Customer Reviews

It's Not Carpal Tunnel Syndrome!: RSI Theory and Therapy for Computer Professionals

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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.

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!

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.

As a computer professional for the last 15 years or so I have come to understand, first hand, the concepts presented in this book. Presented here is a method to repair and prevent damage caused by repetitive strain injuries in the work place that involves no drugs or surgery! This book is a must read for anyone who works with computers on a regular basis, whether they are currently feeling painful symptoms or not. The simple stretching and ergonomic suggestions in the book will help keep the strain injuries away, and the comprehensive diagrams for self administering many of the muscle based massage technics can be quite helpful to those with pain who do not have the time for regular Physical Therapy visits for similar or even less effective treatments. Once the pain is gone, the previous ergonomic and stretching methods can be used to help keep one relatively pain free depending. of course on one's future vigilance. As someone who relies solidly on my hands and ability to perform detailed work each day for my profession and my hobbies, this book is a godsend. When my own painful symptoms began appearing, my fears of surgery and possible loss of mobility were left behind by this new method to resolve problems that many computer users face. To go one step even further, It's Not Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is written in language that does not require a medical degree to understand and gain benefit from it. Did I mention that no surgery is involved? :) All in all an excellent resource.

When I was managing a software development group, a programmer on the team showed up at work one day with wrist braces. Turns out typing had become agony for him. He read this book, then diligently and conscientiously followed some of the recommended practices (strength training, yoga, serious workplace ergonomic changes). The wrist braces are gone, and his career has been saved.

You can't fix anything just by reading a book. You *can* fix things when you understand the problem and have some ways to combat it. This book can give you both.

I got this great book as the result of a suggestion by a doctor. I was doing my internship to become a court reporter and sat in on her deposition as an expert witness. When she saw both the court reporter and me twisting our wrists during pauses in the deposition, she said, "There's a book you need to read, called 'It's Not Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.' I had found myself in the very scary situation of having put almost five years into learning the very difficult skill of court reporting and was getting very close to the speed level necessary to pass the rigorous speed test to get my license when I awoke one morning with my left arm feeling terribly weak and sprained. I had heard all the horror stories at school about students having to drop out of school just as they were getting ready to finish because of carpal tunnel syndrome. I thought my career had ended before it had even begun. Now that I have read this well-written and practical book, I know what I have to do now and for the rest of my career to stay healthy and "writing." There are also many great resources listed in the book and recommendations for products that may be helpful. Stamp out fear! Get this book and get moving!

Damany and Bellis' work is distinguished from all other RSI books in three ways which make it indispensable:

1. It takes a stand on the nature of RSI - i.e., that it's an entire upper body problem - and supports that view with lucid explanations.
2. It relates the only published, detailed case of an RSI sufferer who found great value in a mind-body approach.
3. It describes the only physical therapy approach that has provided consistent results.

Few practitioners have any long term success stories, let alone consistent success. Every one of Damany's patients has improved significantly in a matter of months. The expertise behind her phenomenal success is conveyed in this outstanding book.

This is a very good book on RSI. It's not a great one because I don't think anyone is capable of writing a great one at this point in the study of RSI theory, treatment, and strategies. Here are the four issues I would say to keep in mind as you read this book--not before, since they won't make much sense.

1. One coauthor had unsuccessful carpal tunnel surgery; this doesn't mean that carpal tunnel surgery cannot be successful. I had three operations on one arm at one time--each site related to RSI. It worked. I was lucky to have one of the best neurosurgeons in the world, however.

2. If you read through the book carefully, there is no claim that RSI is 100% curable for any particular person. I believe that's true. Don't get your hopes up to the level where you assume it will be so, although don't be pessimistic either.

3. There is mention of the mind-body connection and even of the personality type more prone to RSI, but this is not dealt with in great length, and I believe, having had the ups and downs of this problem for five years, that there is a very strong emotional component to it--not that the physical aspect is illusory but each should operate hand in hand so to speak.

4. This book and Pascarelli's should be read together since they complement one another. However, one thing is clear. Employers and the medical profession are not keen on dealing with your complaints--the latter because medicine is so specialized that the many aspects of RSI really require a team of professionals for therapy. The former because with all the talk of accommodation in the workplace, unless you have a very understanding employer or are sleeping with him/her or blackmailing him/her, she/he can't deal with the 'fuzziness' of an RSI diagnosis. Their job is to make money for the company, and so is the human resource office.

More about the 'team effort' to heal your problem--to whit, can you afford a team? Do you have time for a team? Do you want your entire life to be drawn into the project of healing your RSI with no guarantee it will work? It sounds like a dreary, unsatisfying life to me. And it was for me when I tried to deal with the maze of complications of RSI: nerves, muscles, life style, mental attitude, symptoms, inexplicable improvement and exacerbations.

My advice: read this book; read Pascarelli's. Learn about trigger point therapy. Find one or two GOOD doctors/health practitioners. Most will not be good for the aforementioned reasons. Just as important find or become your own spiritual advisor. As I mentioned I had three operations for RSI on my dominant hand about a year ago. I'm typing at the moment. It was definitely one of the interventions that helped. But from there on in, your on your own. You may get treatment and suggestions but I think you must become your own advocate--don't expect others to have the answers. Your particular malady will probably be different from anyone else's.

This book is excellent! As a long time RSI sufferer, I found this book to be a great source of information and hope. It is very well written, and it is clear that the authors have an extremely thorough understanding of repetitive strain injuries. The book describes a theory of how RSI develops, and how it can be treated most effectively. I also learned quite a bit from the case studies of six RSI patients, and was heartened by their successful recovery. Most importantly, the authors outline a very practical and understandable treatment approach. I am now following this suggested treatment, and am very optimistic that I will recover from my four-year battle with RSI. If you have a computer-related injury, I recommend that you buy this book now!

This is the most credible of the half dozen or so books I've read on the subject. I've read Pascarelli/Quilter, Kate Montgomery, Pete Egoscue, Sharon Butler, John Sarno, and others, and have gotten something useful from each of them, but as other reviewers say, if I could recommend only one book, this would be the one. The book has the advantage of being second-generation, looking back at the literature that came before, and it uses that advantage very wisely. You couldn't characterize it as a "doctors blandly dishing up what little is known by medical science" sort of book, nor would you characterize it as a "self-appointed alternative-medicine gurus taking potshots at doctors while recommending Vitamin B6" sort of book, either. It's a skillful synthesis of the most believable of what is known about the cause and treatment of RSIs, and it treats the reader as an intelligent collaborator.