What is RSI
RSI is a generic term used to cover a range of specific disorders of the musculoskeletal system i.e pain in the muscles, nerves and connective tissue, such as tendons, ligaments and fascia (the cling film like structure that compartmentalises our body). Both the upper and the lower parts of the body as well as the spine, can be affected The disorders can include some or all of the following:
Pain – dull to sharp to searing; burning; numbness; tingling; pins and needles; weakness; loss of grip and reduced range of movement.
RSI is essentially an overuse syndrome where a constant, repetitive or forceful activity causes the damage
There are two types of RSI:
Type I – Specific RSI
These conditions can be diagnosed using standard clinical testing i.e. nerve and muscle testing and include the following:
Frozen shoulder
Bursitis
Epicondylitis - tennis/golfer’s elbow
Tenosynovitis
Tendinitis
De Quervain’s Syndrome
Dupytren’s Contracture
This label causes a lot of confusion in the arena of RSI and deserves special attention. It is given out all too often without comprehensive analysis of all presenting symptoms and related conditions. Many people find they have surgery for CTS but their symptoms return after a while.
It is important to note that CTS does exist by itself but in Type II RSI (see below), CTS like symptoms form part of a larger picture which should be looked at and treated. If successful treatment of the whole presentation is provided, surgery for CTS may be unnecessary and can be avoided.
Type II – Non Specific RSI or Diffuse RSI (DRSI)
Many sufferers of RSI complain of changing and moving symptoms e.g. they wake in the morning with numbness in one hand, then the other, then both and some days, with none at all. The intensity and location of the pain experienced changes and they don’t respond positively to standard medical tests. Such being the confused state, these symptoms have been labelled ‘psychogenic’ and their owners, ‘hysterical’. This has not been helpful to the sufferers and has added little to the understanding of Diffuse RSI.
At the annual RSI Conference held in London in March 2008, Dr Michael Hutson, Consultant Orthopaedic Physician admitted that the medical faculty needs to learn how to think beyond the cause and effect philosophy if they were to treat DRSI successfully.
Recent research in the UK conducted by Prof B Lynn and Dr J Greening found the following: in DRSI sufferers there were changes in the nerves in the arm and wrist. which were not identified by any examination techniques or tests but could be measured as changes in vibration sensitivity. They concluded that this nerve damage is physical in origin; further research by the same team has demonstrated changes in the movement of the median nerve in the lower arm and carpal tunnel in sufferers of DRSI.
Another issue is with the use of steroid injections: steroids reduce inflammation and the pain associated with it. Undoubtedly, they are needed sometimes. However, with excessive doses, they can damage the body as well as throw its natural balance out of sync. Some RSI sufferers have found that their symptoms have been exacerbated when the steroid has worn off, worsening their experience of pain.
Suparna Damany is a physical therapist who recognises and successfully treats DRSI and she does this because she understands the all encompassing nature of DSRI.
At FixMe we agree with and follow Suparna’s protocol of Holistic medicine. |
