| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Gibbon |
Posted - 09/22/2009 : 13:54:56
hello everybody, I started the same thread a few days ago on the RSI Association forum website, but this forum seems to get more traffic:
I thought that this might be interesting for other people, and give some structure to my own attempt.
There was quite a bit of stress going on in my life at the time of the initial onset of symptoms, I would be spending about 16 hours plus (pretty much every waking hour) either playing the guitar or on the computer. I'd also got somewhat addicted to Internet poker, so a typical day would be eight hours at work on the computer, come home, switch on the computer, play pretty much continuously until past midnight, then go to bed. My ergonomic set up was pretty much non-existent, a stretched arm with a bent wrist making tens of thousands of clicks every day. I had just decided to take a computer course qualification when I first got a tingling sensation in my right hand. It was suddenly uncomfortable to click on the mouse, indeed even uncomfortable to hear the sound of it clicking (a bit like hearing nails on a blackboard). I could type but anything more than about 30 minutes at one stretch would lead to short-term aching in both hands and wrists.
This continued for about 12 months before a completely sudden deterioration of the condition. I had some reports to type and as result was pushing my body through the aching from typing too much. Suddenly it felt as though something had just "gone". Both hands were completely inflamed, as though from really severe pins and needles. From that moment on I was unable to type at all or even write a couple of sentences without going flares up of pain often lasting an hour or more.
Since then there has been a gradual deterioration in symptoms. Persistent levels of pain in both elbows, occasional pain in both Achilles heels, a consistent level of low-level pins and needles in both hands and wrists. I found that going swimming brought on symptoms in a completely different way. Unlike typing or writing which would bring on symptoms instantaneously, I felt fine immediately after the swim, and yet over the next few hours both elbows became more and more inflamed. To the extent that by the evening I was unable to sleep due to the pain.
After reading "it's not carpal tunnel syndrome" I started to try some of the stretches recommended, though this seemed to make things even worse. I started waking up with the whole of my arm numb from the elbow down to my fingers, and with numbness and grip strength severely diminished continuing throughout the day. Thankfully this has only happened a few times
then at the weekend after three years since the onset of initial symptoms, and over a year and a half after they significantly deteriorated, I bought a copy of Dr Sarno's "mindbody prescription". This will be a log of how I get on.
It's the end of the world as we know it, and I feel fine. |
| 20 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Gibbon |
Posted - 02/18/2010 : 15:33:13
I thought I'd just post an update:
I initially wrote this all in October 2009. It’s now February 2010 and I have not used any voice recognition software for the past 5 months now. In fact there is nothing that I don’t do as a result of my RSI anymore. In fact putting this website together has meant hours of mouse led computer design, the mere idea of which would have been incredible only a few months ago. Occasionally when I get stressed my hands will start to ache a little, or if I type for hours at a time without a break, but when that happens I just take a couple of minutes out to relax, and the pain will go.
Check out the TMS website: www.rsi-backpain.co.uk |
| forestfortrees |
Posted - 11/23/2009 : 17:29:23
Dr. Sarno wins again! (It seems I was just saying that...  [To Marsha])
Anyway, anyone at all can edit the wiki (you have to log in first), and anyone is encouraged to make any changes that they feel would be helpful. You just click the EasyEdit to start and the Save button when you are done. You can't break anything, so feel free to experiment.
Thanks a lot for your contributions! It's nice to have descriptions since it helps people figure out which stories they want to read first.
This goes for anyone: The wiki is a collaboration by all of us. If you ever see anything that you think you can make better (and that you don't expect people will object to), feel free to just click the EasyEdit button and make your change.
Forest
My story at tmswiki.org |
| Gibbon |
Posted - 11/23/2009 : 15:22:32
i've just worked out the edit function and added a few more descriptions....
