Symptoms
RSI typically involves the neck and upper limb (shoulder, arm,
elbow, forearm, wrist, hand); but any part of the body may be affected,
including upper and lower back, chest, head, jaws, eyes, and even
legs.
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Common Symptoms of RSI
- Discomfort, fatigue or pain (sudden
or gradual)
- Swelling, redness, paleness or
warmth
- "Catching" (pinching
sensation) or "snapping" (crepitus) associated
with movement
- Loss of grip strength (muscle
weakness), heaviness or clumsiness of the hand
- Decreased range of motion or stiffness
- Burning, numbness, tingling, "pins
and needles"
- A constant need to stretch or
massage one's arms
- Visual strain or fatigue while
working
- Slow accumulation of injury occurs
with gradual development of difficulty in day-to-day activities
such as shaking hands, opening doors, holding newspapers,
using a comb, or even holding a teacup
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Types of RSI
In our experience, over 95% of all cases of RSI are accounted
for by Myofascial
Pain Syndrome and Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. Other
conditions commonly seen include Cubital Tunnel Syndrome,
Tendinitis, Tenosynovitis, Epicondylitis, Trigger finger,
etc. True Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is virtually non-existent
in Indian computer users and we have come across numerous
cases of failed "Carpal Tunnel" Decompression
Surgeries because of undiagnosed nerve compression higher
up (e.g., Thoracic Outlet Syndrome).
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Stages of RSI
| Stage |
Symptoms |
Duration of recovery (with appropriate treatment)
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| Stage 1 |
Pain during work that eases off as soon as you
leave the job |
Recovery in days or weeks |
| Stage 2 |
Pain that goes home with you and interferes
with daily activities, but disappears by the morning |
Recovery in months |
| Stage 3 |
Pain, tingling or numbness that wakes you up
and stays with you all day and night |
Recovery in several months |
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When you develop these symptoms
DO NOT
- Start using the
left hand for the mouse
- Take a vacation hoping
the pain will go away with rest. Not only will the pain
return when you get back to work , you could be left without
adequate medical leave!
- Self-medicate (painkillers,
ointments, alternative medicine)
- Use a neck collar, crepe
bandage or wrist splint (especially while working)
- Join a gym or start weight
training
- Start swimming
- Undergo vigorous oil massage
- Undergo cervical traction
or isometric/resistive neck exercise given by physiotherapists
- Consider surgery unless
you had a second opinion from a specialist in RSI
All these have the potential to severely worsen your existing
situation
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When should you seek medical help?
The potential for full recovery is enhanced if individuals seek
competent medical help for early symptoms. It
is now known that most cases of severe RSI start with vague discomfort
in the neck and shoulders, which, if neglected, lead on to incapacitating
pain, burning or weakness in the hands, precluding usage of the
hands.
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As a general rule, seek expert care
AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, because delay of a few days
could make the difference between a quick and complete recovery,
and a long drawn struggle to overcome RSI. It
is worth seeking references from injured co-workers or friends
before choosing your doctor, rather than trying out the
nearest Physician, Orthopaedist, Neurologist, Physiotherapist
or Corporate Hospital that you can find.
The choice of medical professional
to treat your RSI is perhaps the most critical factor towards
your recovery. Seek out specialists with a proven track
record in diagnosing and treating RSI's sooner rather than
as a last resort.
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Indian computer users typically underestimate the seriousness
of RSI and many are unaware that it can lead to job losses. On
developing symptoms many individuals waste precious time trying
home remedies or procrastinating (But I have always been fit
and healthy...must be the pillow or the bike or perhaps the office
cricket match last weekend! Is it an Ortho problem or a Neuro
problem? Why are my co-workers not in pain? But I type only for
a few hours...). By the time acceptance reluctantly sets in
many are already at Stage 3, which usually means several additional
months needlessly added to the recovery period.
Many Indian IT Professionals are reluctant to admit having RSI
for fear of retrenchment and feel uncomfortable or embarrassed
asking for ergonomic modifications to their workstations, being
unsure of the support from their supervisors. They seek medical
help usually at a stage when they cannot work any longer and come
begging for confidentiality. Many do not seek medical help because
of fear of being labeled "sissy", "psychotic" or an "incurable"
and hence "unemployable" RSI victim. Another popular misconception
(sometimes propagated by doctors) is that since muscle pain is
"incurable" there is no point in complaining about it.
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Remember
- RSI is a progressive and cumulative
disorder, which, if neglected, could lead to permanent
structural damage, leading to inability to work or to
lead a normal life. Delay of a few days in seeking expert
medical help could prove to be a career threatening mistake.
- It is futile exercise blaming
medical professionals for your slow recovery from Stage
3 RSI. Even in the most reputed RSI Treatment Centres
world-wide (including ours) complete recovery from Stage
3 RSI, in spite of intensive Myotherapy, can take several
months or sometimes more than a year.
- RSI never gets better by itself:
the symptoms just quieten down with rest, only to flare
up on increasing the activity levels.
- However, it is possible to recover
100% from Stage 3 RSI with appropriate and timely treatment
(MORE).
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