Viridian
Peer Supporter
Hello all, hope you are all gaining ground on your quest for a pain-free life.
I am new here and have a question regarding whether RSI can coexist with TMS symptoms.
I am a musician of some 25 years whilst holding down a desk job where I am graphic designer. Unfortunately, I've been off work for six weeks as my pain got so bad I could hardly click my mouse. This is especially stressful as my wife and I had our first child four months ago.
Around two years ago I suddenly woke up with weak wrists, tingling hands, and bilateral burning sensation in both forearms. My arms would suddenly go very cold and I have struggled to play guitar and work ever since. During the time the injury first occurred I was going to the gym a lot, I'm a really skinny guy with hypermobility and I was hitting the gym to try and put on weight. I didn't realise that I shouldn't be pushing weight with such flexible limbs.
For the last two years I have gone from pillar to post trying to find an answer. I have had an MRI scan which revealed nothing significant other than a normal level of arthritis for my age (35 years). I had nerve conduction tests which came back fine. I've seen a hand specialist and various physical therapists. They all came to slightly different diagnosis, most of them centred around an issue or trapped nerve in the thoracic spine.
After being signed off work for the first time a month and a half ago I started seeing a local chiropractor who diagnosed that I have tennis elbow, carpal tunnel syndrome, thoracic outlet syndrome and a trapped nerve in the thoracic spine. He has been doing a lot of work loosening up my forearms and wrists which I have seen an improvement from - the treatment is intensely painful as he delves into the tendons and muscles in my forearms with great strength. He says the tendons and flexors are dysfunctional and stringy from RSI. Afterwards my wrists feel much better and although they get worse again with the inflammation from the treatment, after a few days I can definitely feel an improvement. Though the numbness and heaviness never really goes completely.
Whilst researching RSI on the web, I came across Dr Sarno's book, the mindbody prescription. My story is typical, I saw myself on every page - I am a sensitive perfectionist who takes on great responsibility, strives to improve and is very driven to succeed. I also harbour anger and can hold an undercurrent of aggression. I remembered that at the time of my initial injuries there were emotional events that were causing great stress, such as close family members suffering with chronic drink and drug addictions. I also suffer from severe tinnitus, hyperacusis, anxiety, depression, pure OCD, IBS, hayfever, blepharitis etc.
So, to finally cut to the chase - here is my question. Is it possible that I have both RSI and TMS simultaneously? The reason I ask this is that the chiropractor was finding such dysfunction in my forearm muscles/tendons and I was experiencing unbearable levels of pain when he administered treatment to this area. As the sessions have progressed, I am feeling less pain during treatments of this area. He said my wrist joints were locking and constantly referred to my condition has a particularly nasty episode of RSI. I have also seen some improvement after 10 sessions with him - as I desperately need to get back to work soon and need a plan of recovery for my employer I'm finding it hard to considering quitting the Chiro. Though even the chiropractor agrees that the source of my pain could be emotional and played a part in my injuries.
However, I am still experiencing bilateral numbness and tingling - could that be TMS symptoms (the trapped nerve thing)? Or do you think the forearm RSIs are also TMS? Could TMS be responsible for the injuries my chiropractor has found?
When I think of the emotional reasons I could have TMS I have a physical reaction and my arms sometimes feel better or worse again. When I read the book my pain partially subsides at times. When I talk to my unconscious saying that I know it's tactics every nerve in my back lights up - like the hair standing up on the back of my neck and I have sobbed with cathartic relief at times. In that short moment I have been able to hold things aloft without any pain.
Would be really interested in people's opinions. Sorry this is so long! I'm super confused at the moment!
Thank you.
I am new here and have a question regarding whether RSI can coexist with TMS symptoms.
I am a musician of some 25 years whilst holding down a desk job where I am graphic designer. Unfortunately, I've been off work for six weeks as my pain got so bad I could hardly click my mouse. This is especially stressful as my wife and I had our first child four months ago.
Around two years ago I suddenly woke up with weak wrists, tingling hands, and bilateral burning sensation in both forearms. My arms would suddenly go very cold and I have struggled to play guitar and work ever since. During the time the injury first occurred I was going to the gym a lot, I'm a really skinny guy with hypermobility and I was hitting the gym to try and put on weight. I didn't realise that I shouldn't be pushing weight with such flexible limbs.
For the last two years I have gone from pillar to post trying to find an answer. I have had an MRI scan which revealed nothing significant other than a normal level of arthritis for my age (35 years). I had nerve conduction tests which came back fine. I've seen a hand specialist and various physical therapists. They all came to slightly different diagnosis, most of them centred around an issue or trapped nerve in the thoracic spine.
After being signed off work for the first time a month and a half ago I started seeing a local chiropractor who diagnosed that I have tennis elbow, carpal tunnel syndrome, thoracic outlet syndrome and a trapped nerve in the thoracic spine. He has been doing a lot of work loosening up my forearms and wrists which I have seen an improvement from - the treatment is intensely painful as he delves into the tendons and muscles in my forearms with great strength. He says the tendons and flexors are dysfunctional and stringy from RSI. Afterwards my wrists feel much better and although they get worse again with the inflammation from the treatment, after a few days I can definitely feel an improvement. Though the numbness and heaviness never really goes completely.
Whilst researching RSI on the web, I came across Dr Sarno's book, the mindbody prescription. My story is typical, I saw myself on every page - I am a sensitive perfectionist who takes on great responsibility, strives to improve and is very driven to succeed. I also harbour anger and can hold an undercurrent of aggression. I remembered that at the time of my initial injuries there were emotional events that were causing great stress, such as close family members suffering with chronic drink and drug addictions. I also suffer from severe tinnitus, hyperacusis, anxiety, depression, pure OCD, IBS, hayfever, blepharitis etc.
So, to finally cut to the chase - here is my question. Is it possible that I have both RSI and TMS simultaneously? The reason I ask this is that the chiropractor was finding such dysfunction in my forearm muscles/tendons and I was experiencing unbearable levels of pain when he administered treatment to this area. As the sessions have progressed, I am feeling less pain during treatments of this area. He said my wrist joints were locking and constantly referred to my condition has a particularly nasty episode of RSI. I have also seen some improvement after 10 sessions with him - as I desperately need to get back to work soon and need a plan of recovery for my employer I'm finding it hard to considering quitting the Chiro. Though even the chiropractor agrees that the source of my pain could be emotional and played a part in my injuries.
However, I am still experiencing bilateral numbness and tingling - could that be TMS symptoms (the trapped nerve thing)? Or do you think the forearm RSIs are also TMS? Could TMS be responsible for the injuries my chiropractor has found?
When I think of the emotional reasons I could have TMS I have a physical reaction and my arms sometimes feel better or worse again. When I read the book my pain partially subsides at times. When I talk to my unconscious saying that I know it's tactics every nerve in my back lights up - like the hair standing up on the back of my neck and I have sobbed with cathartic relief at times. In that short moment I have been able to hold things aloft without any pain.
Would be really interested in people's opinions. Sorry this is so long! I'm super confused at the moment!
Thank you.
