Diagnosed with RSI - how can I clear it up

chickmug

I am not surprised as I have found myself at PC for 4/5 hours every day before retiring six months ago. On it far less now but one month ago the pains, top of right arm, started with a vengeance. GP says take paracetomel and keep it moving but it is keeping me awake a lot at night.

Anyone else have this problem and any tips to ease/cure?

Conor_3

Yeah...keep away from mice and keyboards completely for a few weeks.

mdbarber

sounds like start of frozen shoulder, google that, not nice but not a lot can be done, with me resting it completely for a month, consider using a sling.
not convinced about advice to keep it moving as in retrospect feel part of freezing was down to pavlovian conditioning from pain

superscaper

Isn't this a bit risky as it's getting dangerously close to giving medical advice?

Joe_Bloggs

One way to avoid a frozen shoulder is not to use it to break into your own residence. I tried to use the shoulder-door technique as seen on TV. I then tried mae geri which eventually worked.
Seek medical advice for a medical opinion. Seek further medical advice if you don't think you have had your condition diagnosed properly.
On a personal note it appears to me that the appearance of injuries are the result of some previous strenuous activity some days before.
J_B.

chickmug

I have been inclined to protect by not moving but GP says best to keep to keep moving. So today I have started my outstanding DIY jobs - lots of them!!!

Will see how it is tomorrow.

vyseyboy

If you genuinely think it's caused or exacerbated by computer use, you could try learning how to left-hand mouse, (I find that swapping over every now and then is much more comfortable.)

But really the doc. is who you should be listening to.

mdbarber

if it is a frozen shoulder pain will get very very bad, there is basically 3 stages and docs don't really know much about this condition at all as to what causes it etc.
from experience.
1st stage random pains (up to a year)
2nd freezing of movement in affected joint (weeks)
3rd thawing(up to 2 yrs)
The pain will get very intense as stage 1 progresses to 2nd stage and changes from random (from gently closing a door) to any sharp movement, this is where i decided to stop using arm altogether it took 6 weeks to get back to work but i have heard stories of it being months for some people
I had no previous injuries, just random pains throughout a 6 month period getting progressively worse but the early ones were months apart and not really paid attention too until they became regular.
My decision to stop using arm was based on i didn't really need to be able to lift my arm above my head but did need the pain to subside so i could drive.
I hope for your sake it ain't but certainly ask doc if he feels it could be this.

esuhl

I get RSI and have been able to drastically improve (although not eliminate) it by...:

* Maintaining good posture
* Relaxing arm/hand muscles rather than punching the keyboard so violently!!!
* Varying the postion of your hands/arms as much as possible - use different mice on different PCs, and vary the way you hold the mouse

I have a Logitech Marble Mouse (which is actually a trackball) that I use with my left hand, and it has made a really big difference. Work bought me a Perfit Contour Mouse, which is probably the most ergonomic mouse you can get, but the trackball is better (and cheaper at ~£18 instead of ~£90 for the mouse).

Hope this helps...

phildamb

As a long term solution for when you are working on computers maybe using a trackball rather than a mouse. I changed to one of these years ago as I started getting pains during my degree. I wouldnt go back to a mouse now and can use the computer without any problems. This is the one I use:-

http://www.play.com/PC/PCs/4-/608415/Logitech-Marble-Mouse-Trackball/Product.html?cm_mmc=Froogle-_-PC-_-Accessories-_-Logitech%2BMarble%2BMouse%2BTrackball&source=5066&engine=froogle_pc&keyword=Logitech+Marble+Mouse+Trackball

sweetserendipity

Try looking at a website called Vitamins Direct - google for address?
I got a pain ban from them for similar problem & it worked a treat for me - not cheap (approx £95) but works on all sorts of aches & pains. Hope this doesn't count as medical advice!:rolleyes: