this is serious.

Go for the touch screen and let me know how it works out for ya.

Seeing a doctor might not be a bad idea.    

tlw


Try a trackball - mice give me RSI in the wrist and index finger ever since I spent 6 months doing a job that involved pretty much nothing but entering data at high speed over 20 years ago, but I've never had a problem with a trackball.

+++

I use a wireless Logitech Trackman - you only need to move your thumb with it and not your wrist and since it doesn't need any space to move around like a mouse, you can put it wherever it's comfortable.

I bought a Wacom Bamboo multi-touch pad. Haven't had enough time to get used to it, but it gives you a lot of the features of a touch screen without having to buy a touch screen. 

i have a trackball/mouse where there is a red ball on the side that is operated with the thumb.  im not sure if that is what everyone means by trackball.

the trouble is, it still has two buttons to click and the tension in my wrist seems to come from holding my fingers up as my hand rests on the mouse pad or table. 

i am only going to use the touchscreen for two tools, prochannel and maudio profire mixer/panel.  not being able to use the prochennel with my c4 is causing lots of mouse use.

i thhink i am unable to fully relax my hand on a mouse without accidentally clicking the buttons.

i REALLY appreciate the feedback and advice.

yes, i will see a dr. too :)

I'm just throwing this out there since I really have not worked with this much.

Couldn't you bring the "touched" VST to the foreground using X-Ray? If the C4 is actually touching the right VST then it should be in focus, just hidden under the UI. Use a keyboard shortcut, or assign a C4 control to X-Ray to bring it to the front without using the mouse.

Of course, in theory I believe this should work - but I have never tried it myself

my wrist is KILLING me. i need to avoid the mouse as much as possible.

 
FWIW, I had a major problem with RSI about a decade ago.
The symptoms aren't going to get better if you continue the same activity/pattern of over-use.
 
First, see a doctor... and ask about physical therapy.
That did wonders for me
You need to strenthen the area... without further inflamation.
For me, that meant short exercises several times a day (along with stretching)... followed by ice massage.
 
Next, go to a computer super-store... and checkout many different pointing devices.
Each RSI case is unique in exactly what activity flairs up the pain.
Trackballs are comfortable for many folks... but they're murder on my tendonitis.  For me... a decent Microsoft mouse/keyboard is about as comfortable as it gets.  The buttons/keys on Microsoft units offer little resistance... so I find them more comfortable than most.  Touch-screen may not be as comfortable as you might think... as you have to hold your arm elevated while touching "mousing" on the screen.  Try every type of pointing device you can get your hands on.  One will likely be significantly more comfortable than the rest.
 
BTW, If you haven't read about ergonomics... I'd do so... to get an idea of how you might better arrange your gear to minimize wear/tear on your RSI.
A little adjustment here/there can make a world of difference!
 
Good luck!!
 

StarTekh

Trackerball marble mouse usb. its also used for autocad, little getting used to. never  looking back $19.00 at Staples 

I'm using one of those right now. I was having a creeping issue in my right baby finger from mouse use, not a great situation for someone that makes their living primarily as a jazz pianist. Had the impression it was from gripping the mouse between thumb and baby finger. Bought the trackball on a hunch / out of desperation, with no idea if it would really help... and well, in a word, it has. The main advantage is that I can rest my hand on it while using it, rather than always exerting inward pressure holding the mouse, lifting it up and putting it down again. An unforeseen auxiliary benefit is that there's more space on my mouse side-table, which inspired me to move my Contour Shuttle down there - and now I get ten times more use out of that, which also helps - not just in Sonar but for scrolling and other purposes in all sorts of software. 

Check out the Razor Mice. They have very light buttons and are designed for long term usage.

better yet, whichever track is selected, it's plugins move to the top.  
AND whichever plug u tweak is on top.
there should be settings for this.  are there?

subtlearts

...which inspired me to move my Contour Shuttle down there - and now I get ten times more use out of that, which also helps - not just in Sonar but for scrolling and other purposes in all sorts of software. 

Mr. Arts, I am trying to get my Contour Shuttle working with SONAR X1. It did work for a while, not as a Control Surface but with their standard applet. But it later stopped working when I had to run X1 in Compatibility Mode (Run as Administrator) to make the Lexicon Pantheon verb work (can't do without that stalwart plugin). Could I perhaps prevail upon you to expound upon how your configuration is set up and working?
 
(My apologies for the brief hijack... it does appear, though, that the OP's original question did get addressed along several differnt lines...)

I wonder if someone could make a mouse glove where either the index finger or middle finger could interact with the thumb and do what a mouse does. It really shouldn't be hard to make if some company would see the potential. Make it wireless and so that you can choose which finger to use... it could be a glove with one finger or with just a couple of fingertips and no palm part... just thinking outloud but it should be something that can be done and possibly make someone rich... just not me because I don't know enough to make it.
Heck, then you could control the cursor with your hands behind your head or where ever is comfy.
 
Someone do it and then remember me when you are rich!
 
Really, someone should have come up with a solution to this by now.
 
Julien

I have had arthritis for quite a while now. I am a guitar player. Doesn't affect my playing much, but the mouse-yikes!
I am a master of the keyboard. It works
 
O use a macro program when not using Sonar.

Fearful Symmetry
+1 Marble Mouse Trackball - AND learn to do it with your other hand.
Saved me!

That's an interesting comment. I'm left-handed but I do many things right handed (for example: I play drums lefty but guitar righty...not very well haha). I use a mouse with my right hand like most folks.


I switched to a trackball at work and it felt strange until I tried it with my left hand, which felt totally natural and I loved using it. 


But for the O/P: i think you can Ctrl-Tab between open UIs, but you'd have to go the keyboard to do that and if you don't even like a mouse you're prolly not into a keyboard. I suppose you could map that function to a control surface tho...

+1 for use the other hand; i left-mouse @ work (sw dev) but right @ home; it's takes a while to train the other hand (unless yr ambidextrous) but it does help

also, you can ctrl-tab through "open" vsts to give them focus, it's a standard windows child/modal-window thing