Why do my fingers hurt from using the touchpad?

Is this normal?

I've been using the touchpad since I got my lappy two years ago (has it been that long??), and everything has been fine. Until a month or two ago. First, my index finger began to hurt, so I switched to browsing with my middle finger. Not completely natural, but I got reasonably used to it. But now, my middle finger hurts, too! I could move on to the next finger, but that would only put off the inevitable by another month. So I pulled out a mouse. Wahh!! Touchpad is so much better, since then, hands are right by the keyboard! Why! Why!

Oh yeah so, what am I doing differently without noticing? Maybe I'm spending more time browsing the net, since I'm not spending as much time in school. But other than that, is there any hope for regaining use of my outer appendages? :\

 

It may be you sit in an odd position and it restricts your muscles in your shoulder, leading to pain in the finger(s). If you crack your knuckles a lot, then that could be why. But it's most likely the way you sit and it messes something up.

You could try to stop using the touchpad for a week (I know that very difficult) and see what happens

 

how long have you been on it for??? or get a mouse...

 

Try an external mouse for a while?

 

Sometimes a mouse isn't an option at all times. As for why, it's hard to say, I'd blame it on the positioning of the touchpad, cause if you really think about it, it's at a really bad ergonomic place to be - which is why a pointer stick can be much better.

 

Could the shiny coating on the touchpad have worn off and exposed a less pleasant finish?

 

Are you tapping the touch-pad for double clicks instead of using the touch-pad buttons? Perhaps you are tapping too hard?

 

Is the touchpad maybe small? If so you might be tensing the muscles in your finger to make precise movements which might lead to pain.

 

It's a large touchpad since it's a DTR, and I use buttons for clicking and scrolling (instead of tapping). So, I just touch the touchpad to move across the screen... And the finish around the center of the touchpad looks the same as near the corners, which I take to mean it hasn't rubbed through.

Weird as it sounds, I keep thinking I rubbed off some of my skin, but I don't know if it's possible. The fingers don't look any different though, and I'm not sure if they feel different on the account that they hurt a bit now :\

Can the heat from the touchpad have something to do with it? Not that it's been any hotter recently than before...

 

carpal tunnel syndrome maybe?

 

It's probably due to repetitive movements... When I began using a touchpad, it started paining within a couple of weeks. Now I use either my little finger or a knuckle to navigate the touchpad. Looks weird, but sure is comfortable.

 

I know exactly what you're talking about. You are doing almost the same thing over and over with the same finger.

This is why I love having a trackpoint and a touchpad. Trackpoint is better (faster while typing) overall, but even when using it exclusively, same thing starts happening. Finger pain. Switch it up between the two, trackpoint when lots of typing or jumping from field to field, and touchpad for less motor intensive reading and surfing. Also, I've learned to use a dual finger technique on the touchpad, which helps, ymmv. Switch b/t fingers on trackpoint too.

I'd do as suggested and mix a mouse in every now and then.

 

x2:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Repetitive_strain_injury

Rather unhealthy for you. Get a USB mouse.

 

Oh yeah, I guess I forgot to mention... It's just the finger "pads" that hurt, the surface on the fingers, not the joints. Which is why my best guess, as strange as it seems, is that too much skin rubbed off somehow. So it's not carpal tunnel, etc. I know exactly what that is, I was getting that at one point on my wrist from work, but I don't do that stuff any more

I got a USB mouse, and I've now began to use it, but I'd rather figure out what's causing the problem and start using the touchpad again instead. Thanks for all the ideas, keep them coming!

 

I'm probably guessing that you press a bit hard on the touchpad, and you rub it too much.

That way, it burns your skin a little and it starts hurting...

Or, it might just be a wierd finger position. :/