Hands go numb, tingle from trackpad

I have used computers for my job for over 20 years. I've had PC notebook computers practically attached to my hip since I can remember. In May I purhcased my first Mac laptop (Macbook Air). In general, I love it. However, about a week after getting the Mac I noticed my fingers and hands going numb. Mostly in my right hand (mouse hand) but I also noticed I would subconciously switch mousing to my left hand as I got fatigued in my right. i've never experienced anything like this before. It has gotten so bad my hands and arms are numb hours after I stop using the Mac. It was keeping me awake at night. This symptom goes away if I stop using the Mac for a few days, however, it never goes completely away. Lately i've been noticing I can actually feel the tingle begin as I touch the track pad; like a small electrical signal is travelling in my hands. Am I the only person experiencing this? I know this sounds crazy, but it is real. Please help.

MacBook Air, OS X Mountain Lion

Posted on Jul 27, 2012 7:56 PM

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Posted on Sep 25, 2012 5:42 PM

I have the very same problem ... I can come back days later and feel it instantly. For me, however, it appears to be cumulative. That is, the longer I spend on the computer, the longer it takes to "recover."


I wish someone from Apple from comment on this and provide some answers. If i have a defective macbook, I want it fixed. If my health is being harmed from the use of my macbook, I want answers!!!!

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Sep 25, 2012 5:42 PM in response to SaintJDawg

I have the very same problem ... I can come back days later and feel it instantly. For me, however, it appears to be cumulative. That is, the longer I spend on the computer, the longer it takes to "recover."


I wish someone from Apple from comment on this and provide some answers. If i have a defective macbook, I want it fixed. If my health is being harmed from the use of my macbook, I want answers!!!!

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Sep 21, 2012 4:48 PM in response to spoontee

I do not think this is related to carpal tunnel syndrome or any other biomechanically related problem.


It seems to be worse the more fingers you place on the trackpad at the same time.


I want to know if it is theoretically possible that we are feeling the electric field(s) generated by the trackpad.

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May 8, 2013 5:34 PM in response to spoontee

hi guys,
Sadly i developped this syndrome too.

i used the pad nonstop sometimes... i work as designer and graphic artist.

cant use that trackpad ever again. 😟 Doctors couldnt detect anything or help me jet.. told me to use a mouse.


i have now a constant numbness and tingle feeling in index joint one and two and sometimes it spreads to middle finger. it slowly fades away when i stop working on the laptop and do other stuff.. but i cant help its my job to use a laptop..

sometimes it realy hurts and i cant even draw a sillyface the way i want.


im lefthanded... are other lefties here with the same problem?

im lucky i m a bit both handed.. so i can use a mouse easy with my right hand.


in hope to find a solution..

bye

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Jun 4, 2013 9:39 PM in response to yzorg

I have a similar symptom that I"m very curous about.


The tingling I get is not as extreme as the OP describes, but it is a tingling on the corner of my middle finger, the finger I use to move the cursor around the most.


It beomes highly irritating after awhile so I simply switch fingers.


Sort of feels like I'm being shocked in that part of my finger. Although, the finger spot still feels tingly as I type this now.


Now that others are feeling the same thing I guess it's not something that has to do with me alone but something to do with the laptop trackpad.


I've been using my macbook pro for over a year now and the tingling started about a week ago.

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Dec 5, 2013 5:27 PM in response to spoontee

My fiance and I have made a grave discovery. When I am touching my trackpad and she touches my face she gets the same mild electric resistance that has been discussed on this forum. Then, when she was touching her trackpad, I found the same resistance while touching her cheek. We wonder how many tumors we will have in ten years.

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Jan 23, 2014 7:05 AM in response to Dash x73

I a a left hander like yzorg, and have a macbook since about 8 months. my right hand uses the trackpad. I have been suffering terrible pain for about 6 months, with all of the symptoms people describe above. This plus your info about Apple replacing the Macbook, leads me to believe it is worth it for me to now get a specialist lawyer and doctor to do lab tests here in Thailand (affordable here), and prove that Aple are at fayult for turning me into an invalid who can not use a keyboard or trackpad anymore, but has to use siri to type with, and cant even make a sandwich without droping the first 2 attempts on the floor. Its got worse and is like parkinsons disease or something. It gets worse and worse the longer i use the trackpad, i found this thread doing a search for numb hands + macbook air because i thought it is the thinness of the front edge as i put my thumb under the bottom side of the macbook, and my fingers on top of the trackpad. Now i dont think it has anything to do with the sharp thin edge being a blood or nerve circuit breaker, as i have notice electrical tensions in the device and the fact that the pain and numbness begins as soon as i start to work with the macbook trackpad. Using a mouse reduces it instantly lightening the pain.


Apple are damaging people's limbs with 98% certainty reading the gathered shared data here in this thread. It remains only to prove it in a court of Law, which is something my damaged hands are willing to invest in medical and legal assistance to prove it. If i fund provable data, i shall not onbly publish it here on the forums, i will also take Apple to Court and Sue them for the loss of my Hands. I have enough money to make such a move, and my hands are destoryed. Now i know why and who is responsible, and must onlyn prove it in a court of law.Owning the device at blame, i have enough proof for to investigate and find.

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Sep 10, 2012 3:47 PM in response to spoontee

I get the exact same thing. Have used a Sony Vaio S before for 4 years without any sign of this. After a few days with the macbook air it is getting unbearable. Now I don't know how to do since I am pretty sure this will not be recognized as an error that allows return of the laptop. Also, I think the laptop is great otherwise.

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Sep 10, 2012 3:55 PM in response to spoontee

I think it unlikely that there is any electrical activity to blame here, as the trackpad surface is glass. However, that the palm(s) may be resting on the lower part of the case, near a relatively sharp edge, it can certainly cause a pressure induced nerve pinching or pressure that can indeed manifest into a bothersome feeling like you describe.

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Sep 10, 2012 6:03 PM in response to SP Forsythe

It is a very strange sensation. It does not go away completely but after a few weeks using a wired keyboard/mouse seems like its going away ... switching back to laptop, electrical tingles are very obvious and the numbness comes right back; dont know any other way to explain it.

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Sep 10, 2012 8:22 PM in response to spoontee

Which fingers are numb? If they're the thumb, index finger, and thumb-half of the middle finger, you are experienceing compression of the median nerve - very likely from carpal tunnel syndrome. You would need to see a hand surgeon or orthopedist for a diagnosis - and a hand surgeon for treatment.


Does tapping on the middle of your wrist (palm side) induce tingling? That's another test for median nerve compression?


If you use a mouse with the MacBook Air does it go away?

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Sep 12, 2012 1:13 PM in response to spoontee

Well, the status right now is that I am trying to figure out if the feeling is due to electricity (or similar) from the trackpad or if it is from bad hand posture. Thanks for all the answers and I will write here again when I think I have a more precise hypothesis.

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Hands go numb, tingle from trackpad

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