Conditions & RSI
Non-specific pain
The Symptoms
The symptoms of RSI include aches, pain, numbness, tingling, weakness and cramps. With diffuse RSI there are usually no visible signs, although people with specific, diagnosable conditions can have diffuse pain as well. Wrist and forearm pain may appear to spread to the upper arm and shoulder. Neck and upper back stiffness may also occur. Patients sometimes describe temperature and colour changes in their hands.
The Causes
The most common identifiable factor appears to be overuse of the keyboard or computer mouse, often combined with poor or static posture. When the body is in a state of tension, the soft tissues of the body are also more vulnerable to damage. Non-specific pain syndrome is also recognisable in musicians and production-line workers.
The Doctor’s Examination
The process of getting a diagnosis can be something of a merry-go-round if your condition doesn’t have any recognisable clinical features. In the UK, GPs receive little training in the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders. An initial examination of the painful area will look for tenderness and swelling, symptomatic of conditions such as Tenosynovitis or Epicondylitis. You may be referred for blood tests and X-rays to rule out disease e.g. rheumatoid arthritis. Numbness and tingling in the fingers classically suggest Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and your doctor may send you for a nerve conduction test to measure electrical impulses along the median nerve where it passes through the wrist.
Ideally your GP will refer you to a specialist who has taken an interest in RSI-type conditions, usually a rheumatologist or neurologist. If you then emerge from further tests and clinical examination with no specific signs of injury, but with a clear connection between your symptoms and your work, you may end up being diagnosed with RSI as a way of describing your condition.
Treatment
Though not always successful, treatment for specific RSI conditions is quite well defined. For diffuse RSI, it is generally accepted that both conventional medical treatments and surgery are not beneficial. More radical approaches are required. These include physiotherapy (including ANT adverse neural tension), pain management techniques, massage and cranial-osteopathy. Body ‘training’, for example Alexander Technique, Yoga, Tai Chi or Pilates, will help to realign posture and reduce tension. Some benefit may also be found from consulting a nutritionist. Choose your therapist wisely. The rapport you have with them is probably as important as the therapy itself and it is sensible to check that s/he is a registered practitioner in the way you would expect your doctor to be.
There is no magic cure for this kind of RSI. The most benefit will be found from an integrated, ’whole person’ approach, whereby the individual takes responsibility for managing their own recovery and learns the links between their mind and body and their environment.
Conditions & RSI
Conditions
Tendon Related Disorders
Tendinitis
Tenosynovtis
Epicondylitis
De Quervain's Disease
Dupuytren's Contracture
Trigger Finger
Gangolian Cyst
Rotator Cuff Syndrome
Nerve Related Disorders
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Cubital Tunnel Syndrome
Guyon Canal Syndrome
Pronator Teres Syndrome
Radial Tunnel Syndrome
Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
Cervical Syndrome
Muscle Related Disorders
Tension Neck Syndrome
Muscle Sprain & Strain
Myalgia & Myositis
Writers Cramp
Circulatory Disorders
Hypothenar Hammer Syndrome
Reynauds Phenomenon or Disease
Vibration White Finger
Bursa Related Disorders
Bursitis
Non Specific Pain
Double Crush Syndrome
Fact Sheets
What is RSI - Treatment & Managing RSI - Advice & Research - RSI Hazards - Minimising Risks