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| Gibbon |
Posted - 11/23/2009 : 13:34:01
quote:
Originally posted by HilaryN
That's fantastic news! I've added a link on the RSI Success Stories page on the wiki:
http://tmswiki.wetpaint.com/page/Repetitive+Strain+Injuries+-+RSI
Hilary N
thanks Hilary!
i don't quite know how the wiki works, is anyone able to edit it, or do you need special admin powers? With regards to the "success stories" section, do you think it'd be worth tidying it up? Some of the stories are exceptionally in-depth/useful and others are less so, could they/should they be ranked in terms of recommendation? Or like you've done with mine, all labelled with a short excerpt about what the link's about......
or, even copying the content and creating a more user friendly page with navigable buttons to take you through different stories without having to open up new windows.....
just some ideas, i'll be happy to help if needed.... |
| HilaryN |
Posted - 11/23/2009 : 12:34:35
That's fantastic news! I've added a link on the RSI Success Stories page on the wiki:
http://tmswiki.wetpaint.com/page/Repetitive+Strain+Injuries+-+RSI
Hilary N |
| Gibbon |
Posted - 11/23/2009 : 09:27:18
quote:
Originally posted by Gibbon
Just in case my last post made it seem as though everything is "cured", I should probably make it clear that there is probably quite a long way to go. My objective measures of "cure" will be:
1. Regularly using normal typing rather than Dragon. Able to type 1 page of A4 without any residual pain or tingling.
2. Going swimming with no after effects.
3. Being able to write free hand as much as necessary with no pain.
4. Being able to play guitar with no pain.
5. Playing a game of badminton with no after effects.
Of those there has definitely been progress for 1, 3, 4. 2 will be a big test because the last time I went swimming both elbows were in very severe throbbing pain for several hours.
an update
1. I haven't used dragon for a month. i type normally now - i've written over 1000 words in one go....mild tingling but nothing more
2. i have been swimming every day for the past month!
3. i can write with no symptoms
4. i can play guitar for hours on end with no pain
5. i regularly play badminton twice a week...
wow! I guess that's a "cure"! It's probably 95% back to normal now, and more importantly, doesn't stop me from doing anything i want to.....
please move this to the success stories section |
| forestfortrees |
Posted - 11/12/2009 : 20:35:01
quote:
Originally posted by Gibbon
an update with regards to the rsi - it continues to get better and better - i played online chess for over an hour yesterday (yes i'm a bit of a geek  ), which involves mouse drag and click pretty much continuously.....
Yeah, I always found my pain levels were surprisingly low when I played games I liked. Not much stress when you're having fun!
Forest
tmswiki.org |
| Gibbon |
Posted - 11/09/2009 : 10:36:40
hiya
thanks for the comments, there's definitly something of the pavlovian (sounds like a dessert....) about the tinnitus, i guess it's a work in progress
an update with regards to the rsi - it continues to get better and better - i played online chess for over an hour yesterday (yes i'm a bit of a geek ), which involves mouse drag and click pretty much continuously.....
now this is something i haven't been able to do for over 3 years, and even when i started to see improvements in the rsi symptoms i found it hard to believe i'd ever get back to normal mouse use....and yet i'm pretty much there. Still some residual aching/pain during typing/mouse use but now no more than a minor annoyance much like a strained muscle would be when playing sport...
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| pandamonium |
Posted - 11/07/2009 : 14:54:46
Good luck with the Health Section then, let us know how you get on.
Your GP sounded quite positive, mine was polite but nothing more than that.
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A beginner's guide to psychology: If it's not your mum's fault.... it's your dad's... |
| HilaryN |
Posted - 11/07/2009 : 02:09:20
quote:
It's difficult to know if this is because i've started to listen to music again (previously any sort of music would cause unpleasant ringing/pain)
Interesting that music, rather than loud noise, should cause it.
Sounds to me like a Pavlovian trigger
I definitely agree it's best to take it slowly in reconditioning yourself for the tinnitus just as you have with the RSI. When it subsides, you could try just listening to a little bit of music and see what happens.
