Can you get repetitive strain injury in your hand?
Repetitive strain injury (RSI) is the aches and pain in your body caused by repetitive movements or poor posture while doing certain activities (including work). It’s also called occupational overuse injury and overuse syndrome. RSI mainly affects your wrists and hands.
What are the symptoms of RSI in hands?
RSI: Repetitive Strain Injury
- Burning, aching, or shooting pain.
- Tremors and numbness.
- Weakness in the hands or forearms. It is often difficult to perform even simple tasks.
- Difficulty with normal activities like opening doors, chopping vegetables, turning on a tap.
- Chronically cold hands, particularly the fingertips.
What helps repetitive strain in hand?
Treatment options
- medication – including paracetamol, short-term use of anti-inflammatory medicines, such as ibuprofen, or pain receptor-blocking medications, such as some forms of antidepressants, if you’re getting severe symptoms or interrupted sleep.
- cold packs, elastic supports or a splint.
How long does it take for repetitive strain injury to heal?
Repetitive strain injury (RSI) may heal within a few weeks to six months (depending on the severity) by following the necessary precautions and available medical treatment. In some patients, the RSI symptoms may develop into a long-term, chronic condition.
What is the difference between carpal tunnel syndrome and repetitive strain injury?
Although both conditions affect your arms and do share some symptoms, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) specifically is caused by pressure on the median nerve in your wrist specifically whereas Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) can affect nerves, muscles and tendons.
What is the most common repetitive motion injury?
Q: What types of repetitive strain injuries are most common? A: Tendonitis, an inflammation of the tendons, is the most common repetitive use injury we treat. Tendons connect muscle to bones, and they can be inflamed or injured along their course by repetitive movements.
Is Repetitive Strain Injury permanent?
If it goes untreated, RSI can lead to permanent damage. If you work at a computer or use machinery where you repeat the same small hand and arm movements over long periods, you can develop the symptoms of RSI.
Which condition is a repetitive motion injury affecting the hands?
A common repetitive motion injury is carpal tunnel syndrome. This disorder occurs when the median nerve, which travels from the forearm to the hand through a “tunnel” in the wrist, is compressed by swollen, inflamed ligaments and tendons.
Is RSI a disability?
RSI is classed as a disability. This means if you’re still working, your employer must make reasonable adjustments while you’re at work. If they don’t and you’re left with no alternative but to leave work, you may be able to make a separate claim for unfair dismissal.
What is repetitive stress injury?
Repetitive stress injury: An injury that occurs due to recurrent overuse or improper use. One of the best-known repetitive stress injuries is carpal tunnel syndrome, which often results from the trauma of highly repetitive work such as that of supermarket checkers, assembly-line workers, typists, word processors, accountants, and writers.
What are the symptoms of a wrist strain?
Pain in the wrist which may develop gradually or suddenly.