For the past five years or more, I’ve dealt with recurring wrist pain. I suspect some of it is from years of writing code, some from a bike accident I was in a few years ago, and some just from having poor posture and a haphazard fitness routine. The pain would flare up into my forearm, shoulder, and even my neck, and I tried just about everything: physical therapy, stretching, posture fixes, standing desks, ergonomic keyboards.
What no one ever suggested?
A trackball mouse.
It wasn’t until my brother picked one up and I got curious that I gave it a shot. I went with the Kensington Expert, a finger-operated trackball. Thumb-operated models were a no-go. I’ve done too much damage to my thumb playing Halo over the years that I knew that would end up causing me more pain.
To my surprise, the adjustment period was short. Within a few days, it felt natural.
And the results? Honestly, kind of amazing.
The wrist pain is largely gone. That radiating tension up my arm and into my neck? Basically disappeared. I do notice some new fatigue in my pinky and ring finger, but that’s probably because they were basically idle for years. It feels more like an adjustment than a problem.
The rest of my setup includes:
- A curved monitor
- A Microsoft ergonomic keyboard
- A adjustable standing desk (which I highly recommend)
Together, this setup has become something sustainable. I’ve been rebuilding my body over the past two years—working with a trainer, undoing damage from years of skiing, skateboarding, biking, and hunching over a keyboard. The trackball feels like one more piece of that puzzle.
Some unexpected perks:
- I’m a little slower with the trackball, but that’s actually helped me lean harder into keyboard shortcuts—something I’ve been meaning to do for a long time.
- I can finally hold my phone again without wrist pain.
- I spend less time “mousing around” aimlessly.
If you’re dealing with wrist pain and nothing else has worked, just try a trackball. They’re relatively inexpensive, and your health is worth the experiment.
I’m sticking with it. And if the pain comes back, I’ll keep exploring. But for now, I’m genuinely surprised no one recommended this earlier.