Info-Mac 3/Info_Mac_1994-01.iso/Periodical/General/RSI Network Newsletter Archive/RSI.Network7.etx

Text File | 1993-01-02 | 20KB | 441 lines

RSInetwork#7/August 92
======================

  For People Concerned About Tendinitis, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, and
  Other Repetitive Strain Injuries

  Produced by:
  Caroline Rose, 970 Paradise Way, Palo Alto CA 94306
    ([e-mail])
  Apple Computer is in no way affiliated with this newsletter.

  This document is in setext (structure-enhanced text) format.
  To index, browse, and copy from collected setext documents,
  use Easy View, written by M. Akif Eyler, Bilkent University,
  06533 Ankara, Turkey
    ([e-mail]).

  Setext formatting by:
  Craig O'Donnell, Assistant Sysop, MacWEEK Forum on ZiffNet
    ([e-mail]).

  Other issues of RSInetwork are available through ZiffNet/Mac
  and Compuserve, in the "Reference" file library at location
  ZMC:DOWNTECH. Easy View is in the "Applications" library at
  the same location under filename EASYVW.SEA.


Statistics
----------
  RSI-related statistics from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
  are reported differently in different places. In Issue 6 I said
  that 87,000 people in private industry reported RSIs in 1990. On
  June 8, that number was reported in the New York Times as 180,000,
  which is more like it! Here, finally, are the definitive BLS
  statistics:

Year     # of cases    % of all illnesses
1978        20,200                14%
1979        21,900                15%
1980        23,200                18%
1981        23,000                18%
1982        22,600                21%
1983        26,700                25%
1984        37,700                28%
1985        37,000                30%
1986        45,500                33%
1987        72,900                38%
1988       115,300                48%
1989       146,900                52%
1990       185,400                56%


Survey Of CTS Sufferers
-----------------------
  A survey to determine which treatments work best for sufferers of
  carpal tunnel syndrome is being conducted by Maureen H. Parke, a
  freelance writer of medical articles. The results will be made
  available to participants and used as reference materials. The
  survey, which asks only ten questions,  is completely anonymous;
  you need not give your name. To participate, send a self-
  addressed, stamped envelope to CTS Study, 235 Glenview Circle,
  Vallejo CA 94591.


Iontophoresis: Hope For RSI Sufferers?
--------------------------------------
  (From Dow Jones)  Iomed Inc. of Salt Lake City said an independent
  study has found evidence that the use of electrical currents to
  deliver anti-inflammatory medication is highly effective as a
  treatment of CTS. The patients received three treatments of
  iontophoresis, minute electrical current applied to an electrode
  to transport drugs through the skin, for a week. After the
  treatment a majority were symptom free, and three months later 63%
  continued to have no or minimal symptoms. Iontophoresis has
  already been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for
  treatment of CTS. The company said iontophoresis eliminates the
  pain and complications of steroid medication and costs less than
  surgery. Iomed projects the total cost for treatment to be $200
  compared to the $2,500 that would be charged for surgery.

  (Editor's note: The physical therapist who is treating me for my
  new ailment, tendinitis in my shoulder, tells me that
  iontophoresis also works well for tendinitis, in her experience.)


S.F. Bay Area Ergonomics Showroom
---------------------------------
  A new showroom, The Ergonomics Lab, opened on July 1 in Mountain
  View CA to demonstrate and sell to both individuals and companies
  "the latest in ergonomic seating and office accessories,"
  including chairs, cushions, arm and palm supports, and lighting.
  The back and seat supports "can be adapted for use in the office,
  at home, in the car." The showroom, at 2672 Bayshore Parkway, #520
  (in the Shoreline Office Park Plaza, between San Antonio and
  Rengstorff), is open from 9 to 6 M-F, and by appointment on
  Saturday. To schedule an appointment call Patricia Hilaire at
  [phone] or 964-3135. The lab is run by the Ergonomic
  Sciences Corporation of Sunnyvale (Steve Marshall, Director),
  which does consulting and can provide "ergonomic master plans" to
  companies.


Pain Relief: Aqua-Relief Pads
-----------------------------
  The Aqua-Cel Corporation makes two pain-relief pads of soft,
  heavy-duty waterbed material that can be heated or chilled. The
  cervical Aqua-Relief pad is 6" x 30" and fits around the neck and
  shoulders (or can be wrapped around limbs), and the back pad is
  12" x 13". The large pad takes two quarts of water (add hot water
  or heat in a microwave, or add cold water and chill in the
  refrigerator). Opening the valve may be difficult for people with
  severe hand injuries, but the water can stay in the pad once it's
  filled, or you can heat or chill the pad itself by setting it in
  hot or cold water (it has foam inside). Some massage therapists
  carry the pads, or they can be ordered directly from Aqua-Cel. The
  pads normally sell for $19.95 ea. If you identify yourself as a
  member of the RSI Network, Aqua-Cel will make them available for
  $14.95 ea + $2 shipping (in CA add 7.75% sales tax): POB 26827,
  Santa Ana CA 92799, [phone].


