Right hand injury mouse/trackball left handed?

[atarione]

I've always wondered (as an adult) if just using pc's as a right handed person would because that is how the computers at school were set up was a mistake, as I am left handed.

For a long time I just figured.. meh... however some time ago I injured my right hand in a accident and now have permanent nerve damage in my right ring finger .. basically this makes right handed mice unpleasant to use... the nerve damaged finger hits the scar / injured area and creates and unpleasant. just constantly hitting on a somewhat numb part of my finger.. I'm not sure anyone without this issue would fully understand? A challenge that comes up trying to figure out what to do about this...is thinking about it makes me much more aware of the issue.. making it hard to judge what will work and what won't.../ what is better / worse.

Apparently there is exactly ONE left handed Trackball available the Elecom M-XT4DRBK, having been apparently designed for the Japanese market it sounds as if it is a tad bit on the small size.. where as my American hands are not really (see pictures)..

?'s
is anyone using / have used a Elecom trackball mouse like this (left or right handed) how did it work for you?
has anyone transitioned to a left handed solution because of left handedness / injury how have you found it?
Other than trying the lefthanded mouse or trackball anyone have any ideas?

pics (finger injury /scar, elcom trackball, and my hand holding my Steelseries Sensei for sizing considerations?

 

[learners permit]

I've used this one left hand for years and I also use a more conventional right hander for scrolling and other functions. Yes I'm a two fisted mouser lol.

 

[mlcarson]

+1 on this. The Logitech trackman marble works with either hand and is cheap. It's also a finger based trackball (the only good type). For scrolling, you can map a button as a toggle on the trackball so that the trackball itself can be used for scrolling.
You might also try these since they all appear to work the same for left/right hand use.
Kensington Expert (wired): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00009KH63
Kensington Expert (wireless): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01936N73I
Kensington Orbit: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002OOWB3O/
Kensington SlimBlade: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001MTE32Y/
Adesso iMouse T50: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07J3VXDZW
L-trac Blue: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00YI07MC2

I've only used the Trackman Marble and the Kensington Expert . I could recommend either of these.
I'd probably check the Slimblade next. Larger trackballs appear to be better with respect to smoothness.

My current go to trackball is the Elecom Huge: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07353DBP9
It's not ambidextrous though so would not be good for left-hand usage. The reason I like this one better than others is that it has more buttons available, the scroll wheel, and is just as smooth as the Kensington Expert.

It's not a trackball but I could also recommend the Evoluent VerticalMouse VM4L for left-handed usage.
https://www.amazon.com//dp/B00427OTEU

I've used this one left hand for years and I also use a more conventional right hander for scrolling and other functions. Yes I'm a two fisted mouser lol.

 

[cyclone3d]

What about the Logitech Trackman Marble ? It is ambidextrous.
https://www.logitech.com/en-us/product/trackman-marble-business

On a side note, I sliced my right hand thumb at the joint years ago. Definitely nerve damage and the left side of the tip of my thumb (looking at it from the fingernail side) is still tingly / hasn't gotten the feeling back.

It used to actually be a bit painful every once in a while at the joint. Thankfully that has gone away for the most part.

 

[Absalom]

From the very beginning, I used my middle finger for right clicks. For whatever reason, that always seemed naturally to me. I'm sure the complete absence of middle mouse button in that era had something to do with it (yes, I'm an old fart). Anyway, I never "unlearned" holding the mouse that way and rarely do I ever hold a mouse with my middle finger resting on the scrollwheel. Again, that style just felt unnatural to me.

OP, instead of trying to find a mechanical solution to the problem, have you considered training yourself to hold the mouse an alternative way? Even unambidexrous mice don't care which finger you use for right click. Other than having a trigger finger or obsession for the scrollwheel, etc. you're not missing out on much. If I had felt like I was missing out on something, I'd have switched long ago. Even back in my quake twitch days, I don't think it would have mattered.

 

[Burticus]

What about one of those upright mouse designs? Might change the angle of your wrist/arm and might not trigger your nerve problem? $26 worth a shot, return it if you hate it.

https://www.amazon.com/Anker-Wirele...&keywords=upright+mouse&qid=1597095991&sr=8-3

I feel your pain, except mine is my left hand (thankfully I'm right handed). I have long term nerve damage in left hand/arm and when it flares up my whole arm goes pins and needles. I actually sprained my left wrist recently and it made it much much worse... I was no longer able to do much with my left hand for a couple months. I ended up buying a Logitech G600 gamer mouse with all the buttons on it so I could play some games with just my right hand. Logi doesn't make a left hand version, but I think Razor does (or did) and someone else also made a lefty, but they aren't cheap.

I don't know why the major mouse players (Logitech etc) don't offer more lefty options. There are a lot of them out there, and most are just dealing with right handed gear.

edit - Logi does/did make some, the G300 is an ambi model that can go either way. Might be out of stock but still some for sale $20-30. Looks a little small to me but there is nothing for reference so could just be photos
https://www.amazon.com/Logitech-G300s-Optical-Ambidextrous-Gaming/dp/B00RH6R7C4

 

[Royce.Arnold]

I have 3 of the M-XT3DRBK (right hand model). I moved to the Elecom from the Logitech M570 trackball. Size wise I find the Elecom comparable and comfortable.

I've experienced 2 issues with the Elecom.
1. I've replaced the grey ball on all 3 with either a blue or red ball. I found the grey ball to not be as responsive. It's the same size as the M570 ball.
2. One of the device go through batteries significantly faster than the others. Works fine otherwise.

 

[mlcarson]

I wasn't aware of it when I wrote my original reply but if money is no object -- check out the Ploopy. It's an open source Microsoft Trackball Explorer clone. It's available in both right and left-handed models.
The big downside is that it's $210. I'd take a chance on this long before the CST trackball though.
https://www.ploopy.co/

 

[bburk1964]

I have large hands as well. If you decide to try a left-handed vertical mouse. I tried pretty much every single one on Amazon that was under $80. This is the one I settled on. https://www.amazon.com/Perixx-PERIMICE-718-Handed-Wireless-Mouse/dp/B06XK81TPK