Could you plug in two mice? One for each hand?

Learning to use a mouse left handed is easier than you'd expect, then you can alternate the hand that you use.

J

How about changing the device?

Maybe switch to a trackball (Roger-X uses one, with his hand resting in his lap), a drawing tablet, or a pen-style mouse?

In the UK, if the use of a piece of equipment (such as a mouse) is causing, aggravating or even affected by a medical condition or injury, then the employer is under a legal obligation to provide an appropriate alternative.

(For instance, Kitewife has a slightly crooked spine - her employer was obliged to buy a new office chair, footrest and wrist-rest for her in order to prevent any extra damage to her back. She didn't ask for it, her employer organised it themselves.)

I use a piece of tempered press board in my lap to run the mouse on , might not be best practice in an office environment but works for me !!

I had recently been sufffering from the same sort of thing until my GP suggested I actually place my right arm in a sling for a period of 2 weeks. I was amazed at how much I could still do.. i.e. type and make my greeting cards and pretty much everything else. Having the arm confined meant not constantly forcing my arm up to wrist level. Whilst I have not learned to favour my left arm yet, it has helped somewhat with the ache.

I recently had a similar flare-up in my hands & elbows, especially the labware-lifting elbow rather than the mouse elbow.

My doctor suggested SAM-e supplements and they have really helped. Costco is the cheapest source, but any drugstore or vitamin shop will carry them.

I am moving a lot better, there is 80% less pain, I can lift my dog, and I have been able to catch up on the gardening. If you try it, give it 2 weeks to have an effect.

Good luck.

Re wristbrace: I have used a roller-blading brace to support/correct bad wrist posture before.

I feel your pain my friend. At work I also had issues untill it got to the pointthe pain was going up into my sholder and neck. All from computer over use at home and work. A few things that helped me recover and keep it to a minimum:
1. A cheap bowling wrist brace that helps to support your wrist. There are Rx ones made just for this but for a cheap alt try one.

2. Move the mouse to the left side of the computer. It is starnge at first but after time you will get just as fast with the other hand. And I do notice that personally I don't tend to hold on to it when I don't need to as much with the off hand. Don't know why it just happends.

3. Wrist streches really help alot. Clasp the back of your hand and fold it and hold for a few secs to streach the tendons then bend the other way holding your fingers. This will help over time but hurts like hell when you first start.

4. Drink more water.

5. Take the mouse pad and put it on a clipboard, hold the clipboard on your lap at a more relaxed and natural position. I like to cross my legs and rest it in my lap like when reading a book. Seems to help alot, but your legs can fall asleep if your not carefull.

I went to a Dr when it got to the point I was having trouble getting a shirt on and he gave me the steriod injections. They helped but from that point on I tried the above things and very rarely have much problems any more. When I start to feel it happening again it's usually because I've went back to bad habits. Thats mostly all it is. Change your habits and happy computing. Hope this helps you.

Take an nsaid before work based on what i know of ur med history that shud be fine

You might find a vertical mouse takes the strain off. See here: http://www.evoluent.com/

Another option is using Dragon voice recognition.

Aren't your computers voice activated? Maybe a trackball mouse would be a good option.

I stopped having problems with tendonitis when I agreed to eat lettuce more often (more than a time each week). I do not like it, but I eat it just for health.

My wife was diagnosed with tendonitis on her right hand, just three weeks ago. The doctor instructed her to wear a "thumb splint" whenever possible to partially immobilize her hand.

I'll let you know how it goes. Generally tendonitis goes away if you remove the underlying stress--what you're trying, seems like.

The next recommended (possible) course of treatment would be steroid (cortisone) injections into the joint. We're not there yet...

Are you wearing a forearm orthotics?

I will put my 2 cents in. I used to have similar problem as you. Before i used the mouse at the edge of the desk and only my hand was supported. The rest of my arm hung slightly down, Very bad my arm hurt all the time.

Now i support my arm such as in the 2 pictures. It was hard to hold the cam back far enough and take the pic so the pics are only so so.

My arm is at maybe 30 deg down and supported clear from my elbow to wrist. I have no more pain issues.