Rsi in the arm?

[divegirl]

Hi, I seem to have suddenly developed a really bad pain in my upper arm. I now have trouble moving my arm, it hurts to touch my muscle and I can not lift my arm in to certain positions. I have recently started a new job that invlolves 8 hr shifts on the PC....could it be RSI? I really hope not as I need this job, but I haven't done anything to strain the muscle.

Lisa x

[boxtops]

RSI is more usually in the wrist from overuse of the mouse or keyboard but it could be further up the arm if you are not sitting correctly. You should be having a 5-min break every hour if you are constantly at the keyboard. Has your VDU station been risk-assessed for you?

[divegirl]

Hi, I'm working from home....so I'd have to do my own risk assesment lol. I do take breaks and have a stretch etc..... I'm really hoping I've just managed to pull a muscle as I can't work like this :O{ I've had carple tunnle many moons ago and that was just a general numbness....this hurts!!!!!

Lisa x

[divegirl]

'tunnel'

[jno]

RSI can be anywhere from your fingers up to your neck, really, so yes, it could be. But it might not. Just in case, check out the ergonomics as boxtops says: sit correctly, position chair, desk and screen correctly, and take regular breaks. RSI just gets worse if you ignore it and try to work through it.

[divegirl]

Thanks for your answers...... will sit nicely at the PC....lol

Lisa x

ps.....jno....my daughter is having a fantastic time in Oz!!!

[Buenchico]

Worth reading:
http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg36.pdf

Chris

[jno]

I'm not surprised, Lisa. Of course she could still be tobogganing here but I bet Melbourne's a bit warmer. Has she been to see the penguins yet?

[ninagreen]

I had a similar pain last year and had trouble lifting my arm above my shoulder. After many months of physiotherapy I was diagnosed with frozen shoulder. No one knows what causes it: it comes and goes just like that. Unfortunately the going can and often does take about 18 months. There are three phases: freezing, frozen and thawing. Hope this isn't what you have but it is worth getting it checked out.

[divegirl]

Thanks Chris, I'll look atthat tomorrow....the eyes are very tired atm!

Jno.....she's at a place called Rosebud atm, then off to Sydney.....she hasn't mentioned any penguins, but is off for her first bit of diving /snork tomorrow....she can't wait!

Lisa x

[carlton23]

I would see your GP, who will probably give you an Cortisone injection. I had this last week and now the pain has gone. A bit painful process but worth it.

[X-ray_pecs]

Tennis elbow would be my diagnosis.

[jno]

Rosebud's not far from Philip Island, where the penguins are, but they come onto the beach in the evening, so she may not get to see them. So off up the Sydney Harbour Bridge then...

[divegirl]

Lol.....never played tennis in my life ;O}

I'll give it a few days before I bother the GP...but thanks for the advice.

Jno....yep...off to Sydney....then off for a surprise???? Then back to Melbourne. The funniest thing is....it's about 21 degrees and she's loving it, but her cousins [whom she's staying with] keep telling her how cold it is!!!

[saxy_jag]

See your GP, explain your symptoms and don't take 'rest it' for an answer. The first GP I saw was a locum who tried to fob me off with this one, so my boss sent me to occupational health and then the company physio.

Turned out that I had Carpal Tunnel, which is a bit like RSI (but not the same), and I had to ask for the cortisone injection. The GP only did it then because it had been recommended by my physiotherapist. It made s*d all difference, though!

GP then referred me to the hospital where I had nerve tests, with a view to a simple op to cut the cartilage in my wrist, In the end, however, I didn't need that. I had several weeks off work with a nasty dose of flu, during which time the total rest proved all the cure needed.

I also have a good boss, who put me in touch with Access to Work via the Jobcentre. They sent a physio out to do a workplace assessment. She's recommended various options - a better chair, an ergonomic mouse and keyboard and some special software. My employers are currently putting all the recommendations in place and will get back half the cost in grant aid. My specialist seems to think that these measures will help prevent a recurrence of the problem.

[divegirl]

Thank you SJ...

lisa x

[jno]

I think that's right, saxy, rest is a great healer. But if she's working from home, I don't suppose a month off with flu is a great idea for Lisa. Physio and surgery may be options, but prveention is better than cure and looking after yourself is important.

Lisa, my sister's just moved from Sydney to Hertfordshire. All of a sudden she knows the meaning of cold!

[divegirl]

I bet she does....pretty chilly here in Essex tonight!!!!
Thanks for all of your help...off to bed now....rest my poor arm....

Lisa xxx

[Sqad]

Without further details it could be anything.

Google Supraspinatus tendonitis. and come back if it fits the bill.

[saxy_jag]

No, jno, I wouldn't recommend a dose of flue to anyone. It was the enforced rest which, fortunately, did the job. It's a very hard thing to take rest like that when you have to work with the equipment every day, though, and so surgery may be an option.

Lisa, have a look at some of the equipment here: http://www.online-ergonomics.co.uk/

As you'll see, some of it's pretty expensive, so I wouldn't recommend going out and buying what you think might be the answer - it may not be. But at least you'll know what's out there if you do need anything.

Until you get some professional advice, try to make sure your working posture is correct, chair heights/depths etc. set properly. You should also take frequent breaks from your PC every twenty minutes or so. Sit back and stretch, open your post, go a for a loo break, make yourself a drink or whatever. I was also advised to position my printer and phone such that I actually have to change position and leave my seat respectively in order to use them. Doesn't just help the CTS, but keeps your whole body healthier too.

[divegirl]

Hi sqad, I Googled your suggestion, but that's not it. The pain is in the muscle in my upper arm, the pain is there constantly, but is worse when I extend my arm etc, It feels like a badly pullled muscle but literally started when I watching the tv the other night.

Lisa x