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Repetitive strain injury (RSI) also known as repetitive stress injury or overuse syndrome refers to overstraining and damage to muscles, tendons, nerves over a period of time. It results from overuse and repetitive motions of a particular body part for a long time period. These are also known by other names including cumulative trauma disorders and repetitive motion disorders. These can arise from various kinds of repetitive activities for prolonged time periods like typing work, playing some sport like tennis, use of specific tools by construction workers, use of vibrating tools, knitting and playing some musical instrument like piano, violin etc. Not all people doing the above activities suffer from RSI but these activities make them prone to develop RSI over a period of time. RSI may also occur from lifting heavy weights, being in the same posture or wrong posture for long time periods. Besides the above, the risk of RSI enhances as a person gets aged. Women are more affected by it as compared to males. Smoking, drinking alcohol, diabetes, and being overweight are some of the factors that make a person prone to RSI. Though any of the body part can be affected in RSI, the commonly affected areas include wrist, hands, fingers, thumbs, elbows, shoulders, neck and forearm. RSI results in pain in the affected part that may be attended with stiffness and swelling. The part may be painful to touch as well. In some cases, numbness, tingling sensation, weakness of the affected part may also accompany. The intensity of symptoms in RSI vary from mild to severe.
Different types of RSI
There are many kinds of RSI, the most common being carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). It refers to compression of the median nerve leading to numbness, tingling and weakness in the hands and arms. Next is tendinitis (i.e. inflammation of the tendons that are fibrous tissue bands that connect muscle to bones) and bursitis (inflammation of the bursa which is a small fluid-filled sac located around a joint that reduces friction between joint structures on joint movement). Another common type is tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) that occurs from overuse of tendons and muscles of the elbow on the outer side. This causes pain on outer side of the elbow that may be attended with stiffness, swelling and lowering of the gripping power of hands. Other kinds of RSIs include cubital tunnel syndrome, golfer’s elbow, shin splints, trigger finger and De Quervain syndrome. These all are explained further.
Cubital tunnel syndrome arises from the irritation or compression of the ulnar nerve located inside of the elbow. It causes pain on the inside of the elbow that may be attended with numbness and tingling in fingers and difficulty in moving fingers. Golfer’s elbow ((medial epicondylitis) is a painful condition affecting the inner side of the elbow at the connecting point of tendons of the forearm muscle on the inner side. The pain is on the inner side of the elbow that may extend to the forearm. It can be attended with tenderness on the elbow on the inner side accompanied by stiffness, numbness, tingling and weakness in arms or fingers. Shin splints cause pain on the inner side of the shinbone (tibia which is a bone in the leg) from repetitive stress on the tibia bone. Trigger finger is a condition that causes the finger to get stuck in the bent position. It mostly affects the ring finger and thumb, though any of the fingers can be involved. It occurs from irritation and swelling of the tendon sheath of the finger. De Quervain tendinitis is a condition that affects tendons of the wrist on the thumb side resulting from repetitive hand and wrist movement.
Homeopathic Management
Homeopathy offers a natural and effective management for cases of repetitive strain injury. Homeopathic medicines are prepared from natural substances so do not have any side effects. These help in managing the symptoms of RSI by reducing inflammation in muscles and tendons that has resulted from overuse and over straining. They help to reduce pain, stiffness, swelling, tenderness and associated numbness, tingling sensation, weakness in these cases. The results vary depending on the duration and intensity of the complaint. Homeopathic medicines for treating RSI are selected based on individual symptoms in each case. Though it is safe to use homeopathic medicines, it is recommended to consult a homeopathic physician prior to taking any homeopathic medicine. Self-medication should be avoided in any case.
Homeopathic Medicines For Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI)
1. Rhus Tox – Topmost medicine
Rhus Tox is a leading homeopathic medicine to help cases of repetitive strain injury. It is often the first choice of a homeopathic physician when it comes to deal with cases where there is inflammation and damage of muscles, tendons as a result of overstraining, overlifting and overuse of some particular body part. This medicine is very effective in managing pain in the affected part. The pain can be tearing, stitching, shooting type. The pain is attended with stiffness and tenderness in most of the cases. Pain gets worse at night. In general, the pain worsens from rest and gets better by movement. This medicine is highly valuable to manage cases of tennis elbow, carpal tunnel syndrome, tendinitis, bursitis and shin splints.
2. Ruta – To Treat Tendinitis
Ruta is another important medicine to manage cases of inflamed tendons from overstraining. In cases needing it, there is pain in the affected part of the bruised type attended with restlessness. Besides, there is weakness. This medicine is highly suitable to treat tendinitis, tennis elbow, bursitis and carpal tunnel syndrome.
3. Arnica – For Managing Pain And Tenderness In Affected Part
This medicine is very beneficial for managing cases of overstraining or overexertion of body parts. The characteristic feature of using this medicine is soreness means pain on touching the affected part. There is pain in the affected parts as if beaten. For tennis elbow and carpal tunnel syndrome cases, this medicine proves highly useful.
4. Bellis Perennis – To Manage Tennis Elbow And Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
This medicine also gives great results when it comes to treat condition arising from overuse and repetitive straining of body part. It is especially the most helpful in managing tennis elbow and carpal tunnel syndrome. In cases needing this medicine, there is pain in the elbow and a contracted feeling around the wrist as if an elastic band has been tied around the wrist. Besides the above, this medicine is also useful for managing back pain arising from over lifting and straining.
5. Causticum – To Manage Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Besides the above medicines, Causticum is another prominent medicine for managing carpal tunnel syndrome. This medicine is indicated for pain, numbness and weakness in fingers. Along with this, an important attending sign is atrophy (loss of muscle mass) of the muscles of hands.
6. Bryonia – For Managing Tennis Elbow
Bryonia is another prominent medicine for cases of tennis elbow other than Rhus Tox, Ruta and Arnica. It helps manage pain and swelling around the elbow. The pain increases with movement and gets better from rest. In some cases, pain from the elbow may extend to the wrist.
7. Calcarea Carb – For Stiff Neck From Overstraining Or Overlifting
This medicine is of great help to manage stiffness of the neck arising from overstraining or overlifting objects. In cases needing it, headache may accompany neck stiffness. In some cases, pain in the back may occur from over-lifting objects.
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