When I play point and click games like Zoo Tycoon, my pinkie and ring finger go numb after a while and I get the tingly feeling. Does this happen to anyone else and tips on preventing it?

EDIT: Does it help any if I say I use a laptop mouse?

It happens when I play this one game called rock band and I'm shredding it up like Yngwie Malmsteen but other then that no.

Yep. This part of the reason I don't play many PC games, especially twitchy shooters and so on. Just makes my fingers hurt.

There's no way to prevent it I don't think, I guess you just should not play games for an extended period of time (the manuals tell us this, but we stopped reading those disclaimers years ago right? ;) )

Amarok:
There's no way to prevent it I don't think, I guess you just should not play games for an extended period of time (the manuals tell us this, but we stopped reading those disclaimers years ago right? ;) )

There are manuals? Since when?

The only game I get finger cramps on is GH:WT on Satch Boogie on Expert mode. I have the GH3 guitar, so no cheap slider bar for me.

ahh... yeah actually, tell me, do you use a wrist pad or anything like that? because if you do, it could be the way you are resting your wrist is constricting your blood-flow to the lateral portion of your hand. that could cause that pins and needle feeling. hope that helps a bit.

zebrin:
ahh... yeah actually, tell me, do you use a wrist pad or anything like that? because if you do, it could be the way you are resting your wrist is constricting your blood-flow to the lateral portion of your hand. that could cause that pins and needle feeling. hope that helps a bit.

No, I don't thank you.

KaZZaP:
and I'm shredding it up like Yngwie Malmsteen

While not diagnostically helpful,

mad props for the bitchin' gratuitous rock reference!

but yeah, too much clicking. You're wearing out your hands. Go do something else for a couple days, and try to take more breaks between placing lion cages.

I don't know may people who click with their ring and pinky fingers. But anyways... that pins and needle feeling, or having a limb fall asleep, means that it was cut off from it's blood supply for about 15-60 seconds... happens when you apply pressure in the wrong spots. since yours is in the pinky and ring, and you are not using a wrist pad... humm... could be a lot of things, anywhere from resting your hand on your mouse wrong to having veins that are small or clogged. In other words, not much you can do about it. Well, aside from taking a rest from the game every so often.

My Pinky once grew painful due to a marathon session of Counter-strike (this was WAAAAAAAAY back then, 2000, methinks).

Thankfully, I haven't had a single instance of Carpal Tunnel.

Never had a problem with PC games, but a lot of console games with special peripherals make me cramp up.

Sometimes my fingers, wrist, or hand start to ache after long PC gaming sessions, but since I've been busy lately I haven't experienced that much. And from playing consoles the only thing I get are blisters on my fingers. That being said, I much more often get cramps in my arm from another activity of a less reputable sort... Sorry I tried to resist adding that but I couldn't help it.

My fingers sometimes seize up after long hours of playing almost anything. It's usually a sign for me to turn the computer off and go read a book or something.

My DS is absolute murder on my hands and also tends to give me sore elbows as well.

i agree ds is hell for me sometimes but pc can be worse at long durations. i have a tendency to squeeze mouse harder than i intend to when im losing in an online game. Causes cramps and that pins and needles felling. it could be that.

Only when I'm shredding it up on Medium on GH or RB do I get any sort of pain in my hands and that's for like an hour or two.

Yeah my hands never seem to be an issue on the pc but there have been times where the thumb cramps have wheedled their way into my repetoire of console games. Frig it sucks.

The big problem with pc games is that some FPS's like the first half life make me motion sick if I play for too long. That really sucks cause I hate getting a headache from something that brings me enjoyment :(.

i dont have problems with my hands, but my wrist gets this grinding noise after long sessions, and sometimes bak spasams from marathon fallout sessions resulting in having to lie on the floor for a little while...i think i should get a better chair

Usually only with the Tony Hawk Games and Rock Band (Drums too, if i dont hold the sticks correctly).

But i had problems with the default configuration of Mirrors Edge. My fingers hurt after a short while until inverted the Left and Right Trigger/Bumper Buttons.

Sounds like you are developing RSI. Take a break for a while ok?

I use to get this too, but only when I was younger, I cant tell you want to do differently I guess I just fixed it somehow... Same with eye strain. I would get red eye from playing Mega Man X. and just sort of ... don't now.

I'm being unhelpful sorry... Theo is probably right it sounds like RSI.

My butt gets sore after sitting on an uncomfy desk chair for more then 3 hours, but I've never had any problems with my hands/fingers/wrists.

With protracted use, I get the pains if I play a game that clearly isn't intended for a keyboard.

big probelem back in the days of the N64 i waould get what i called gamers thumb there all the meat from your left thumb tip was pushed aside and it was controll stick to bone hurt like a bastard

Keeping your elbow at a good angle will help (somewhere where your shoulders are relaxed, but not too low or you'll start getting shoulder pain) with one of those gel wrist support mouse-pads will help. Don't know if you have one, but gamer mouses (mice? Why can't it be mice for pc ones too?) are a godsend. If you've got your average 2/3 button mouse that comes stock standard, chuck it. It's not big enough for your hand. Find one that feels comfortable and that you can change the weights. My one has buttons on the side so my index finger can take a break.
Once you actually get the pains in your hand, take a few minutes to clench then unclench your fists, shake your hands then stretch your fingers back one hand at a time (this will also stretch the muscles in your arm and increase blood flow).

Never happened to me, not even after 36 hours straight of CoD4.

Get into a good position and use a good mouse. Else, try getting a higher chair so your arm stays about level with the table. I've never had this problem, but other than that, try to get your hand off sometimes.

I heard that it helps if you use those zen meditation hand balls:
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/419TygdXe9L._SL500_AA240_.jpg

Thank you all for the suggestions and ideas.