Reading Hands-free: The Able Table
----------------------------------
  This product allows you to read hands-free in almost any position,
  even lying in bed. The lightweight, portable table has one
  vertical and two horizontal elastic straps for holding reading
  material, an 18" x 20" top, and plastic legs. It can be used at
  almost any angle and is easily adjustable. For orders of six or
  more the Able Table Co. (Santa Cruz CA) will supply them directly;
  call [phone] ($29.50 ea; $27.50 for packs of 12). Individual
  tables need to be ordered from medical catalogs, such as Fred
  Sammons (Chicago), Maddak or BelArt Products (NJ), American
  Foundation for the Blind and Lighthouse for the Blind, and North
  Coast Medical (San Jose CA). North Coast products must be ordered
  by health professionals; 1-800/821-9319. Their "wholesale" price
  is $39.95 + tax/shipping.


Mouse Relief For Macintosh Users: Easy Access
---------------------------------------------
  A member of the RSI Network very highly recommends Easy Access for
  RSI sufferers and RSI avoiders alike. Here's what he has to say
  about this Macintosh software:

  Easy Access is available on every Macintosh system version from
  6.0 onward, and may go back even further. You install it as a
  control panel, and you arm it by simultaneously hitting Command,
  Shift, and Clear. Once armed, Easy Access redefines the ten
  numeric keys of the numeric keypad at the right of the keyboard,
  plus the decimal-point key on the keypad, to have special mouse-
  control meanings. The eight keys surrounding the 5 key serve to
  move the cursor in the direction that the key  lies from the 5
  key for example, 8 moves the cursor up. You can hold down a
  cursor-move key to get continuous motion, or you can tap on the
  key repeatedly to move the cursor in little steps.

  The 5 key on the numeric pad is a synonym for the mouse button. I
  keep my mouse to the left of my keyboard, and use the mouse only
  for positioning, never for clicking. I do my clicking on the
  numeric pad, hitting the 5 key. This results in very much less
  stress on my mousing hand, since it's doing only stress-free
  positioning, never also pressing the button down. The relief is
  huge when it comes to dragging.

  Another neat feature of Easy Access that I use often is that the 0
  key on the numeric keypad means "press down the mouse button and
  hold it down"; the mouse button will be thought of as remaining
  down until you request that it come back up by hitting the
  decimal-point key. This makes dragging a dream, a real convenience
  even for non-RSI sufferers.

  There is another aspect to Easy Access that I don't use you arm it
  by hitting left-Shift five times in a row and you get the ability
  to hit modifier keys (such as Shift or Option) before the keys
  they are to modify.


Publications
------------
Soft Tissue Pain and Disability (2nd ed.)
  by Dr. Rene Cailliet (F.A. Davis).
  Available from North Coast Medical, 1-800/831-9319,
  order #NC74501, but must be ordered by a health professional.

Treat Your Own Neck
Treat Your Own Back
  both by Robin McKenzie (Spinal Publications New Zealand, Ltd).
  Also available from North Coast, order #NC89009 and NC89008,
  respectively.

Listen to Your Pain
  by Ben E. Benjamin (Penguin, 1984).

Stretch and Strengthen (exercise program)
  by Judy Alter (Houghton Mifflin).


Legislation
-----------
OSHA Reform
  The "Comprehensive Occupational Safety and Health Reform Act"
  (S.1622) introduced by Senators Kennedy and Metzenbaum needs
  citizen support. Republicans are opposed to it (allegedly because
  it will cost employers money) and President Bush has promised a
  veto. Briefly, the bill, in 12 titles, sets timeframes for OSHA to
  set national ergonomics standards and standards for work in
  confined spaces, and would require employers to establish safety
  and health (s/h) programs to reduce hazards and prevent injuries,
  and to establish s/h committees and select employee s/h
  representatives; would extend coverage to public employees; would
  set permissible exposure limits for toxic materials and regulate
  exposure monitoring and medical surveillance; would protect
  employees from discrimination and give them rights to participate
  in proceedings; and would require state plans to conform. The act
  would become effective 90 days after enactment. Copies of the bill
  are available from the Senate Labor & Human Resources Committee,
  Washington DC 20510-6300.


