An alternative data point: I had severe RSI several years ago, to the point of thinking that I would have to stop programming professionally alltogether. What worked for me was starting to use a break program (10 seconds micro breaks every 5 minutes, exercises for a few minutes every 45 minutes) and switching to a more ergonomic keyboard and mouse. It worked well for me, and I am now completely recovered. More details in "How I Beat Repetitive Stress Injury" http://henrikwarne.com/2012/02/18/how-i-beat-rsi/
Regardless of what works - any signs of RSI should be acted on immediately! It won't get better by itself.
After using the ergonomically suicidal Apple Magic Mouse and Apple wireless keyboard, I developed RSI after just a couple of months. I having my wrists and forearms massaged every night until the tightness went away (for the night), and I switched to a mechanical keyboard, a nice-sized gaming mouse, and started mousing with my left hand at work.
I haven't had any RSI symptoms for over 2 years, and still just alternate mousing hands (left-handed at work, right-handed at home), and use a mechanical keyboard without a 10-key (keeps your mouse closer to a neutral position for your body).
Here's what I use at work, if anyone is interested:
Instead of a gaming mouse I had great success with trackballs. I have no idea why they fell out of favour - I remember them being rather popular some 10-15 years ago. Anyway, with a trackball I don't need to move my hand at all, except when switching from keyboard to mouse and back. I use this one: http://www.logitech.com/en-ca/product/trackman-marble YMMV, but I don't think I'm ever going to return to using mouse.
I have three computers on my desk with three trackballs side by side and the keyboard on a KVM switch. Well really just a "K" switch. Works pretty well for me. I use classic wired trackballs instead of your marble. I'm not happy that they're long discontinued but I stockpiled quite a few when production ended. I hate the idea of wireless, last thing I need in my life is one more thing to worry about charging to replacing batteries.
Trackballs are much faster. Given that I might switch from keyboard to trackball thousands of times per day, saving just one second by knowing where the trackball is, saves quite a bit of time. I also find it faster and more accurate for selection work to use my thumb instead of the much larger muscles used for mice.
I don't do much gui work other than clicking links in a web browser but when I do I find the trackball to be superior.
I am using a mechanical keaboard as well, and hardly have any signs of rsi. It's amazing to see professionals still using cheap and crappy keyboards as their main tool! I've invested in my computer gear, especially; good mouse, keyboard and screen (mind your eye's!).
That was something I taught myself at college (late high-school for those in the US) - I knew my career would be computer based, so forced myself to become natural using either hand for mousing. I switch every half an hour or so, and whilst my arms and shoulders aren't great, it's better than when I forget and do a full day on one hand.
Also have a mech at home, and seriously thinking about buying one out of my own cash for work (no way they're going to pay £100 for a keyboard...).
> Also have a mech at home, and seriously thinking about buying one out of my own cash for work (no way they're going to pay £100 for a keyboard...).
Work should pay £100 for a keyboard, if it's necessary for you to work healthily and safely. They spend more — often much more — than that on (for example) disabled toilets, lifts, ramps, chairs, manual handling training, first aid training, ...
> "My wrist aches when I use my mouse. How can I prevent this?"
> ... "try a different size or shape of mouse. Your employer should help by providing a range of such equipment."
I disagree. I've used all sorts of ergonomic keyboards, but always keep coming back to the quiet low-travel scissor-switch keyboards. I even went so far as to get an Apple wired keyboard for use with my Windows machine at work.
Regardless of what works - any signs of RSI should be acted on immediately! It won't get better by itself.