Constant hand, wrist or arm pain can result from repetitive daily movements, often associated with using a computer keyboard, or mouse, constant text messaging, or other repetitive movements that tend to use the fingers or wrists in the same direction over and over again. This is known as repetitive strain injury (RSI), or cumulative trauma disorder (CTD).
Site of injury
Damage to muscles, tendons, and nerves in the hand, forearm, shoulder, and neck can cause pain, weakness, numbness, and disruption of motor control to the muscles. Abrasions to tendons, and inflammation can lead to compression of nerves. The result of this on the nerves can be numbness, tingling, pain, and weakness.
Occupational activities that can lead to RSI of the back include frequent bending and twisting, sitting for extended periods of time, which can effect the neck, wrist, elbow and shoulder. There are a number of conditions that are classified as RSI such as carpal tunnel syndrome (common among guitarists), which can manifest together and can be considered just one disorder. Most have a common link with dysfunction of the joints and muscles of the upper back.
Risk Factors
There are a number of risk factors including poor posture, lack of exercise, infrequent breaks, unhealthy life style, dehydration, lazy technique, and poor work environment.
Other related conditions
Carpal tunnel syndrome, include Cubital tunnel syndrome (entrapment of the ulnar nerve), Stenosing tenosynovitis, DeQuervain’s syndrome, Trigger finger/thumb, Golfer’s elbow, Tennis elbow, Tendonitis, Tenosynovitis, Thoracic Outlet syndrome (TSO), Radial tunnel syndrome, Gamekeeper’s thumb, Intersection syndrome.
Healing ganglion
A ganglion is a swelling of fluid around a tendon sheath in the hand, wrist or foot. The fluid comes from either the tendon or a nearby joint that has a tear on the inner lining of the joint, and is called synovial fluid. Unlike RSI this type of injury occurs as a minor acute trauma.
Ganglions are notoriously difficult to treat and without surgery, and even with surgery there at least a 20% chance of recurrence. Doctor of Chiropractic Leom Woodal D.C has had successful outcomes with non invasive strategy for shrinking ganglions so that they naturally heal over a period of weeks without returning.
London Chiropractors have help hundreds of people with these kinds of conditions, depending on the degree of injury, we may be able to help.
