Lothian Repetitive Strain Injury Support Group
C/O Lothian TUCRC, Basement, 26 Albany StreetEdinburgh, EH1 3OH:
Telephone: 01501 743140 (home/evening); 0131 556 7318 (LTUCRC)

Lothian RSI Support Group information to potential sufferers

The following guidelines are based on the information available at the time of compiling them and the experience of the members of the Lothian RSI Support Group.

We hope you find it useful and suggest that you consider affiliating to the Group. The group exists to offer selfhelp and support to sufferers. To allow the condition to develop to a chronic level may permanently affect your quality of life so take note of the following information.

• First Symptoms of RSI in upper body
• First symptoms as described by members.
• Tingling in fingers
• Pain at thumb in web between thumb and hand
• Pain/ache in wrists
• Pain/ache in elbow
• Neck pain/ache and tension
• Pain/ache in shoulders
• Pain/ache in the back
• What should you do when these symptoms occur?

Your employers must be alerted at this stage. They have a legal duty to carry out an assessment of the risk involved in the work you do and your work station. To protect your position it is better if the employer is told by your trade union. If you are not in a trade union your position is weaker and you will have to take account of employer’s reaction.

You should also make an appointment with your GP (Doctor)

Make sure you take a break when you become aware of tension. Relieve the tension by simple exercises. Even a walk around the room can help relieve the tension.

If corrective action is not taken early enough, you may progress to second stage symptoms

these include;-

• Recurring pain, even when the associated activities have ceased. Aching and tiredness will continue into the night and may disturb your sleep.
• Visible swelling
• If your symptoms have reached this stage it is even more important that action is taken to alleviate the situation. You must rest from work to avoid your condition becoming chronic and to avoid a permanent loss in your quality of life.
• Your workstation and work process must be assessed and altered to avoid further injury.

Appropriate treatment is vital at this stage.

Third stage symptoms

If your condition is allowed to become chronic you can expect :-

• Severe pain, aching, weakness and fatigue.
• To be unable to perform even light tasks.
• A high risk of permanent disability.
• To find it increasingly difficult (if not impossible) to continue in your current employment (In very severe cases it may be impossible to do any type of work).

First visit to your Doctor (GP)

Some doctors can be unsympathetic if you say you are suffering from RSI. Allow them to make their own diagnosis.

• Describe your condition accurately: what aches, pains and numbness you suffer and the joints and muscle they occur in
• Describe the actions and activities which you associate with the discomfort
• State clearly the time you spend doing these activities
• Describe the position you have to adopt to carryout these activities.

From experience of Lothian RSI Support Group members, it seems to be better to lead your doctor to the conclusion that your condition is work related, rather than stating this from the outset.

It is vital that your condition is correctly diagnosed and you are prescribed the appropriate treatment.