Repetitive stress injury (RSI).

Newsgroups: alt.folklore.herbs,misc.health.alternative
Subject: Re: Tennis Elbow/Golfer's Elbow: Are There Herb Remedies for Repetitive Stress Injury?
From: Stephanie Goble <Stephaniex_goble.ccm.ch.intel.com>
Date: 13 Jul 1995 00:25:47 GMT

rgarrard.xmission.com (R. A. Garrard) wrote:
>Because of Repetitive Stress Injury received from too much keyboarding, I am looking for natural/herbal alternatives to cortisone and surgery for my condition. Can someone please advise me? If the items are unusual, I would also appreciate either directions or sources of supply.

It's totally FREE, but for some odd reason, very unpopular: REST THOSE WRISTS! Once the condition sets in, there's not a treatment in the world that can do you any good if you persist in aggravating it.

Also, see a different orthopedic surgeon: mine prescribed wrist braces at night, alternate ice and heat packs, and aspirin as well as total abstinence from the activity that was giving me tendonitis until I was pain free. It isn't totally gone, but it's under control and I can work again.

I found some treatments that are non-invasive cremes or rubs available over-the counter in most drugstores:

THERAGESIC (basically oil of Wintergreen in a creme form - the methyl salicylate penetrates the skin better than the other salicylate compounds of other sports rubs ... they may not have an odor, but they don't work as well. You'll smell like Wintergreen for a while)

Capsicum there is a very expensive creme, but several older remedies work just as well and cost a heck of a lot less than the modern rediscovery.
HEET - oil-based liniment of capsicum, camphor, and a purified turpentine (formula approximate). The camphor may make you cough a lot, but all the ingredients are long-known remedies for joint pains.
DR. SLOAN'S LINIMENT - almost the same as HEET, but no camphor. You can dilute the linaments with a light oil if they are too strong.

Arnica - I use a Mexican salve of arnica mixed with various aromatic resins. If you have Herberias in a Latino neighborhood, it comes in a green tin with the name "La Abuelita" (granny's) The Spanish for arnica is "arnica". I have seen various gels and cremes of arnica as well.

About capsicum - I don't recommend you try to make your own with chili peppers because the difference between effective and skin-searing is only a few tenths of a percent, and the assay would require some chemistry equipment.

Physical - try an orthopedic keyboard.

From: dummy.emf.net (Robert)

> Also, see a different orthopedic surgeon: mine prescribed wrist braces at night, alternate ice and heat packs, and aspirin as well as total abstinence from the activity that was giving me tendonitis until I was pain free.

I disrecommend going to an orthopedic surgeon. I suggest a psychiatrist instead. They won't be obsessed with cutting into you (which only works 30% of the time, anyway).

From: Stephanie Goble <Stephaniex_goble.ccm.ch.intel.com>

>I disrecommend going to an orthopedic surgeon. I suggest a psychiatrist instead. They won't be obsessed with cutting into you (which only works 30% of the time, anyway).

Robert -
Read my pixels! He's a board-certified orthopedic surgeon (an excellent one) who thinks the first stage of treatment should be REST, enforced by braces if need be, and mild anti-inflammatory medications ... in his own words, "as little messing around as possible while your body has a chance to heal itself" followed by a more moderate approach to whatever got you in trouble in the first place.
He doesn't believe in surgery - except for clearly fixable things like shattered ankles and compound fractures. He's also the one who recommended the low-cost alternatives to the $$ brand-name capsicum creme for inflammation relief.
Yes, I think he walks on water :) but his approach has kept me functional for 15 years with a wrist problem that puts many people on permanent disability within two, and without risking the surgery. BTW - the odds are roughly 30% get worse, 40% no improvement, 30% slight to much improved .... nothing I'd care to bet on especially with a downside = upside.

I'll stick to the OTC herbal remedies, the ice packs and rest.