of the keys, but the slope away from my body of the keyboard as a whole and the arch to the keyboard as well. Other than a loud spacebar, I'm happy as a clam.

Also plunked down on a Kensington Expert Mouse trackball. Very nice. I've taken to it rather quickly - Missile Command, anyone? The unit is quite nice, and the software it comes with makes setting up macros and such very intuitive. Then again, the MS software is decent, too... As much as I was expecting the worst.

I did buy some off-the-shelf wrist braces. They fit okay - I've got big hands and they're a bit snug, especially around my thumb. I'm still tinkering with the adjustments and supports and such. I guess if I don't get them sorted soon, I'll look into seeing a professional for some custom braces. I just hope my insurance covers it!

So far, though, I'm pretty happy with the results. I slept with the braces on last night and didn't wake up in excruciating pain as I had been the last month or so, so that's a big win in my book. I really hope these steps can turn back the clock... My father had the surgery when I was growing up, and that's something that I want to avoid at all costs.

ghporter, thanks for your input in this thread!

Matthew