Cal/OSHA Ergonomics Regulation
------------------------------
  In California, Cal/OSHA's Ergonomics Advisory Committee has been
  meeting to discuss issuing an ergonomics regulation for the
  workplace. A group called WORKSAFE, [phone], asks that you
  write Dr. John Howard, Chief of the Division of Occupational
  Health, 455 Golden Gate Ave., San Francisco, CA 94102, urging the
  Advisory Committee to adopt a strong regulation and to take to
  heart the testimony of the labor representatives on the committee.
  For a copy of the proposed regulation, call Cal/OSHA at (415)703-
  4361.


Americans With Disabilities Act
-------------------------------
  The Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 requires employers to
  make reasonable accommodations to allow disabled employees to
  perform essential functions of a job. You're disabled if you have
  a physical problem that restricts you in doing your job. So if
  your job requires typing and you have an RSI that restricts your
  typing, you qualify under this act.

  The Pacific Disability and Business Technical Assistance Center in
  Oakland CA has been set up to provide information on the Americans
  With Disabilities Act. They offer information, referral, and
  training to both businesses and the disabled. The center is funded
  by a federal grant from the National Institute of Disability and
  Rehabilitation Research. The hotline number is 1-800-949-4232.


Status of RSI Lawsuits
----------------------
  A Federal judge in Brooklyn NY has decided to group together all
  lawsuits blaming computer keyboards and other equipment for RSIs.
  The suits contend that the equipment used was defectively designed
  and that manufacturers failed to provide adequate warnings about
  how the equipment must be used to avoid injury. (Incidentally,
  Apple Computer now includes a booklet on that very subject with
  all their computers.) Anyone using the Worker's Compensation
  system is not allowed to sue their employers for injury caused by
  negligence. People who aren't taking the lawsuit route may still
  benefit from the resolution of these RSI suits for example,
  improved working conditions for all people who work with
  electronic equipment. (Source: New York Times, 6/8/92)


Letters From Members
--------------------
  Please send in your letters, questions, or personal story. Other
  members can reply to you via this newsletter or directly.

KB-Pillow
  From Dan Kegel ([e-mail] on the Internet, or phone
  [phone]): ERGO-NOMIC (1-800-488-3746, [phone]) offers
  something called the KB-Pillow which sits on your lap and holds
  the keyboard. It supposedly  lets you lean back, and reduces
  wrist, neck, and back strain. Has anybody out there used one? I'm
  also interested in finding an ergonomic way of using a computer in
  an easy chair, with my head resting to avoid straining my neck
  muscles. To this end, I have purchased a Private Eye head-mounted
  display ($700), which frees me from having to look in any
  particular direction.


Hormones and RSI
----------------
  From John Erskine (reply to this newsletter): Dr. Dean Edell (SF
  Bay Area radio/TV doctor) once mentioned an informal study of
  women near menopause who also suffered from RSI in their wrists.
  The women started estrogen therapy around the time of their
  menopause and some of the women with RSI experienced vast
  improvement in their wrists and arms. The implication is that
  there is a relationship between hormones and how swelling and
  similar functions are handled in the body. Have any other RSI
  Network members ever heard anything about this or explored this
  direction?


CTS And Nerve Compression
-------------------------
  Lee Newman of Pennsylvania tells her story and asks some
  questions. Feel free to contact her at [phone] (work), 241
  Oakwood Avenue, State College PA 16803, or [e-mail] on
  the Internet. Please copy your reply to this newsletter if you
  think others might benefit.

  My problems started off with tingling and numbness in my right
  hand and arm in May 1991, progressing to pain in the hand and arm.
  I then started getting carpal tunnel symptoms in my left hand and
  arm, followed by pain in my left elbow (diagnosed as nerve
  entrapment there, too). Next I developed ulnar nerve compression
  at both wrists in addition to the median nerve compression at both
  wrists, and most recently, I've started getting nerve compression
  problems in my right elbow.  I've also had some problems with
  nerve compression in my hips (particularly the left) which I'm
  hoping will be alleviated by my nice new ergonomic computer chair.
  I had carpal tunnel release surgery (and a release of the ulnar
  nerve at the wrist) in my right hand in January. Unfortunately, it
  hasn't helped   I still have pain and the inside of my ring finger
  is somewhat numb all the time. The last time I saw my hand
  surgeon, he mentioned something about doing "remedial surgery"   I
  don't know what he meant. I'll ask him when I see him again, but
  in the meantime if anyone out there knows what kind of surgery
  might follow a failed carpal tunnel release, I'd appreciate it if
  they'd share the info. I assumed if the surgery didn't help the
  first time, you were stuck.

