Five-Year Follow-Up... Are Our Ideas Obsolete or Outdated?

Jack Bellis, October 29, 2005

It's Not Carpal Tunnel Syndrome was published in May of 2000, more than five 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 4th 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.
1. Our book, "(On Amazon) It's Not Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: RSI Theory & Therapy for Computer Professionals."
2. 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.
3. Complete Guide to Repetitive Strain Injury by Emil Pascarelli B0002MB6AE
4. 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."
5. THE CARPAL TUNNEL HELPBOOK by Dr. Scott M. Fried 0738204552 ... "only book I found to deal exclusively with nerve issues."
6. FREE YOUR BREATH, FREE YOUR LIFE by Daniel Lewis 1590301331
7. LIGAMENT HEALING by William Weintraub 1556432836
8. 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 5 years, huh? But it does seem to help lots of folks, so take it seriously and you'll beat this thing!