This guide offers computer users who suffer from repetitive strain injury (RSI) an effective program for self-care. It explains the symptoms, prevention, and treatment of RSIs and also addresses the often-overlooked root causes of RSIs. This holistic program treats the entire upper body with ergonomics, exercise, and hands-on therapy, increasing the likelihood that surgery and drugs may be avoided.
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About the Author
Suparna Damany, MSPT, is a certified hand therapist and certified ergonomic assessment specialist. She lives in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Jack Bell is a journalist and the author of Computers Stink. He lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
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179 of 182 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
When I whipped up a quick Web page for our Engineering College students about Repetitive Strain Injury back in 1994... at first there was only one book on it: Pascarelli and Quilter's "Repetitive Strain Injury". Over time I read more books, heard from other people about still others, and the book list and Web page kept getting longer. Today it's pretty big and with so many books listed the question I ask myself is "what would a new book on RSI have to be like for me to add it to all the stuff that's already out there?"
I got the answer to that when I read "It's Not Carpal Tunnel Syndrome! RSI Theory and Therapy for Computer Professionals", by Suparna Damany, MSPT and Jack Bellis. This book easily makes the "must read" category: in fact, in my opinion it makes it to the "if-you-only-get-one-book-on-RSI- get-this-one" category, although I don't think anything totally bumps Pascarelli and Quilter out of the number one spot. What I've said of P&Q, I say of this book: every computer professional needs to read it.
What's so great, other than the intriguing title? To begin, this book is a "second generation" work on RSI. That is, it draws on the literature, experiences, and discussions of patients and health care professionals who have been dealing with computer-related injuries over the past decade. As I read it I felt like I had a summation of almost everything I've ever read on the SOREHAND e-mail list regarding causes, symptoms, treatment, and prevention, edited and well-presented in 230 pages. The authors' sources are discussed and presented *within the main text of the book* instead of in an appendix: and the authors' boldness in their convictions and suggestions is balanced by their strong encouragement to consult these other sources. Much of earlier RSI discussion and literature has tended to be cautious about ascribing causes and prescribing remedies, on the basis that people differ in their physiques, environment, activities, etc. Damany and Bellis shake off this caution, pointing out that there is so much that serious computer users have in common that distracting people with incipient RSI with too many options, some of them unlikely, may delay the action that needs to be taken. They do urge professional medical intervention for people with stage 2 RSI (defined in their book) but say that people with any trouble can immediately start addressing the root causes and draw from what has been learned to be true of the great majority of RSI sufferers.
Damany and Bellis are candid: they speak of "our theory" of RSI and instead of standing on authority are clear that what they present is how they believe RSI happens. They have done an excellent job at distinguishing root causes ; initial results; secondary results that become causes; and ultimate results in the painful circle of cumulative trauma injuries. They point out how discussions dealing with RSI, and treatment approaches to it, frequently are sidetracked by focussing on things that are results and symptoms instead of true causes.
Having read a lot of RSI literature I'm also aware that effectively presenting the welter of information - human anatomy, injury processes, diagnoses, therapies, prevention, ergonomics, exercises/stretches, lifestyle issues, etc. - is a daunting challenge. I think some people well versed in this subject area might be surprised how far into the book some "common" information is ultimately presented. Workstation ergonomic recommendations are fully dealt with only at page 193. However, on balance I think the authors have put the information in about as good a sequence as one could hope to have. Additionally, the writing style is personable, direct, and engaging.
Not only did this book make a good impression on somebody who's "read it all before"; I did learn new things. Not the least significant is that the shoulder and upper back problems that became serious for me only in the last year (over 5 years from my first encounter with RSI) are not unusual and in some ways are foundational to the whole RSI picture. Now, Pascarelli and Quilter's book DID prominently feature shoulder/back exercises as important for recovery and prevention: I just didn't think it was that important. I got past my "forearm tendonitis" to essentially being pain-free and functional .. . but the other upper-body weaknesses were lying in wait, and increased guitar playing brought on a whole raft of new symptoms (like hand numbness) that I had never experienced during my earlier, painful experiences. Damany and Bellis' emphasis and explanation of these particular issues completely align with what my doctor and physical therapist asserted when they sucessfully treated me for these new problems.
I think this up-to-date work really does cover it all. Well illustrated, to the point, firm in recommendations, it's hard for me to think of a better "starting point" for any "newbie" with RSI symptoms.
