Vic,
Same problem here (both arms, but also severe shoulder pain). These "mature" bodies flake out pretty easily, right?

First, re: the two devices; I find I'm only using the jog wheel on the Pro, but I'm using that wheel all the time. I use the mouse to accomplish what could be programmed into all those buttons, and I'm loath to lift my hand off the wheel to operate a button. Shuttle or Shuttle Pro, only difference is the number of buttons. Notice the Tranzport has only one finger-depression? I prefer the 3-depressions of Shuttle because it's easier to lock finger into a depression for turning. Also, in consideration of Carpel, you don't have to lift your arm with Shuttle to reach a button. On the other hand, the Shuttle's lower buttons take some serious pushing sideways by the thumb - the weakest angle for a thumb to operate, and consquently a major contributor to thumb cartilage problems (that's something I *never* figured on getting).

Now, back to the underlying problem.

I'm not blaming any device for the fact that I chose to use it even though it strains me - I've been doing this silly stuff since 1967, making a living hitting random keys and pressing random buttons and sliding stuff around while squinting at artificial light - but being forewarned is being forearmed. And man do my forearms hurt!

Carpel Tunnel big time.

It's been costing me $160/week in massage and chiropractic fees just to be able to continue to work.

While you are working on anti-shake, I am working on anti-carpel. I'm using off-the-shelf items, and will know in about 2 weeks what parts/chairs/sources specifically work and can list how people can obtain same without going to the bank for a loan.

What I'm doing is examining what the repetitive motions really are, then applying corrective technology. Like a druggie on crack, I'm not giving this lifestyle up until I burst into flames.

My body assignments are left hand "extreme left" to the control surface, left hand "left" to the jog wheel, both hands on the keyboard in front, right hand on the mouse. That mouse wheel is one of the big killers for me because the tendons of the finger have to lift in to an unnatural extreme if I use the finger tip, so I've had to reteach my hand to operate the wheel with the middle joint (gone through a pile of right-hand tracking devices before I found one that works for me).

The bigger picture: I have a 12ft wide table work space. 6in above and to the rear is a 12ft back shelf on which sit the external drives, tape transports, several desk lamps (gotta read some times), array of monitors, phone, headsets, clock, speakers, calculator, reference books, and remote controls (sound & A/C). Desktop surface holds control surface, shuttle, three keyboards, two mice, "office" stuff, 2 laptops, two printers, backup devices, etc. Underneath are the towers, UPSs, tape racks, subwoofer, files, trash etc.

Everything runs at the same time (each computer has a dedicated purpose). My chair whips back and forth all day long.

What I'm getting at is that even with this "dream" setup, I'm always *reaching* for hands-on devices, and this means lifting my arms from the shoulders and straining the inner elbow muscles to make that up-down and circular motion each arm needs so I can control the software.

Here's what I've got so far:

(a) get a large enough monitor, or spread the windows out on enough monitors, so the fonts are large enough to prevent the tendency to squint and lean forward to read. Leaning forward defeats all other efforts to control sources of Carpel. Amazing how much a larger monitor and/or more monitors eases the arm/wrist strain. Nicer on the eyes too, not to mention it is easier to see and correct the video errors. To me, this is a win-win-win investment in oneself.

(b) mount a wide, swivelled table on the chair itself so that my elbows and arms rest on the same surface, and so that the upper arm remains approximately parallel to the upper body.

(c) place the mouse, keyboard and shuttle on this chair-table.

(d) place the control surface on an "L"-shaped extension positioned so that my left arm can pivot on its elbow to operate the sliders (without my shoulder having to lift the arm)

(e) use a 1-4 "KVM" switch to direct which computer the keyboard/mouse/shuttle control

(f) tilt the whole chair-table arrangement so the arms are always comfortable.

(g) set the swivel part of the table on either the left-hand or right-hand side so you can easily get in and out of the chair.

(h) keep the chair and chair-table high enough to swivel right over the original work surface area without clipping stuff. The objective is to be able to keep one's body the same distance from the upper shelf as would be the case without the chair-table.

Earlier prototypes have worked, but required some cutting and welding of the chair-table support arm. I'm now looking into an arm that telescopes.

Hi Vic:

Sorry to hear of your pain. Several years ago I was in such pain -- not from the carpel tunnel but in my elbow, shoulder and neck, with numbness in my little finger and the one next to it -- that the Department of Labor and Industry stepped in to modify my computer and editing work place.

In addition to insisting on a chair that supported by lower back and shoulders, they ordered a couple of additional changes that made a world of difference. First was a "Palm Posturing System," details of which you can find here, with information about other systems here. The idea behind the device, which supports the palm of your hand over your mouse, is to keep your arm, from elbow to finger tips, in a straight line, so there is no drop in the hand at the wrist, which pinches nerves and tendons.

