Info-Mac 3/Info_Mac_1994-01.iso/Periodical/General/RSI Network Newsletters/RSI.Network8.etx

Text File | 1993-01-02 | 19KB | 402 lines

RSInetwork#8/October 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.


Input Devices
-------------
  TONY! Keyboard: Update
  The TONY! is expected to be shipping late this year.

  Many of you have already tried it out and are wondering
  how to order one, and how much it costs. The answer is
  to send him a letter expressing your desire to purchase the
  keyboard; you can write to him at 2332 Thompson Court, Mountain
  View CA 94043. The cost will be $625, including shipping and
  handling. The version that will be shipping will have several
  improvements over the prototype Tony has been hauling around all
  these years (no details are available). The TONY! will work with
  Macintosh and IBM computers as well as Sun and DEC computers and
  possibly others (in some cases with a plug change). For more
  information, you can call Tony at [phone] - but be warned:
  He is getting a lot of calls these days and so it may be a while
  before he can return yours.

  Laurie Ochsner of San Francisco has a "second-generation" TONY!
  keyboard that she'd be happy to talk to you about. You can reach
  her at [phone].

The Twiddler
  The Twiddler is a combination pointer and chording keyboard that
  can be used with either the right or the left hand. The pointing
  function is based on some kind of inertial sensor that tracks hand
  rotations in space and the keyboard is a keypad with 12 finger
  keys and 6 thumb keys. The Twiddler is an MS-DOS/Windows device
  that doesn't "talk" to a Macintosh, though an Apple engineer tells
  me "a reasonably competent hacker could interface it to a
  Macintosh." The Twiddler is made by Handykey Corporation of Mt.
  Sinai NY, [phone].

The BAT
  The BAT is a chording keyboard that's available in either left- or
  right-handed models, for the Macintosh or IBM PCs and compatibles.
  It has seven keys - one for each finger and three for the thumb.
  Its ergonomic advantages are that it includes a rest for the heel
  of the hand, it can be positioned at any angle, and there's no
  need to move your hands around rows of keys. For more information,
  contact Infogrip Inc. in Baton Rouge LA, 1-800-397-0921.


DragonDictate: Price Drop
--------------------------
  As of September 1, the price of DragonDictate, the state-of-the-
  art voice-recognition program for IBM-type computers, was reduced
  from $9,000 to $4,995. Since the price of computers has dropped as
  well, a $14K system purchased 9 months ago can be purchased today
  for half that. For more information in the SF Bay Area, contact
  Glenn Davis at DCR, Inc., [phone]. Others should contact
  William Flynn at Dragon Systems, [phone].


Associations
------------
More on ACTSA
  Some of you have asked just what the American Carpal Tunnel
  Syndrome Association (ACTSA) has to offer. I'll tell you what I as
  a member have received from them so far: a "Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
  Information Kit" consisting of a 16-page color pamphlet from
  Krames Communications, "Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Relieving the
  Pressure in Your Wrist" (I've seen this in physical therapy
  offices); a 2-page reprint of an article on CTS from People
  magazine; 4 more pages of reprinted articles on CTS; and a
  quarterly "informational update," in the form of a newsletter
  called the Carpal Tunnel Light, which contains about 2 1/2 pages
  of articles, a membership form, and 2/3 page of advertising. They
  also offer members "access to an expansive library of
  information," but I don't know if that means you'd have to go to
  Michigan to access it.

  An RSI Network member has expressed disappointment over the extent
  of the materials ACTSA provides. Personally, I joined this
  nonprofit corporation because I support their cause. You may not
  learn a lot about CTS beyond what you already know, but it's
  another source of information you possibly might not already have,
  and it helps support ACTSA's effort to educate people about CTS. I
  only wish it weren't restricted to just that one form of RSI!

  ACTSA is holding their first Annual National Conference in
  Atlantic City on November 20-22. There will be interactive group
  workshops on CTS. The registration fee is $99 per person ($49 for
  spouses). For more information, call ACTSA at [phone].

  Center for Rehabilitation Technology at Georgia Tech, 1-800-726-
  9119: Contact for details about computer products or services for
  people with injuries or disabilities.

  American Physical Therapy Association: Send a business-size,
  stamped self-addressed envelope to them for a free brochure
  including exercises and tips for beating CTS and other RSIs (1111
  No. Fairfax St., Alexandria VA 22314).


CTDNEWS
-------
  The monthly newsletter CTDNEWS, based in Philadelphia PA, provides
  news and information about how to cut the high cost of "the
  booming cumulative trauma disorder crisis." In particular, it
  covers prevention, legalities, changing claims guidelines, and
  treatment and diagnosis. But don't get too excited; the cost is a
  whopping $125 for an annual subscription (it's geared toward
  businesses; rumor has it they may set up a cheaper, "individual"
  subscription). Call 1-800-554-4CTD for more information.