104 of 105 people found the following review helpful
By birdie
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I have been putting off writing my review because I have so much to say and in the meantime my hands are not yet a hundred percent. BUT it is thanks to this book (in conjunction with THE TRIGGERPOINT THERAPY WORKBOOK, which I found later) that I am not disabled today. The doctors I went to were not only shockingly unkind but dangerously misinformed...so I feel it is my duty to pass the info. on ASAP and I will revise this review later.
It's Not Carpal Tunnel Syndrome! is the very best book out there dealing exclusively with repetitive strain injuries. What is great about this book is that it alerts you to the potential severity of the problem without terrifying you - it puts the time frame for healing easily at 6 months and possibly longer. Until I read this book, I had NO idea what was going on.
It offers charts to help you determine if you are a 1st degree, 2nd degree, or 3rd degree sufferer. It divides injuries into two basic categories: muscular and nerve. I would like to add that in my case there was also ligament injury, which was not discussed in this book. It also profiles the personality type that can become more vulnerable to this kind of an injury: perfectionist, obsessive, passionate about work.
My advice is that when it comes to books about this topic, read ABOUT them all carefully and then get all of the ones you need -even if you have to put them on a credit card, your HANDS are at stake! That being said, if you could only get two books this should definitely be one of them. Thank you so much Suparna Damany and Jack Bellis for illuminating this mysterious problem and analyzing it from a new angle.
Other Books I used and that you must look into to get a clear picture:
THE TRIGGER POINT THERAPY WORKBOOK by Clair Davies. Okay, finding IT was basically a miracle, because it provided the missing piece that NONE of the other books on RSI really explore. It is the only book that helped me even more than It's not Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. I won't describe it here but the look inside this book feature on Amazon allows one to read the introduction. Basically, Suparna Damany and Jack Bellis got me through the first half of the healing process, and Clair Davies got me though the second half.
COMPLETE GUIDE TO REPETITIVE STRAIN INJURY by Emil Pascarelli: informative but terrifying, only read it AFTER you've read the others to better understand the dangers. But know this: braces can occasionally cause great damage, and a condition called RSD (Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy) and Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS). Unlikely but horrific and important to be aware of so if the symptoms show up you can do something about it.
CONQUERING CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME by Sharon J. Butler: very nice exercises that seem to help a lot of people (though I was too injured by the time I found this book). Sharon Butler also has an online book dealing with DeQuervain's (a thumb injury) which was good and the only book out there specifically about this particular injury.
THE CARPAL TUNNEL HELPBOOK by Dr. Scott M. Fried: if you suspect nerve damage, this book is very encouraging about your prospects for recovery - and is the only book I found to deal exclusively with nerve issues. Also gave me the idea to just buy my own paraffin unit rather than pay for physical therapy every week.
FREE YOUR BREATH, FREE YOUR LIFE by Daniel Lewis.
LIGAMENT HEALING by William Weintraub.
FINALLY: PRISCILLA'S YOGA STRETCHES is an incredible TV program I discovered that comes on at 5:30am weekday mornings in my area on one of the PBS stations (apparently Priscilla Patrick has had exercise programs on PBS since 1980). Supposedly it is shown or can be requested all around the U.S., and it too played a critical role in helping me to heal and also maintain- better than any exercise class I've ever taken. Her videos can also be ordered (I plan to get the one called Stretch and De-Stress which targets neck, back, arms, shoulders) but I have not done so yet because with the TV show it's not really necessary.
Well, good luck and please, please, please get ALL the information you need to avert a potential disaster! Go sit in Barnes & Noble and look through these books if you're not ready to buy. But save yourself NOW. Also don't fall into despair! I was messed up for well over a year but once I had the right info I healed quite quickly! Without the work of all these amazing people I don't want to know where I'd be.
March 25, 2010: My comment below contains additional information I now feel is important, so please read if you're interested!
It's Not Carpal Tunnel Syndrome! is the very best book out there dealing exclusively with repetitive strain injuries. What is great about this book is that it alerts you to the potential severity of the problem without terrifying you - it puts the time frame for healing easily at 6 months and possibly longer. Until I read this book, I had NO idea what was going on.
