What is RSI?
RSI stands for Repetitive Strain Injury. In itself, RSI is not a disease but a name for certain ailments and pains. The following is a generally accepted definition of RSI:
"RSI is a general term for symptoms and syndromes that occur in the upper back, the neck, the shoulders, the arms, the elbows, the wrists, the hands and fingers. The symptoms are usually caused by repetitive motions, a prolonged static position, or a combination of both. Circumstances that have to do with someone's personal situation or with the work someone does often play an important role in the development, the worsening, or the keeping of RSI."
How will I recognize RSI?
If you find it hard to tie your shoelaces, to write, to text, or to work with your computer, you may be in trouble. Further symptoms are: painful, tingling, or numb hands, pain that goes from your hand to your shoulder or even as far as your neck, a swollen feeling in hands and wrists, loss of strength in your hands and arms, and loss of gripping power in the hands. Especially if you feel these symptoms most keenly at night or when getting up, it is advisable to consult a doctor. There are many variations with regards to the seriousness of the RSI pains. These three stages are a common system to express these gradations.
- Stage 1
Characteristics of early RSI:
- Pain and tiredness at the end of a working day or after a stressful period
- A clear relationship between the pain and its cause
- The pain usually disappears after a short period of rest (sleep, weekend, or holiday).
- Tiredness, cramps, tingling, numb feeling, awkwardness
- Pains are not experienced during the day or when at work.
- The pains can be cured with relatively simple measures.
- Stage 2
Characteristics of worsening RSI
- The pains occur more frequently and take more time before they disappear.
- There is no more any distinct relationship between the cause and the pain.
- The pain can also occur during the night; in the morning, there can be stiffness here or there.
- Also with other daily activities, people experience more and more pain.
- The pain increases, sometimes it is hard to locate, there is a loss of strength and you have a "heavy" feeling.
- There are increasingly noticeable problems with working and with daily activities.
- The pains can still be stopped with some more advanced measures and some discipline.
- Stage 3
Characteristics of the RSI syndrome:
- Pain is constantly felt.
- There is no distinct relationship between the moment of the pain and its cause.
- People get sleeping problems because the pains wake them up or prevent them from falling asleep.
- The pattern of the pains have now covered the complete area of upper back, neck, and arms.
- Loss of coordination, loss of feeling, and loss of strength (even complete loss of the possibility to do anything with one's arms or hands), fatigue
- Working and doing one's daily activities are hardly possible.
- There are too many physical and emotional consequences.
More and more societies of patients and a lot of doctors do not believe in these stages because:
- It is not true that the development of the symptoms from stage 1 to stage 2 to stage 3 is always a gradual one. Beginning symptoms can sometimes develop into serious complications in a very short period of time.
- Another mistake is thinking that prolonged initial symptoms are less serious than temporary serious symptoms. In all cases, people should take the necessary steps right away.
- The development of the symptoms can differ highly from one person to another. This means that people often draw the wrong conclusion as regards to the stage a patient is in.
- The most important misunderstanding is that many people think that people who are already in stage 3 cannot be cured any more. That is not true! Most people experience a slow but steady progress towards renewed health.
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Basics & Backgrounds
in Dutch
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