Finding the Right Doctors for RSI Treatment?

Yabulda asks: "Does anyone know of good online resources when trying to find an experienced, knowledgeable, and useful health care professional for the treatment of repetitive strain injuries caused by computer use? This is my profession - and my arms are killing me. I can't find a good doctor who has treated this before... and i need help! I live in Philadelphia, PA, USA, so if any of you know of a competent doctor in the metro area please let me know." Where do you go when you need to handle your repetitive strain injuries, what did you think of the experience, and how did your wrists/arms/other appendage fair after the treatment?

Check with musicians

[Ratbert42]

I don't have online resources, but especially in Philly, try checking with some professional musicians. They network pretty well about this topic.

If you have squeezed nerves try vitamin B12

[Anonymous Coward]

Try a vitamin B12 supplement. Don't take too much (e.g. 16 microgrammes should be enough, but 3 microgrammes probably won't do anything, and before you try 30-50 mcgs ask a doc :) ). It's NOT a cure, it just helps squeezed nerves. B12 is pretty safe anyway, but it could mask other B vitamin deficiencies, e.g. B6 deficiencies.

However the trouble is usually the B complex supplements tend to give a tad too much B6 - for the B12 you want to take.

Thing is it might actually help the squeezed nerves last long enough for your limbs to adapt.

Of course your problem could be different or far more severe. If the B12 works it should take effect in less than a week.

If your current doc isn't helping, get some help from another (don't have to abandon your current doc - like in all professions some docs are just better at some things and not as good at others).

Re:If you have squeezed nerves try vitamin B12

[BluedemonX]

I'll agree with this and add something further.
If you live in Canada or some other place that allows B-12 to be sold without a perscription, get some cyanocobalamin (subcutaneous) and a subcutaneous/intramuscular syringe. I am NOT a doctor, find out from one how to do this kind of thing properly. I am NOT responsible for infection, edema, or any other weirdness as a result of NOT following this advice. Inject thyself with a standard dose (listed on the package) monthly. Ingesting B-12 is for all intents and purposes useless. Either inject it, pay someone to inject it if you're american, or shove it up your nose (intranasal - looks like a thick red syrup). Sublinguals might also work.

I used to do this monthly, and have never had any kind of B-12. I had to stop when I went to the States (what? you actually want to take care of your own health? ILLEGAL!) and am now experiencing RSI. I've been typing, the wrong way, since the age of 8 (now 29) so I can say at least anecdotally there's some connection.

Finding resources

[Cato]

Try finding a local RSI support group - they will know the best local doctors. Some good sites are www.tifaq.com and www.rsi-uk.org.uk (UK based but has some good info). If you don't have a local support group, try email lists, but people are often more forthcoming in person or on the phone.

The most important part is usually finding a physical therapist (physiotherapist) who understands RSI - ask them about adverse neural tension (ANT) and adverse mechanical tension (AMT), and how many people with RSI they've treated. Also, investigate complementary therapies such as Alexander technique, tai chi and chi kung.

What you want

[www.sorehands.com]

You want a physiatrist as a base point. You will also want see about an EMG (not fun) to check for CTS or nerve entrapment. Also, have your elbow x-rayed, there can be an entrapment there that an EMG won't pick up.

Also, see if the person knows about accupuncture. That can help.

Check out my site.

Forget Acupuncture

[PD]

Link [quackwatch.com]
Link [skepdic.com]
Link [nih.gov]
Link [ox.ac.uk]
Link [skeptics.com.au]
Link [straightdope.com]
Link [prioritiesforhealth.com]

OK, that's enough. You can probably find more yourself. Bottom line: Lots of people would love to believe it works, but despite many years of investigation, the evidence that it works is scant. One would think that if acupuncture was as effective as its proponents claim, the evidence would fall solidly in favor of acupuncture. The fact that it does not ought to tell you something.

Re:Forget Acupuncture

[cmowire]

You also have to remember that you can make things very much worse with Acupuncture. Part of Acupuncture's mistique is the placebo effect. You convince yourself that you've gotten better.

Now this is all fine and good if you have really gotten better. But if you think you are fine even when you aren't, and keep going on as if nothing's wrong, you'll end up with a massive case of RSI, worse than if you had done absolutely nothing.

Hello Everybody

[Procrasti]

Try Doctor Nick Riviera, Hollywood Upstairs Medical College. I'm sure he has all kinds of stuff for RSI sufferers.