Hypercard Stack On Preventing RSI
---------------------------------
  For Macintosh users, A HyperCard stack on preventing RSI is
  available from Laurie Ochsner of San Francisco. She asks that you
  send a stamped, self-addressed envelope with $5 to cover expenses,
  and she'll send you a disk containing the stack. Laurie's address
  is 1294B 42 Ave., San Francisco, CA 94122


UC Extension
------------
  The University of California Extension is offering a one-day,
  for-credit course called Preventing and Coping with RSI in the
  Workplace: A Comprehensive Guide, on 11/7, 9 AM to 5 PM, in Santa
  Clara. Cost is $185. For more information, call [phone]; to
  enroll, call 1-800-660-UNEX.


Yari's Story
------------
  (This story comes to us from Yari Leski, one of the founders of
  the new San Francisco RSI Support Group. You can contact Yari at
  [phone].)

  I worked as a software product designer when I began suffering
  from an RSI I believe was acquired mostly from the using a mouse
  and from a badly designed workstation. The pain in my arm is
  primarily located at the top of the forearm close to the elbow,
  secondarily on the lower side of the elbow. The intensity of the
  arm pain seems to correspond to pain in my scapula area as well as
  the shoulder joint and the right side of the neck.

  I continued to work for a year and a half after I first had
  symptoms. Nine months after I noticed symptoms, I took a month off
  from work. The pain was gone after a month, but returned almost as
  soon as I started working again. The pain intensified the longer I
  worked until I was in too much pain to be productive at my job. I
  had difficulty sleeping and performing household duties. Along
  with the arm pain, my elbow felt like it was packed in dry ice and
  my hand became stiff and cold. I tried other types of input
  devices including finger pad, tablet, and trackball. The trackball
  was less stressful than a mouse, but once I was injured it was
  painful to use any input device. I switched to primarily using my
  left hand and developed similar pain in my left hand within a few
  months.

  I stopped work in January 1991 and haven't worked since. (My
  employer laid me off and though they said it was not because of my
  injury, the only other technical people laid off were another
  woman with a similar strain injury and her husband.) The pain has
  subsided almost completely in my left arm and somewhat in my right
  arm, although daily activities keep me from being pain-free and in
  fact the pain has spread to other parts of my elbow that were not
  previously affected.

Worker's Comp
  My Worker's Compensation carrier put me on rehabilitation payments
  almost immediately. My payments were based on the rates set when
  it was determined I first had pain in my arm instead of the rate
  set at the time I stopped work. I was told later by two attorneys
  that the last day of work should determine the rate.

  The Workers' Compensation insurance carrier should not start your
  rehabilitation program until a doctor has certified your condition
  as "permanent and stationary," meaning that your condition has
  stabilized. No doctor determined my condition as such until close
  to a year later. Before that I should have received "Temporary
  Disability" benefits, which are higher than rehabilitation
  benefits and have no cap on total benefits received.

  The insurance carrier assigned me to a rehabilitation counselor
  and never bothered to tell me that I had a choice as to who the
  counselor was. I was given aptitude and career tests. I hired an
  attorney who demanded that the insurance carrier change the
  counselor to one my attorney was familiar with. The second
  counselor had few if any ideas for me and eventually hired a
  career developer. Finally a report was written stating that my
  rehabilitation plan should be an MBA program, which is what I
  wanted to do all along. The insurance carrier didn't approve the
  plan. In October '91 they cut my rehabilitation benefits and paid
  only "Permanent Disability" payments. They neglected to tell me
  that permanent disability payments come out of the final
  settlement. After five months of PD payments they stopped those,
  stating that they had probably paid off whatever my final
  settlement would be.

  I had no lawyer in February '92 when my PD payments were cut. I
  had dismissed my first lawyer, because I couldn't get her to
  return my calls or give me copies of medical evaluations. I
  couldn't find another lawyer who would take my case because my
  first lawyer would get a significant portion of the 12% the
  claimant's attorneys are allowed from the final settlement. I've
  heard that most settlements for arm injuries run about $5000 for
  the PD part of the settlement. This means our lawyers get about
  $600. This cap on what we can spend for attorney fees is stated to
  be a law that protects us, but it should be noted that the
  insurance carriers have no cap on what they can spend on their
  attorneys and will likely pay 20 times more then our attorneys
  will ever see. I won't go into the manipulations and harassments I
  received in the hands of the insurance carrier's attorney while I
  was trying to represent myself. I finally found another lawyer to
  represent me; Steven Birnbaum took my case and so far I am happy
  with his office.

