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Repetitive Stress Injuries
Carpal Tunnel
Syndrome, while being the most common,
is only one type of Repetitive Stress Injury. There are three
basic categories of RSI:
-
Repetitive
Stress Injuries involving nerves: Carpal Tunnel
Syndrome, thoracic outlet syndrome, ulnar nerve compression
at the elbow and wrist
-
Repetitive
Stress Injuries involving tendons, muscles and soft
tissues: bursitis, myositis, rotator cuff tendinitis, tendinitis
including "tennis elbow" ganglion cysts, DeQuervain's disease
and trigger finger.
-
Repetitive
Stress Injuries involving the vascular (blood vessel)
system: Raynaud's syndrome and thoracic outlet syndrome.
The following
charts summarize the most common types of RSI and
their symptoms.
|
Bursitis |
|
Other Names |
|
|
Primary Area Affected |
Shoulder, Elbow |
|
Type |
Connective tissue |
|
Symptoms |
Grinding sensation, Pain or irritation, Restricted
motion. |
|
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome |
|
Other Names |
CTS, writer's cramp, occupational
neuritis, partial thenar atrophy, median neuritis |
|
Primary Area Affected |
Wrist & hand |
|
Type |
Nerve |
|
Symptoms |
Tingling, pain or numbness in the area of the hand
served by the median nerve-- the thumb, the pointing finger, the
middle finger and the half of the ring finger closest to the middle
finger. Sensations also occur in the palm and back of the hand. In
more advanced CTS, the pain can be excruciating. Symptoms often are
more severe during sleep.
Loss of sensation, notably a feeling of clumsiness
and loss of sensitivity to hot and cold. |
|
Ganglion
Cyst |
|
Other Names |
Bible bump |
|
Primary Area Affected |
Wrist |
|
Type |
Connective tissue |
|
Symptoms |
Bump or concentrated swelling. |
|
Golfer's
elbow (Medial epicondylitis) |
|
Other Names |
Tendinitis |
|
Primary Area Affected |
Inside of the elbow |
|
Type |
Connective tissue |
|
Symptoms |
Pain or irritation on the inside of the
elbow, often radiating down the arm. |
|
Myositis |
|
Other Names |
Muscle inflammation |
|
Primary Area Affected |
Arm |
|
Type |
Muscle |
|
Symptoms |
Aching, tiredness. |
|
Raynaud's
syndrome |
|
Other Names |
Raynaud's phenomenon, Raynaud's
disease, Vibration syndrome |
|
Primary Area Affected |
Hands and fingers |
|
Type |
Vascular |
|
Symptoms |
Unusual sensitivity to cold
Pale white or blue hands, particularly following
exposure to cold
Occasional tingling or numbness. Can lead to loss of
sensation & control |
|
Rotator
cuff tendinitis |
|
Other Names |
Superspinatus, tendinitis, subdeltoid
bursitis, subscromial bursitis, partial tear of the rotator cuff |
|
Primary Area Affected |
Shoulder |
|
Typ |
Connective tissue |
|
Symptoms |
Pain, sometimes intense, or irritation
in the shoulder. |
|
Tennis
elbow (Lateral epicondylitis) |
|
Other Names |
Tendinitis, bowler's elbow, pitcher's
elbow |
|
Primary Area Affected |
Outside of the elbow |
|
Type |
Connective tissue |
|
Symptoms |
Pain or irritation on the outside of
the elbow, often radiating down the forearm. |
|
Tenosynovitis |
|
Other Names |
Tendosynovitis, tendovaginitis,
tenovaginitis, peritendinitis |
|
Primary Area Affected |
Any tendon |
|
Type |
Connective tissue |
|
Symptoms |
Pain or irritation, particularly while using the hand
or arm
Swelling can occur. |
|
Stenosing
tenosynovitis |
|
Other Names |
|
|
Primary Area Affected |
Any tendon |
|
Type |
Connective tissue |
|
Symptoms |
Pain or irritation
Can result in uneven movement of fingers (see Trigger
finger). |
|
De
Quervain's Disease |
|
Other Names |
De Quervain's syndrome, De Quervain's
disorder |
|
Primary Area Affected |
Side and base of thumb |
|
Type |
Connective tissue |
|
Symptoms |
Aching in affected area.
Weakness in thumb.
Loss of muscle tone (muscle atrophy). |
|
Trigger
finger |
|
Other Names |
Stenosing tenosynovitis crepitans |
|
Primary Area Affected |
Forearm |
|
Type |
Connective tissue |
|
Symptoms |
Pain in the forearm or wrist.
Snapping or jerking movement of one or more fingers.
Rattling or crackling sound in hands or wrists. |
|
Tendinitis |
|
Other Names |
Tendonitis |
|
Primary Area Affected |
Forearm, elbow, shoulder |
|
Type |
Connective tissue |
|
Symptoms |
Pain or irritation, particularly while
using the hand or arm. |
|
Thoracic
outlet syndrome |
|
Other Names |
Neurovascular compression syndrome,
hyperabduction syndrome, cervicobrachial disorder, brachial plexus
neuritis, costoclavicular syndrome |
|
Primary Area Affected |
Shoulder, arm, hand |
|
Type |
Neurovascular |
|
Symptoms |
Tingling and/or numbness in the fingers and hands.
Weak hands.
Atrophying muscles in the hand.
Pale or bluish hands (as in Raynaud's syndrome).
Arm pain.
Chronic tired arms. |
|
Ulnar
nerve compression at the elbow |
|
Other Names |
Cubital tunnel syndrome, cubital outlet
syndrome, cubital canal syndrome, beer drinker's arm, telephone
operator's arm |
|
Primary Area Affected |
Elbow, forearm, hands |
|
Type |
Nerve |
|
Symptoms |
Tingling, pain or numbness in the area served by the
ulnar nerve, particularly the little finger and the half of the ring
finger closest to the little finger, as well as on the ulnar side of
the hand and forearm. (The ulnar side is where the little finger
is.) The sensation can be more severe at night.
Hand weakness. |
|
Ulnar
nerve entrapment at the wrist |
|
Other Names |
Guyon's canal syndrome, Guyon's tunnel
syndrome |
|
Primary Area Affected |
Wrist & hand |
|
Type |
Nerve |
|
Symptoms |
Decreased hand strength |
What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
How serious is the Carpal Tunnel
Syndrome problem?
Are Working Women more at risk for
developing CTS than Male Workers?
Basic 4 Step Procedure for
diagnosing CTS and other RSI
What alternative methods are
available to treat CTS and other RSI?
Can employers prevent their
employees from developing CTS and other RSI?
What forces are preventing Carpal
Tunnel Syndrome victims from exercising their right to receive Workers
Compensation benefits?
What are the "dangers" of
processing Carpal Tunnel Syndrome related medical bills through group
health insurance?
Frequently Asked Questions
about Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
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