(Gosh, the thought of not being able to listen to music makes me feel sad! As bad as the days when I couldn't go dancing because I had chronic fatigue.)
Hilary N |
| forestfortrees |
Posted - 11/06/2009 : 22:41:29
quote:
Originally posted by Gibbon
I just came back from a short holiday abroad, the day of travelling my RSI symptoms flared up to a level they haven't been like for over a couple of months. It was obviously a response the stress of travelling. Now this wasn't conscious stress - if you'd asked me if i was stressed by going on holiday previously i would have said absolutely not, after all holidays are about having fun! But my body was telling me differently. At an uconscious level it was obviously having an effect.
What an excellent point! It's great to hear about the progress that you've been making. How is mousing going?
My bet is that if you keep up with your reading and work, that you will soon be able to listen to all of the music that you want to.
Forest
tmswiki.org |
| Gibbon |
Posted - 11/05/2009 : 15:43:29
hiya pandamonium.....
I got an email back from the online editor saying he thought it was an interesting article (though maybe that's his stock reply ),but that it didn't really fit in with the Comment is Free content, which is more politics based.....he suggested emailing the health section of the paper, so i'll see if they reply! I don't think it's too likely that it will get in, but it's worth a try....
I've spoken to my GP, and given him my letter, he did seem genuinely interested, and assured me he was going to buy the MBP from Amazon.....again whether he actually will or not i don't know
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| pandamonium |
Posted - 11/04/2009 : 05:16:17
Great news Gibbon . Let us know how you get on with the Guardian submission, and if you need any extra back up, I am sure Hilary and I would help.
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A beginner's guide to psychology: If it's not your mum's fault.... it's your dad's... |
| Gibbon |
Posted - 11/03/2009 : 12:22:55
hello again!
I'd say that the RSI continues to improves - I typed about 1000 words the other day without hardly noticing. I was trying to get an article together for possible submission to the Guardian website, i guess i'll just have to wait to see if they're interested in it....
my tinnitus flared up the other day, it was quite unpleasant for about 24 hrs. It's difficult to know if this is because i've started to listen to music again (previously any sort of music would cause unpleasant ringing/pain), or if its simply TMS system imperative.....
I've started reading up on TRT tinitus therapy, and a good chunk of it seems to overlap with TMS theory - not least the basic premise that you need to retrain your body's reaction to the symptoms, because it is this rather than the actual stimulus itself which is responsible for the pain/discomfort. The more i look into it the more it seems to fit with general TMS, though i'm still a little reluctant to "push it" and increase music exposure because i don't want any long periods of constant ringing pain like i've had in the past....
I went to a TMS support group last week in Huddersfield - it was really useful to hear the stories of other RSI sufferers who had had situations even worse than my own, and yet had made full recoveries. I would definitly recommend people going along if they live nearby!
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| Gibbon |
Posted - 10/29/2009 : 00:28:23
hiya
i posted this on another topic, and being lazy it's going to do for my current update on this thread too
I just came back from a short holiday abroad, the day of travelling my RSI symptoms flared up to a level they haven't been like for over a couple of months. It was obviously a response the stress of travelling. Now this wasn't conscious stress - if you'd asked me if i was stressed by going on holiday previously i would have said absolutely not, after all holidays are about having fun! But my body was telling me differently. At an uconscious level it was obviously having an effect.
Once you've recognised this its actually quite useful. It's a bit like having a window to your unconscious mind. And you can use it to start taking some time out to relax when it triggers. Meditate, journal, do exercise, do your positive matras.
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| Gibbon |
Posted - 10/16/2009 : 16:12:46
Just a quick update as i haven't posted for a few days:
Things continue to improve, though at a much slower rate than previously. The biggest difference is now the normalisation of activities than previously I couldn't do at all. I haven't used dragon voice recognition at all in the past week, doing all my typing (albeit never more than a few hundred words) by hand. I'm continuing with the exercise regime - and have been swimming every day for the past couple of weeks now. I find swimming a useful time to repeat the positive thinking mantras, on each stroke I repeat one....and there is also a sauana/hot tub which is a good way to unwind afterwards.
