Q: Soreness and numbness in fingertips from trackpad

Does this happen when your mac is running on battery power, or only when connected to the mains? Do you ever get minor shocks off the casing?

If so, check that the earth/ground connection in the mains electrical outlet you use is correctly wired or use a different electrical outlet when connecting the power adapter.

Do you spend long hours sitting in the same position? The only other explanation I can think of is that you've developed some kind of minor RSI.

Try taking more frequent breaks, and using the computer in different places - sitting at a table or even on the floor. The important thing is to change the angle of your wrist, elbow and shoulders at regular intervals.

You'd be surprised at how quickly RSI can develop. I had an RSI condition from sitting too many hours at a desk. Working for an hour at the desk, taking a break, then an hour on the sofa, and being disciplined about alternating between the two for an hour at a time helped to clear it up (an excuse to use ML's new Reminders feature perhpas ).

I don't have this problem, but offer a different perspective which may be useful.

I have both a laptop with a trackpad and desktops with keyboard and mouse.

Familiarity with a keyboard, and memorised shortcuts/key combinations are a lot quicker and direct than pushing a mouse around. E.g. a mouse is good for drawing, but if you want to select a group of files, Command+A does the job quicker than a mouse can select them.

In turn, a mouse is quicker and more direct over a screen than sliding your fingers over a trackpad.

If I am going to use the laptop extensively, I'll plug a keyboard and/or mouse into it, just to improve the interaction compared with using just the track pad. 

This may seem like a backward step to you, but consider the limitations of your trackpad, and how plugging in a keyboard and mouse in certain circumstances can make using your computer a lot easier, even if it means getting out of the sofa.

I offer this as a helpful perspective.

I have encountered that.

But I associated it with a particular usage and modified my usage slightly to alter the hardness of key presses, and the speed and frequency and types swipes on the trackpad.  In short, I figured out mini-breaks for my fingers.

I cannot give a more specific solution for you, but I can tell you I found a solution.

Try using a screen protector. Simplest solution would be to try using a clear packaging tape. Cut it to fit the touchpad and stick it just like you stick a protective cover on a smartphone, it helps.

Try using a screen protector. Simplest solution would be to try using clear packaging tape / Clear Scotch tape. Cut it to fit the touchpad and stick it just like you stick a protective cover on a smartphone, it helps.

Just posted this to another forum but I'll post it here as well.

I echo GoodSamritan's suggestions.

I have been having finger tip sensitivity while using the trackpad for about a year. Sometimes it is better sometimes it's worse. I think I've come across multiple contributors:

• ]The coating on the trackpad is wearing off.  I believe the coating is probably some sort of low friction substance.
• My hands get dry in the winter.

Solutions:

• Apply a high quality phone or tablet screen protector on top of your trackpad. I'm using a cheap one right now. A new one is coming in the mail. My fingers did start to hurt again on the one I'm currently using but it may be compounded by the winter dryness of my hands.
• Apply scotch tape over the trackpad. I used the matte finish type. This actually worked really well. I may actually go back to it if the screen protector doesn't work out. I overlapped the edges of the tape some so they wouldn't peel up. One strip of wide tape may be the best.
• Cut a finger off a rubber glove and put it on the finger that is sensitive. Make sure the glove doesn't bunch up on the soar spot or cut off circulation. I'm trying this out right now. Seems to work well. I'm using a nitrile glove from harbor freight.

Still looking on the internet for any other solutions. Interestingly the search results that come up are mostly about Macbooks

I have this problem as well...  If you think about it the prints on your fingertips are designed to GRIP, like tire treads.  They don't slide across the trackpad so well, and over time that can damage nerve endings. To reduce that friction (grip) when it starts to bother me, I use just a tiny bit of Baby Powder on the tips of my fingers to help them slide over the track pad better.

I think the solution of using one of those low friction screen protectors is a great idea too!

Holy Crap I'm shocked that my index finger and middle finger id going numb from my new mid 2012 mackbook air.

I just googled numbness in fingers and the Apple Support Communities is the first thing that comes up. I have been icing my finger after working on my laptop for hours. This is the first time the pain in my middle finger did not go away and it's been 24 hours. I'm now using my old laptop to get my work done, I will no longer be using my new expensive MacBook Air.

I will be heading to Apple store and get this taken care of. I thought I was the only person however now that I know it's my computer that is causing this numbnessthere and there are so many other people that have the same numbness happening, it can't be coincidence. I have printed all the conversation of these people from everywhere in the World, to have some confirmation that I am not the only person this condition happens to when I go into the Apple store.

San Francisco, CA

<Edited by Host>

Learn keyboarsd shortcuts as roam has suggested, it can cut your track pad use in about half.

Here is a list, the more you use the you will need t use the trackpad, plus they are much faster.

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1343

I experience this too in a pretty bad way. This is a common problem, that's specific to Apple.

Apple really needs to do something about this, even just a warning on their box or something. It would have saved me from damaged fingertips.

Send Apple feedback. They won't answer, but at least will know there is a problem. If enough people send feedback, it may get the problem solved sooner.

Feedback

Hello All!

This is far.out.at.sea, one of the first commenters on another post about this same problem. I lost my old info, so my new id is out.to.sea.

My allergy to trackpads has continued. I have a mac book air (11-inch, 12-inch). Using a mouse pretty much has solved my problems, except when I for some reason I can't use my mouse and I'm stuck using the track pad. I recently lost my mouse and wasn't in a situation to buy one (I currently live in Kyrgyzstan in Central Asia). I had a project due and just had to work through the pain and I would like to describe the effect.

I mostly use my middle finger, fourth finger and pinky when using the track pad. I have attached two photos of my fingers. These photos were taken two days after I stopped touching the track pad. Beyond the internal pain in my fingers, joints, and hands, my fingers get dry, rough, wrinkly, and the top layer of my skin comes off.  Compare my first finger to my last two. Notice the difference in color and texture?

Good luck everyone with the pain! I know it is difficult!

Please message me if you have any questions.

Hannah