The other change was in my glasses. I wear tri-focals. L&I had me get a pair of glasses that incorporated just the reading and mid-distance part of the glasses, the latter focused for the distance from which I sit when working at the computer. As a result, I don't have to tilt my head back to read the computer screen (like I did with the tri-focals.) Again, no nerve or tendon pinch.

Finally, we lowered all the work surfaces in the lab to 29 inches, the height recommended by most ergonomic studies. Again, this eliminates a greated deal of neck and shoulder strain.

When I edit now I ALWAYS use the mouse "saddle" to support my right hand. I keep the ShuttlePro at my left hand. I've customized the keys on the ShuttlePro to fit my editing requirements and find it to be a wonderful help.

Except for entering text, I rarely have to reach out for the keyboard. In fact, if there was some way to activate the "Control" key from the ShuttlePro, I'd probably only have to use the keyboard for entering text.

I find that even a few minutes without the suppport given by the palm rest results in pain. The same is true if I revert to using my tri-focals.

Hang in there,

Jack

Many years ago, I started spending large amounts of time in front of a computer. I quickly found out that the desk was way too high for comfort with the keyboard. I ordered a slide-out keyboard tray that could be adjusted for height. With a good chair that had arm rests adjusted correctly, I could now set the keyboard to keep my arms level. Great improvement! I even got more room for papers and documents on the desktop.

I quickly discovered that using the mouse, which was still on the desk, was killing my wrist, arm and shoulder; even messing with my back. I attached an extension to the side of the keyboard tray for the mouse pad. Problem solved. Here at home, I have built my own slide-out keyboard tray, which is wide enough to also hold my mouse and at the proper level for my chair. Works good for me.

As far as I know, most commercially availble solutions to get your keyboard below the table surface, still don't have room for a mouse. They should.

Contour Design also makes a Roller mouse - much better idea than the mouse but still not the answer.

Vic,

If it gets to the point where you need professional medical help, do make sure you get a solid diagnosis (this is a frequently misdiagnosed problem). I think prolotherapy (injecting a mix of lidocaine and dextrose into the joint to stimulate it to rebuild itself) would be worth looking into if it is confirmed to be Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

In the meantime, there are other things to look at also besides the Shuttle Pro 2 (I love mine, although I don't use every button on it like the true fanatics do). If you do a fair amount of keyboard writing, be sure to switch to a Microsoft Natural Keyboard immediately.

That was my doctor's prescription when I started getting very painful carpal tunnel symptoms years ago. I was told to stop using a regular keyboard IMMEDIATELY, and only use the funky Natural Keyboard from then on. Well, after two months of using this, 80-90% of my pain was gone, and the remaining pain disappeared after a few more months.

After about 2 years, that keyboard was worn out, and I needed a replacement. I found that at this point I had healed fully, so I could use any keyboard.

The snag today is that most of Microsoft's Natural Keyboards have pretty squishy key switches, so I recommend going to a big box store where you can let your sweaty paws dance over the keys to see which model works best for you.

I have one of those keyboards with keys angled in on both sides. I have a trackball with shortcuts for things like going backwards and forwards between web pages. I have gel pads behind both the keyboard and the trackball. I have guitars with light strings and close actions. I have music keyboards with unweighted action. Doing all these things keeps the tingles at bay.

As far as I know, most commercially available solutions to get your keyboard below the table surface, still don't have room for a mouse. They should.

A woodworking tool company I buy from all the time has one as an option for their keyboard trays. Check out the sliding mouse tray from Lee Valley ($49 Cdn. $38.50 US).

Mike

Thanks so much for all your "carpal" help. I am considering all options to that end.

But to steer this topic back "on point" -
anyone have working experience with the TranzPort? vs ShuttlePro?

Here's something to read, Victor - asking the exact same question! Frontier Design Forum - "ShuttlePro vs Tranzport"

"But to steer this topic back "on point" -
anyone have working experience with the TranzPort? vs ShuttlePro?"

Hmmmm, my comments were buried in the mess of carpel...

Pro=3 finger depressions vs Port=1 finger depression.
Pro=buttons close, no need to lift hand, vs Port=buttons require hand movement.
Pro=some buttons require side-motion of thumb vs Port=keyboard-like.

Those (and USB cord vs wireless) are the decernable differences.

Vic, after that it's a matter of personal choice, like mice and keyboards. Ya gotta poke 'em both to decide for yourself. Hurumph, you can even hook up *both* to use *simultaneously* - I could imagine a right-jog on one track and a left-jog on another to get stuff in sync (not *yet* possible in Vegas by these devices, but control surfaces can do that now).

Consider that a jog wheel, when you press the Pro button for "jump to event start", can slide the event one frame at a time. Ah, you've not ever used one of these things - (light bulb turns on) - tactile feedback is the beauty of these devices. You can *feel* each frame through the jog wheel, and *feel* the speed of transport through the rim. The only similar experience I can point you to is the mouse wheel. One then wonders why one should continue gross-dragging and guessing events with a mouse?

Oooo, good find, Grazie - you beat me to the punch!