I've started to use the mouse for the first time - this is my arch-nemesis, where the RSI started! But I can click on the mouse keys for a few minutes now before i switch to cursor keys....a big improvement.
I've also started to see if i can address my tinnitus. This predates my RSI, but with quite a large proportion of TMS sufferers also reporting tinnitus, then i am obviously wondering if this is also part of the same thing. I did used to play in a band at rather loud volumes for rather long periods of time, so i'm not entirely convinced yet that it isn't structural, but i have noticed some improvements in my ability to listen to music without getting humming/pain in the ears. There is at the very least some sort of pyschosomatic element to it i think.
One of the interesting things i've become aware of after my last visit with Georgie is how i've been completely avoiding silence over the past few years. There has been no occasion during the days where i have allowed myself to be alone with my thoughts. I've always been at the computer, planning things at work, having the tv on, even going to sleep with the radio on. It's as though I haven't wanted to actually find out what's going on inside my head. Indeed i have found the meditation part of the course a real bind, and have had to really force myself to do it. It is now easier than previously, but something i am definitly going to have to work on.
A big thanks to the people who organised the Webinar a few days ago - listening to stories from others who have overcome this has been a big help. |
| Gibbon |
Posted - 10/07/2009 : 11:40:15
ok, i thought i'd write a review here, then it can be cut and pasted to the appropriate place....
The Mindbody Workbook: David Schechter
This didn't seem to be available on Amazon UK, so I had to use Amazon US. The total including shipping was about $25. This isn't really a book, but a 100 page A4 ring bound journal. There are a few pages at the start which make interesting reading, looking at the concept of Mindbody disorders and then at recent supportive research. The vast majority of the workbook is however empty space - for filling in on a daily basis. Each day has a couple of pages of A4 devoted to it with 3 to 4 questions to answer.
Sample questions, "What happened in your life today?" "How has what you've read today [from MBP etc] helped you to understand your problems?" "Are you getting more active physically?"
I'm only part way through the 30 day cycle, but i've found it a useful tool for providing some balance for my journalling. I do journalling separately in a blank exercise book, and so fill in the relevant workbook page first. This helps me focus on what's happening at the moment. Most of my journal entries seem to introspectives from months/years ago, so this way I can't ignore what's going on now.
At $25 (inc pp), it's not especially cheap, and I wouldn't say it's essential by any means. I've found Georgie Oldfield's journalling workbook more useful in terms of its content. However I think it has been helpful and I shall continue to use it over the next few weeks.
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| forestfortrees |
Posted - 10/06/2009 : 13:20:53
quote:
Originally posted by Gibbon
...if you give me an idea of how many words you're looking for, or a link to the reviews you've already got, i'll get something typed up.
Great! It all depends on your energy level and what you think would be most helpful to the reader. Since we are a volunteer run organization, we try to let everyone choose their own level of involvement. For example, AriesLady contributed a very short review of the PEAR Process and a longer and more detailed review of Georgie Oldfield's TMS Recovery Program. (Her reviews are in the pale yellow boxes on the linked pages.) It's up to you...
Forest
tmswiki.org |
| Gibbon |
Posted - 10/06/2009 : 11:27:43
...if you give me an idea of how many words you're looking for, or a link to the reviews you've already got, i'll get something typed up. |
| forestfortrees |
Posted - 10/06/2009 : 10:53:31
Sounds like you are doing great stuff. Keep it up!
Just to be clear, the whole Skype thing was just about having a little chat afterward, perhaps with HilaryN if she is up for it, since all of us had "RSI." Connecting to the panel only requires a web browser, and, like I said, I can conference you in through your phone.
I'd be thrilled to get a review of any of those books, especially Schechter's mindbody workbook. I think it's a great alternative to Dr. Schubiner's program for people who can't afford the more expensive program.
Forest
tmswiki.org |
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