It offers charts to help you determine if you are a 1st degree, 2nd degree, or 3rd degree sufferer. It divides injuries into two basic categories: muscular and nerve. I would like to add that in my case there was also ligament injury, which was not discussed in this book. It also profiles the personality type that can become more vulnerable to this kind of an injury: perfectionist, obsessive, passionate about work.
My advice is that when it comes to books about this topic, read ABOUT them all carefully and then get all of the ones you need -even if you have to put them on a credit card, your HANDS are at stake! That being said, if you could only get two books this should definitely be one of them. Thank you so much Suparna Damany and Jack Bellis for illuminating this mysterious problem and analyzing it from a new angle.
Other Books I used and that you must look into to get a clear picture:
THE TRIGGER POINT THERAPY WORKBOOK by Clair Davies. Okay, finding IT was basically a miracle, because it provided the missing piece that NONE of the other books on RSI really explore. It is the only book that helped me even more than It's not Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. I won't describe it here but the look inside this book feature on Amazon allows one to read the introduction. Basically, Suparna Damany and Jack Bellis got me through the first half of the healing process, and Clair Davies got me though the second half.
COMPLETE GUIDE TO REPETITIVE STRAIN INJURY by Emil Pascarelli: informative but terrifying, only read it AFTER you've read the others to better understand the dangers. But know this: braces can occasionally cause great damage, and a condition called RSD (Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy) and Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS). Unlikely but horrific and important to be aware of so if the symptoms show up you can do something about it.
CONQUERING CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME by Sharon J. Butler: very nice exercises that seem to help a lot of people (though I was too injured by the time I found this book). Sharon Butler also has an online book dealing with DeQuervain's (a thumb injury) which was good and the only book out there specifically about this particular injury.
THE CARPAL TUNNEL HELPBOOK by Dr. Scott M. Fried: if you suspect nerve damage, this book is very encouraging about your prospects for recovery - and is the only book I found to deal exclusively with nerve issues. Also gave me the idea to just buy my own paraffin unit rather than pay for physical therapy every week.
FREE YOUR BREATH, FREE YOUR LIFE by Daniel Lewis.
LIGAMENT HEALING by William Weintraub.
FINALLY: PRISCILLA'S YOGA STRETCHES is an incredible TV program I discovered that comes on at 5:30am weekday mornings in my area on one of the PBS stations (apparently Priscilla Patrick has had exercise programs on PBS since 1980). Supposedly it is shown or can be requested all around the U.S., and it too played a critical role in helping me to heal and also maintain- better than any exercise class I've ever taken. Her videos can also be ordered (I plan to get the one called Stretch and De-Stress which targets neck, back, arms, shoulders) but I have not done so yet because with the TV show it's not really necessary.
Well, good luck and please, please, please get ALL the information you need to avert a potential disaster! Go sit in Barnes & Noble and look through these books if you're not ready to buy. But save yourself NOW. Also don't fall into despair! I was messed up for well over a year but once I had the right info I healed quite quickly! Without the work of all these amazing people I don't want to know where I'd be.
March 25, 2010: My comment below contains additional information I now feel is important, so please read if you're interested!
53 of 56 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
If you suffer, like me, from a RSI, namely from PC overuse (although there's a lot of ways of acquiring this illnes, like knitting, playing golf, tennis or other repetitive motion) this is the book for you.
There are many books out there, and although I have not read them all, I have researched a lot about this illness and this is one of the best books to get. Filled with information about Computer acquired RSI, the authors go through every major detail about the illness: Posture, genetics, diet, work habits, ergonomic workstations, you name it, they have researched a lot.
Then book features a direct and easy language, nice B/W illustrations, and many sites for research all over the Web, which you can use to further your knowledge about RSI.
This book doesn't feature too many excersices, it is mainly informative, and the authors just give a few pointers and encourage the reader to find professional help.
Now the negative: There are a couple of things I did find somwhat odd in this book. After describing and defining RSI, and documenting how missunderstood this illness is by the medical community, they jump into their major recommendation: Go to a doctor and get a proffessional opinion. Well then you have to find a doctor versed in RSI, and not one that only want to operate, like they did on the many cases described in the book.
Second, I actually found a little offensive. They are quick to dissmiss any form of alternative therapy such as herbs, taking vitamn B6, homeophaty or even acupuncture regarding them as 'new agey' and not worth trying. To the mainstream or regular medical community, massages and physcal therapy like the authors suggest are also alternative. I have personally combined exercises with acupuncture and healthy eating habits plus suplemments, with good results.
