I am male, and 27 years old. My height is around 5'9" and my weight is around 88 kg. I started using computer at the age of around 14 – 15. I have a degree in software engineering but my problem is not due to that. I was an introvert and spent lot of time on computing (chatting, gaming, et cetera). My symptoms (pain in wrists) started appearing around 6 to 8 years back. During this time more or less they have remained same except for the last few months – when the pain exacerbated.

I have several other pain problems; I checked them all with professional doctors and no cause has been found. (1) I have knee pain (on and off, increases with exertion and SPECIALLY driving) – I have even done MRI and it was a normal. It has lot of crepitus. (2) I have Ear ache (occurs with headphones or continuous loud volume (Cinema). Once I showed it to the doctor and he found nothing – no infection or wax. (3) I have Difficulty in seeing (happens when in front of computer for a lot of time – this itself increases because of me using speech recognition software– Right now the text you're reading is written with the help of speech recognition software). (4) I also had pain in my right ankle for very long (around 5 to 6 year) – this pain has virtually and suddenly disappeared. In this also, doctors did not find anything substantial.

As far as my RSI is concerned, For very long, the pain would appear when I would type (sleep has almost no correlation with my pain). When I would wake up in the morning, there would be no pain. Rest would also decrease the pain. Exercises made me feel better.

I visited many doctors but these were with no avail. Many considered the problem insignificant. Some just suggested some exercises.

In the last few months, frequency and length of pain have increased. Pain has also started appearing in my elbows. With some particular type of working (holding shaving razor, holding cellphone, holding a page, et cetera (I have noted that these symptoms do not appear if I do all these things applying a lot of pressure in holding), there also appeared numbness.

Since I got new type of symptoms, it worried me and I rushed to a doctor. This was first time that a doctor conducted NCS; I guess electric shocks were passed from my wrists and elbows to my fingertips. My doctor said that they are normal. He also did some physical examinations; he put my hands in prayer position (both of palms facing and touching each other) for some time, asked me to spread my fingers and then tried to force them closed (and asked me to put pressure against that), slightly hit my wrists. All these weird tests proved negative except for the tapping on only one spot of my left wrist (MY RIGHT WRIST has always had more pain). Later after reading, I also learnt about some other tests and did them personally: Phalen Test, Tilen Test, Hand Elevation, Durkan Carpal Compression Test.I did all of them myself personally in my home – I did not feel any difference.

I'm still not sure what exactly is my problem. It has HUGE IMPACT pact on my career, mood, and productivity. I use speech recognition software. It has helped me a lot but it reduces the speed by manyfold and is very frustrating.

My main reason for writing this here in this form is to know what exactly is my problem? And if I will ever get permanent solution to this.

Hi Workaholic,

Welcome to NeuroTalk!
I hope you will find support and information here!

It's possible your upper extremity issues are from your neck, since it appears the testing has ruled out the ulnar nerve.

It's also possible you have some tendonitis in elbows, wrists, hands.

You knee pain may or may not be related to your upper extremity pain.

Do your vision changes seem abnormal for someone spending a lot of time looking at a computer screen? If this is the only time vision changes, it may be do to the screen and the amount of time spent looking at the screen?

It's interesting these painful/abnormal episodes occur while using the computer (your knee bothers while driving).

Have you paid attention to ergonomics when working at your computer for lengthy periods?

Do you have any rashes?
Any stiffness in joints?
Any swelling in joints where you have pain?
Have you seen a rheumatologist or an orthopedic specialist?

Others will be along with ideas, questions, support.

I hope you can get this sorted out.

Again, welcome!

To Our Healing,
DejaVu

Hello and welcome to NeuroTalk.
I'm sorry to read of your problems and I just wanted to let you know that there is also a
Repetitive Strain Injury Forum
here. It's a subforum of the Thoracic Outlet Syndrome Forum.
There are some excellent informational websites and links in the TOS forum as well that relate to RSI if you need.

take care.

How is your upper body posture?
Head forward or shoulder rolled or hunched?
Since you have knee issues perhaps full body posture - shoulders, hips, knees, etc aligned front & side views and level across?

I'll give the thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) link as it is a more active forum - and most likely if you had the more general RSIs , drs would be able to identify those..
so since they can't identify it yet look at TOS or pre TOS so to speak..
TOS is less well known to mainstream drs.. advanced PTs seem to be more knowledgeable of TOS.

Check the sticky threads there
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum24.html

Thank you everyone for your replies. I did not know that there exists specific forum for this topic. I will follow up on that.