  I'm a computer programmer and switching jobs will be a last resort
  for me, so I'm open for any possible suggestions people have to
  relieve pain. What kinds of physical therapy have people tried?
  I've tried fluidotherapy, range of motion exercises, mild wrist
  strengthening exercises, warm whirlpool treatments, contrast
  baths, ice packs, and splints. It all just seemed to make things
  worse. Anti-inflammatories (ibuprofen, Naprosyn, Prednisone,
  Voltaren) haven't helped me either -- has anyone found anything
  else that helped?

  Has anyone out there had leg pain where you get pain going down
  the outside of the leg (not sciatica, this is really the outside
  of the leg) and down to the ankle? What have people done to
  relieve it besides getting a computer chair with better back
  support and getting up and walking around every so often? 800 mg
  of ibuprofen 3 times a day seems to help somewhat with my leg
  pain, but I don't want to stay on that forever.

  Has anyone out there had surgery to release the ulnar nerve at the
  elbow? I doubt that I'll have that done, but I'm interested in
  what the success rates for that surgery are. I've heard that
  they're lower than the success rates for carpal tunnel surgery.

  Finally, can anyone out there recommend hand surgeons/specialists
  in the PA/DE area? Has anyone had any experiences at the Hershey
  Medical Center in Hershey PA that they can share?


From the Editor
---------------
  As mentioned earlier, I now have tendinitis in my shoulder in the
  biceps tendon and supraspinatus tendon, to be specific. I'm told
  it's due to swimming (freestyle, 3 times a week for about 15
  years) and has no relationship at all to the tendinitis in my
  forearms and elbows (which is work-related, due to typing). If any
  of you have experience with this type of tendinitis, I'd love to
  hear from you.

  I've been put on the anti-inflammatory drug Relafen. It's the
  first anti-inflammatory that hasn't upset my stomach but that may
  be because this is the first time I was told to take it not only
  on a full stomach, but also with 8 ounces of water. The one time
  it did make me queasy, I had drunk a small amount of alcohol that
  night, which I'd forgotten is a no-no. Just thought I'd pass along
  these bits of wisdom.


RSI Support Groups (California)
-------------------------------
  San Francisco:
  Judy Doane, [phone], or Yari Leski, [phone].
  Alternate Mondays, 7:30 PM, at the California Pacific Medical
  Center (3773 Sacramento St., at Maple, SF), rooms G and H.
    1/18: Ilana Parker, physical therapist specializing in the
  Feldenkrais method
    1/4/93 and 2/1/93: no speaker, general support meeting.

  East Bay:
  Joan Lichterman, [phone].
  Meets monthly, 7 to 9 PM, usually on the second Wednesday, at
  CalARM 400 29th Street, #105 (at summit), Oakland.
    1/8/93: Glen Kohler, Using Tai Chi to Prevent RSIs

  North Bay:
  Stephanie Barnes, [phone].
  Tuesday evenings in Santa Rosa, 7 to 9 PM, Round Table Pizza 550
  Montecito Blvd., between Middle Rincon and Mission Blvd.

  South Bay:
  Pat Roggy, [phone], or Petzoldt Hand Center, (408)261-
  7660.

  Los Angeles area:
  Samantha Greenberg, [phone].
  A "computer injury network".


Contributions & Subscriptions
-----------------------------
  This newsletter relies on contributions from its readers: please
  contribute your questions, stories, and any information that may
  be of interest to people with RSI.

  Where possible please submit contributions on diskette or via
  Email. Xeroxes of interesting articles from anywhere are always
  welcome. Mail disks or xeroxes to:

   Caroline Rose, 970 Paradise Way, Palo Alto CA 94306


  Electronic subscriptions are free.

    Formatted setexts are found on ZiffNet/Mac via Compuserve.
    Other issues of RSInetwork are available through ZiffNet/Mac
    and Compuserve, in the "Reference" file library at location
    ZMC:DOWNTECH.

    For Internet mailing list distribution, send your Internet
    address to:

      [e-mail]

    and you'll receive the newsletter (plain ASCII).


  [Ed. Note: Carolyn wishes to shift newsletter distribution to
  electronic networks and Email. If you  obtain the newsletter
  electronically please pass it on in hardcopy or via your
  local BBSes or LAN. Don't write to Carolyn for hardcopy of
  the newsletter.  -COD]


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