Eight-Year Follow-Up... Are Our Ideas Obsolete or Outdated?
Originally written as at the 5-year mark.... Jack Bellis, October 29,
2005
It's Not Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
was published in May of 2000, more than eight years now! (The "Published
Date" on our Amazon page shows "April,
2001" but notice that Paul Marxhausen's glowing Amazon review (copy on our site)
is date-stamped May 7, 2000.) And just like all RSI sufferers, we too
are waiting for the breakthroughs that relegate our book to the dustbin.
But as we start shipping our 5th printing of the book, it looks like we're
still waiting. No, we're not getting rich on the book such that we'd be
heartbroken if sales stopped... far from it. In fact you can read
the details of our foray into the world of publishing, if you're curious.
With that context we present this collection of thoughts on RSI developments
since we locked down the content on the book. What has been learned since
then? What would we add to a second edition? Here's what precious little
we've learned since writing the book. Note that this list includes info
originally published in April 2004 in our FAQ. It is being revisited here
to call out key information of use to RSI sufferers.
- Work in Motion
Breaks are nice, but the big lesson for hard-core users who won't change
their evil ways (and I'm one): learn how to keep moving, fidget. Work
in motion.
- Armaid or Other
Mild Self-Massage Devices
For do-it-yourself massage, if your problem is adhesion and poor blood
flow, etc., consider Armaid.com. Here's
our full review of it. Note
that Armaid is being redesigned and is not available through its creator
any more. Try to buy one at Ebay or post a request to RSI discussion groups.
This But don't do any self-treatment without a doctor's advice and a good
understanding of what your problem is. If you're a compulsive person,
you're likely to overdo it with any self-massage device.
- Variations
in Individual's Anatomy
...at the chest (thoracic outlet) impress me as one of the biggest
possible reasons why some people suffer and others don't. The nerves and
blood vessels go through the muscles in different (called 'anamolous')
paths, some of which could make people less suited to hunching over a
keyboard all day. But there's no data and unlikely to be any until extensive
cadaver research is done. Diagrams of the variations are in "Rehabilitation of the Hand: Surgery and Therapy,"
James Hunter, M.D., et al, (Mosby) Part 9, Chapter 49, page 866.
- Armrests
Although in our book we recommend against armrests, I've changed my
thinking, and for years used one from MorencyRest.com.
More recently I've done without it. I suspect that my nerves have healed
a little more.
- MRI for Soft Tissue
Very Important: New imaging technology
can show objective evidence of blood vessel problems, particularly related
to thoracic outlet syndrome (the compression of blood vessels and nerves
at the front of the chest).
- Biofeedback
I couldn't find good info on biofeedback prior to print time but I
recently learned of a Kathy Bender in SanFrancisco who uses dynamic EMG
muscle feedback and temperature feedback to help computer users find their
ideal workstation configuration. They have an occupational therapist first
do a history and ergonomic review. They evaluate what they call the "functional
path" and work on diaphragmatic breathing. The cost is approximately
10 sessions @$92= $920, generally prescribed by a chiropractor or doctor.
Sufferers should use web to find a biofeedback person certified by National
Biofeedback Association. Specifically ask if they do their biofeedback
in a dynamic setting, and do temperature biofeedback.
- Parasympathetic
Nervous System
One of the most difficult aspects of RSI is the psychological component.
It is the topic of John Sarno's book, The Mindbody Prescription: Healing the Body, Healing the Pain (on Amazon), which
causes varying reactions in RSI sufferers, from "interesting"
to "How dare he suggest the problem is in my head?" The parasympathetic
nervous system could have a big role in the less mechanical side of diagnosing
RSI. We believe that RSI is mostly physiological, but our psycholgical
state contributes a varying degree in many individuals.
-
Books
Books are probably still your best starting point for RSI recovery.
You are facing a career-threatening problem. You can control it or it
can control you, and $50 worth of used books can make the difference.
The following list is directly from an October, 2005 Amazon review of
our book. The reviewer included a list of books that helped her. I thought
it represented an excellent, current synopsis of the "state of the
art" on RSI literature. The list of books is repeated here with my
comments instead of the reviewers. For the reviewers full comments refer
to the Amazon page. All links open on Amazon in
a new window.
- Our book, "(On Amazon) It's
Not Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: RSI Theory & Therapy for Computer Professionals."
- The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook
, by Clair Davies... presumably, this book has more details on what a
therapist like Suparna actually does to your tissues.
- Complete Guide to Repetitive
Strain Injury by Emil Pascarelli B0002MB6AE
- CONQUERING CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME
by Sharon J. Butler 1572240393 ... the best for exercises, but as with
my experience (jb), the reviewer on Amazon said she was "too injured
by the time I found this book."
- THE CARPAL TUNNEL HELPBOOK
by Dr. Scott M. Fried 0738204552 ... "only book I found to deal exclusively
with nerve issues."
- FREE YOUR BREATH, FREE YOUR LIFE
by Daniel Lewis 1590301331
- LIGAMENT HEALING by William
Weintraub 1556432836
- PRISCILLA'S YOGA STRETCHES... "an incredible
TV program I discovered that comes on at 5:30am weekday mornings in the
LA area on one of the PBS stations."
Not much of a list for 8 years, huh? But it does seem to help lots of
folks, so take it seriously and you'll beat this thing!
©
2005 RSIRescue.com Jack Bellis and Suparna Damany
All Rights Reserved
You may freely copy any material from this site by mentioning RSIRescue.com
as the source. fratostat