In all, a great resource book, not many excersices but a lot of info, and we all know the best tool against any illness is information.
Buy it along with Conquering Carpal Tunnel Syndrome : And Other Repetitive Strain Injuries by Sharon J. Butler and begin your journey towards recovery.
Peace and Health to you.
There are many books out there, and although I have not read them all, I have researched a lot about this illness and this is one of the best books to get. Filled with information about Computer acquired RSI, the authors go through every major detail about the illness: Posture, genetics, diet, work habits, ergonomic workstations, you name it, they have researched a lot.
Then book features a direct and easy language, nice B/W illustrations, and many sites for research all over the Web, which you can use to further your knowledge about RSI.
This book doesn't feature too many excersices, it is mainly informative, and the authors just give a few pointers and encourage the reader to find professional help.
Now the negative: There are a couple of things I did find somwhat odd in this book. After describing and defining RSI, and documenting how missunderstood this illness is by the medical community, they jump into their major recommendation: Go to a doctor and get a proffessional opinion. Well then you have to find a doctor versed in RSI, and not one that only want to operate, like they did on the many cases described in the book.
Second, I actually found a little offensive. They are quick to dissmiss any form of alternative therapy such as herbs, taking vitamn B6, homeophaty or even acupuncture regarding them as 'new agey' and not worth trying. To the mainstream or regular medical community, massages and physcal therapy like the authors suggest are also alternative. I have personally combined exercises with acupuncture and healthy eating habits plus suplemments, with good results.
In all, a great resource book, not many excersices but a lot of info, and we all know the best tool against any illness is information.
Buy it along with Conquering Carpal Tunnel Syndrome : And Other Repetitive Strain Injuries by Sharon J. Butler and begin your journey towards recovery.
Peace and Health to you.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very Helpful
This book helped me realize that I should not listen to the worker comp doctor! If you have a condition caused by repetitive motion, I highly recommend this book, to better take... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Margo Clark
3.0 out of 5 stars
Not that useful
Although I think the authors are right on target that repetitive stress injury is a complex neuromuscular syndrome, not just carpal tunnel, I didn't find the suggestions to be very... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Riverbox45
1.0 out of 5 stars
Great book if you hate science
I should know better- any time a book has a negative title, that's a red flag for me.
Instead of 'It's not carpal tunnel" , something about what it IS then, might be a... Read more
Instead of 'It's not carpal tunnel" , something about what it IS then, might be a... Read more
Published 4 months ago by BookNerd
5.0 out of 5 stars
Just another stretching exercise regime, but with explanations on why...
I read this book like it was a Ludlum thriller; Finished it in just 2 days over the week-end.
The authors are a unique pair; A writer who tried various treatments for... Read more
The authors are a unique pair; A writer who tried various treatments for... Read more
Published 9 months ago by Diwakar N Tundlam
5.0 out of 5 stars
So far, so good...
I was diagnosed with carpal tunnel and an ulnar neuropathy due to a workplace injury over a year ago. Read more
Published 11 months ago by L. Ritscher
2.0 out of 5 stars
No substitute for medical evaluation
I ordered this book when I was having pain in my hands when working on the computer as part of my daily work. It was not very useful. Read more
Published 15 months ago by dandlyons
5.0 out of 5 stars
paulmart
this book is an eye opener, i am so glad i did some research and bought this book. i have found that the information in this book has probably saved me from some very serious... Read more
Published 17 months ago by Paul
5.0 out of 5 stars
It wasn't carpal tunnel
"It's not carpal tunnel syndrome!"
I have been complaining for years to my doctor about pain and numbness in my hands. Read more
I have been complaining for years to my doctor about pain and numbness in my hands. Read more
Published 23 months ago by michael
5.0 out of 5 stars
Helps put the pieces together.
I have been through exercise therapy, stretching, deep tissue and trigger point massage for two years, but, prior to this reading, hadn't really understood what was going on in my... Read more
Published 24 months ago by Bruce Norris
5.0 out of 5 stars
RSI
Wonderful book written w/ compassion. I read it cover to cover. Highly recommended.
I only wish they would discuss how to deal w/ workers comp or disability issues.
I only wish they would discuss how to deal w/ workers comp or disability issues.
Published on March 23, 2011 by Chana
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