RSI with no pain?
 

Hey everyone,

For the last couple weeks I've been feeling fatigue in the extensors muscles of my forearms and also my wrists. There is no pain! but it feels heavy to even just lift my hand using my wrist or extensors forearms. I've allowed them to rest for two days but they still feel tired and weak. When i use these muscles raising my hand, my hand sometimes shakes slightly. It isn't really visible but i can certainly feel the jerkiness. If i hold my hands out with my wrists straight they dont shake.

Could this be RSI without pain? Maybe the fatigue is amplifying my 'normal tremors' like when you lift something heavy, or do you think this is something more like essential tremor?

I'm currently avoiding bending my wrists.

Have you done repetitive motions often or for a long time?
Is there any tightness in your neck, shoulder or upper arms?
Any other possible reason for the symptoms?

I dont have any persistant fatigue anywhere else. I have been pulling longer hours the last week, and been on my phone more. I wasnt getting alot of sleep either. I have since cut out coffee aswell.

I just feel hyper aware of my wrists now, making note of every movement i make almost and how it feels.

Holding a phone to ear or hunching between neck/shoulder are bad practice relating to RSI issues. It clamps down /crowds the area where many nerves & blood flow have to squeeze thru..
Can you get some sort of headset?

Upper body posture is important, take breaks , do opposite stretches , be aware of shoulders rolled/hunched or head forward..

Check the sticky threads more much more detailed info & links
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread22626.html

I do back and neck stretches usually. i will definitely try to incorporate more to see if they help. When i say im on my phone i mean im texting away with my thumbs! They are also fatigued and a little shakey. My phone feels heavy in my hand now.

When i dig my fingers into my forearm extensors it seems to give me some relief aswell. I might look into some kind of forearm tension band or wrist support.

So it is possible to have RSI with no pain. Can RSI cause long term fatigue and shakiness?

I've posted my symptoms in the movement disorder thread aswell to get their two cents. I hope its nothing serious, diagnosis on the internet can be scarey sometimes

My multiple then chronic RSIs became TOS, my forearms felt tight/tense , but no real pain from them, until my neck/shoulders started burning, and I lost the fine finger coordination..

The postures for texting does the same , clamps down on the nerves & blood flow..
in the the collarbone, arm pit , shoulder junction..

A skilled PT can evaluate & assess..

What do you mean by TOS? massaging does help me, Ive got a brace on my right forearm right now and that seems to allow me to reduce fatigue on the muscle which is nice. This has reduced some the shaking aswell. Ive been feeling a muscle tightness around my ribs today too , i think some of this could be from anxiety from all the worrying ive been doing !

Thoracic outlet syndrome - TOS for short..
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum24.html

It is our more active forum ,related to and can be caused by chronic RSIs. and these other things can be a factor- forward head/forward shoulders, weight lifting, musicians, athletes..previous whiplash... on an on.. bone or ligament anomalies..

You might want to post there for more input & info.

Andrew, take a look at your posture when you are texting away. If its head forward, shoulders slumped, back rounded. Stop that as well, and things will go better.