Hello,
I did post this thread but it's gone so I am re-posting this.
I would like to get some advise about RSI (Repetitive Strain Injury).
Is there any self-treatments anyone recommends? (apart from doing self-masasge and epsom salt bath.)
What essential oils are good for this?
starlight
RE: RSI self-treatment
Hi Starlight and welcome to HP. There are several essential oils that can bring relief to the condition. They can be grouped as follows -
Peppermint/Eucalyptus
Ginger/Black Pepper
Chamomile
Assuming you are not pregnant, epileptic or have high blood pressure, take three drops from each group and add to 20mls of carrier oil or lotion and massage into area 2-3 times per day.
Valerie Wormwood's book, The Fragrant Pharmacy goes into a lot of detail for RSI and differentiates between tenosynovitis, tendinitis, ganglion, writers cramp, tennis elbow. bursitis and torticollis and has different formulas for all these conditions, so if you have a diagnosis on your particular condition, it may well be worth looking at this, or let me know and I can pass it on to you. Bear in mind though, that her formulations are often considered quite strong and essential oils are probably better started off at half the strength of the ones she gives.
Hope this helps.
Lesley
RE: RSI self-treatment
Thank you for the pointer Aromababe.
I have been massaging my arm everyday and it is much better at the moment.
But I will try the combination you mentioned.
starlight
RE: RSI self-treatment
It's typical in cases of RSI of the wrist ( I'm assuming ) that there is stiffnes in the elbow underlying the problem, which forces overuse of the wrist as a means of compensating for this.
Manipulting the radio-humeral joint ( the usual culprit) would go a long way to improving this & take some of the extra strain on the wrist, although I don't know how you'd do this yourself.
What I'm saying is probably what you've already realised - is that rubbing the sore bit probably isn't going to solve the problem, which may be that it's not a local issue. From a soft tissue point of view - having a dig in the deep tissues anterior & distal to the elbow may start to relieve it - especially if they're tight & hurt like hell. [:@]
Also, consider using your mouse (if your mouse wrist is the prob) with your other hand. From how the keyboard is layed out (extra digits on the right) - it makes more sense from an ergonomic point of view to use your mouse with the left hand. You can swap the buttons over in Control Panel making it easier for the brain to adapt. Not as hard as you might think to adapt to this & it's good for the old grey matter. 😮
That's assuming a lot I know just an idea - I'm right handed & use a right handed mouse layout with left hand & with a gel wrist support. Also, have no probs using other PC's with right hand.
RE: RSI self-treatment
Hi
I had RSI about 8 years ago and was off work for a few months with it, so know how you feel. Aromababe and Anahata are right, with the advise they give as these both helped me. Mine has started to come back again over the past couple of weeks.
Make sure you find out what has caused the problem - ie using a mouse and pc etc, and try to sort this problem out first. Ie do a workstation assessment (make sure you monitor is in front of you and at the correct height etc, as sometimes it comes from the back down the arm.
Also do a few stretching exercises throughout the day - the best one to do is to stretch the fingers back to stretch the tendons in the wrist.
Calmspirits