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General health

MN help please with RSI

8 replies

SaintsFever · 01/10/2016 23:03

MN went to the doctors yesterday and came out with an RSI diagnosis earning me a week off work plus naproxen and accupuncture. But does anyone know any tricks to ease the flare ups and pain?

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Choccybadger · 01/10/2016 23:52

If it's wrist RSI, keep your wrists supported whilst sitting or sleeping. I find memory foam pillows good for this.
I know that at the time of applying, heat doesn't feel as tho it is getting near the pain, but if you keep doing it, a wheat heat sack will help you feel better over an evening.
Mine is worse at night. A firm wrist support, either tubi or neoprene can help the sensation that i need to compress my inner forearm to relieve - like a counter pressure.

But honestly, rest from the offending activity and pain relief/ anti inflammatory are the things that will relieve for longest.
I don't have any medical conditions but have a chronic pain syndrome so need ways to manage it so I can function. I find general relaxation techniques or aids help me so baths with muscle soak or lavender oil, rubbing a lavender, clary sage and rosemary oil mix (with almond oil base) into anywhere on my body and cammomile tea (and wine too) really helps. Also if sleep is affected, try sleep hypno. I wouldn't recommend an app unless you know what yoi're doing but if you can afford and have time a relaxation and hynotherapist could save your sanity.
There's not many things as difficult to manage and live with as severe pain so you should throw what you can afford at it now.
Meh to acupuncture but only as its never worked for me
I had a Physio a while back who taped my arms with KT tape - have a look online. It was a huge help to carry on and do stuff but you should do as little as poss while resting initially.

In time, could you quit the activity that's caused it?

My heart goes out to you.
X

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sadie9 · 02/10/2016 00:06

I have this. Main culprit for me was using a mouse. I switched the mouse over to my left hand. You'd be very surprised how quickly you get used to this, and it really helps hugely if your RSI is keyboard/computer use related.
It does tend to come back repeatedly a bit, if you get an extreme case so it is worth really resting it.
So if you are right handed, practice using your left hand for things as much as you can to try and spread the load throughout the day. eg. emptying dishwasher, rubbing with the kitchen sponge etc.

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ShotgunNotDoingThePans · 02/10/2016 00:28

Ok I'm going to say it. Came across this on a 'books that changed your life' tbread, and remembered having dismissed it previously: the theory and recovery programme of Dr John Sarno.
It gets dismissed on here but I've seen it highly recommended as well.
There's a forum for people going through or having been throigh the programme (tms wiki). I'm at the early stages but had great results this dummer; been distracted with other things since then but can gentatively say that I'm seeing results, and think it's worth looking af.

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SaintsFever · 02/10/2016 21:44

Thanks for all the suggestions have been using ice to numb but will look into the heat idea as well. Think my job is a big trigger as lots of typing but now that work are aware they will do an assessment to see if they can help. Other one is the gym but my trainer has said he will help.

Not sure about the accupuncture though!

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mineofuselessinformation · 02/10/2016 21:52

Try wearing wrist splints at night to keep them in a 'neutral' position - and at work too if that isn't enough to help.

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AnneGables · 02/10/2016 21:58

I switched to a joystick mouse and ergonomic keyboard, I still get it from time to time, but it's helped lots.

Ibuprofen gel helped lots in the beginning too. Work also paid for physio where I learnt some exercises to relieve it.

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CMOTDibbler · 03/10/2016 15:12

No using your phone either, plus nothing twisting/gripping. Things like whisking don't help recovery
Acupuncture really does work for me

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SaintsFever · 04/10/2016 16:55

Well I know I shouldn't but made the mistake of sweeping & mopping today as MIL was coming over cue all day pain

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