RSI Demystified

Repetitive Strain Injury, better know as RSI, is the leading occupational hazard in the United States, and a growing concern across the globe. It is a pain syndrome which affects the muscles, nerves, and tendons of the hands, arms and upper back. RSI is becoming more common in conjunction with the increase in computer usage.

There are many disorders that can result from RSI and they typically develop because of poor posture and repetitive motions while the body is kept tense for an extended period of time. Some of the disorders that are considered to be a direct result of RSI are:

• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is diagnosed from symptoms such as tingling, pain, coldness, and even numbness of the hand. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is the most diagnosed musculoskeletal condition pertaining to RSI, and is caused by the median nerve of the hand being compressed by the surrounding tendons in the wrist.

• Tendonitis is, quite simply, the inflammation of the tendons. Tendonitis can be a very painful condition.

• Tenosynovitis is the inflammation of the synovium. The synovium is the sheath that surrounds the tendon, and once it inflamed, it commonly causes the above described tendonitis.

• DeQuervain’s Syndrome is tenosynovitis or carpal tunnel of the two tendons that move the thumb. Difficulty gripping, numbness of the back of the thumb, and pain and swelling of the thumb side of the hand are also indications of DeQuervain’s Syndrome. This disorder is commonly diagnosed to typists because of the repetitive use of the thumb on the keyboard.

• Thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) encompasses a group of distinct disorders that affect nerves in the brachial plexus (the nerves that run from the arm to the neck). Also, blood vessels and nerves between the nap of the neck and the armpit can be involved in TOS. Generally, these disorders have very little in common other than the area in which they are exemplified. Each disorder is complex, and sometimes poorly defined. They all have individual signs and symptoms which affect the upper limb.

• Trigger Finger/thumb is a form of stenosing tenosynovitis that restricts the movement in an affected thumb or finger. Symptoms include painful joints, particularly when bent. Often, soft cracking sounds accompany the irritating movement.

• Intersection Syndrome, often confused with DeQuervain’s Syndrome, is a painful condition affecting the thumb-side of the forearm. Intersection Syndrome occurs when two muscles cross over two underlying wrist tendons unnaturally.

• Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome (RSDS) is a complex regional pain syndrome. It is a chronic condition characterized by incredible burning pain, changes in the affected bone and skin, profuse sweating, tissue inflammation, and unusual sensitivity to touch. RSDS is currently thought to be a variant of causalgia, and not necessarily caused by trauma.

Therapies are typically prescribed once physicians have diagnosed a musculoskeletal disorder. Unfortunately, many times the prescribed remedies are ineffective for a variety of reasons.

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