  I filed a complaint with the Rehabilitation Board during the time
  I was representing myself. The board wrote an order for the
  Worker's Compensation carrier to reinstate my rehabilitation
  program last March. So far I haven't heard anything and they're in
  contempt of court. I started the MBA program anyway last spring
  and hope to be reimbursed later.

  For every medical evaluation the Workers' Compensation carrier
  sends you for, you have the right to another from a physician of
  your choice. Lawyers have certain physicians that they send their
  clients to. So far I've had seven medical evaluations. I heard
  from a doctor I know that the insurance carriers pay their
  evaluators up to 10 times more than the claimant's evaluators can
  charge. The doctor who told me this was solicited by several
  insurance carriers with promises that she felt were unethical. She
  attended a Worker's Compensation evaluators seminar to learn the
  scoop. She heard from one lecturer that the point was not to tell
  the truth, but to "refine" the truth in ways the insurance
  carrier will appreciate.

Treatments
  I haven't had much medical treatment since I left work. The
  insurance carrier has refused to pay for more than a total of four
  weeks of physical therapy. Dr. Markison gave me a steroid
  injection in March and ordered a TENS unit rental for four months.
  The insurance carrier refused to pay for more than two months
  rental. Dr. Markison has prescribed trigger point therapy that the
  carrier also has refused to pay for. I'm discussing the
  possibility of an operation with Dr. Markison. Needless to say
  they refused to pay for that also and are not even paying
  Markison's bills now even though they first sent me to that office
  to be evaluated by Markison's partner Dr. Newmeyer (whom I and
  other injured workers suggest avoiding).

  I find alternate warm and cool water baths and massage therapy
  helpful. The TENS Unit seemed to relieve pain for several hours,
  or at least it distracts me enough not to notice if I'm in pain.
  Acupuncture seemed to keep the pain level down as long as I didn't
  work too hard. My hands are usually cold and Dr. Markison claims
  that people with cold hands heal at a much slower rate. He
  suggests wearing fingerless gloves. I had ultrasound treatment
  during the year I was working and tried an elbow strap; both these
  increased the pain. Another doctor said I was wearing the elbow
  strap wrong; he suggests getting a man's wrist support band and
  pulling it up only to mid-arm level. A rheumatologist prescribes a
  mild dosage of the anti-depressant Norpramin, which induces level
  4 sleep and thus relieves muscle tension and anxiety. I find this
  drug takes the edge off the pain.


Letters From Members
--------------------
  Please send in your letters, questions, or personal story. Other
  members can reply to you via this newsletter or directly (indicate
  which you prefer in your letter). Please take the time to reply if
  you can help someone out!

Help for Lefties
  From Bruce Brown: I have myofascial pain dysfunction (on the right
  side) in my arm, hand, shoulder, and neck. Do you know of products
  to assist lefties? (See above for one-handed "chording" keyboards.
  Do any readers know of catalogs with products for lefties? -
  Caroline)

Light-Steering Cars
  From Wayne Vucenic: My wife has shoulder and forearm tendonitis.
  Driving is a big problem since steering aggravates the condition.
  We'd like to know what kinds of cars you and your readers have
  found to drive. We've found that Cadillac has sufficiently good
  power steering, but its various other problems make it
  unsatisfactory for everyday driving. Does anyone know of a good
  small or medium-sized car with light steering? (I was loathe to
  part with my hard-steering 2002 BMW, but finally got a 1984 318i
  BMW, which has power-assisted steering. Even lighter would be
  better, though. Since getting tendinitis in my shoulders, I really
  should have power-everything (sigh). Readers? - Caroline)

Swimmers Beware
  Here's a reply (from a "hardcore distance swimmer") to my letter
  in Issue 7 that noted I now have tendinitis in my shoulder (now
  both shoulders), supposedly due to swimming:

  As far as tendinitis and swimming, it's very common. People argue
  about cause a lot, but my opinion is that the root cause is in
  your statement that you've swum freestyle 3 times a week for about
  15 years. Anyone who swims only freestyle is pretty much doomed.
  Bad stroke mechanics will get you every time as well. (Just like
  in running; if you have some quirk about your stride, you probably
  pay for it sooner or later.) As far as swimming advice, here's my
  list:

*  Never ever use paddles. They are very likely to rip shoulders.
  *  Watch out for unbalanced breathing patterns. Some 95% of such
  injuries are from swimmers who always breathe to the same side -
  it's usually the opposite shoulder that goes.
  *  Swim more breaststroke, which balances out the muscle
  development.
  *  Swimming magazines and stores carry a shoulder band, which is
  basically a support that goes near the bicep. I've never worn one
  myself, but some people swear by them.


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).



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