Trigger point therapy for RSI / Carpel tunnel

Hello everyone! This is my first post on TL Though I have been lurking for quite some time. I am posting now for the first time because I feel that I have something to contribute to the community at large. I love playing (though i havent for quite some time) and watching starcraft 2! Let me lead off with my own personal experience.

I'm an avid PC gamer and spend most of my time on the computer. Roughly two and a half years ago (after three very long days of world of warcraft) I noticed a considerably odd feeling in my left had from repeatedly hitting the 1 2 3 4 keys on my keyboard. Nonplussed I took a small break and then resumed grinding out mobs with just my mousehand. This was the first time I had ever noticed this feeling of pain and exhaustion in my arms. After this though they were always present while gaming. For whatever reason I wasn't the least bit concerned about the health of my poor gaming arms.

So I went on like this for a while while I had some mild pains in my hands and arms (and uppper back) while gaming. I continued to game and mess around on the internet for over two years (though I had been gradually taking it easier to give my hands more rest) up until the very exciting release of Diablo III! I had all my buddies over for a lan party and we played all night and all morning. The pain in my arm had caught my attention!

So I figured I had Carpel tunnel Syndrome. In the year or two previous I had asked my buddy who is an emt what people do about carpel tunnel. His response was that generally you want to just put up with it or wear a splint all day/ or whenever you are on the computer if your problems got really bad though there was always surgery. This solution didn't sit well with me.

So I started snooping around on the Internet to see what I could do about my hands. Let me take this opportunity to explain that I generally like and agree with western medicine practices. If you have problems with RSI I do think you should see a doctor. In my snooping I found some forums. ( I dont have any idea where) where some people were recommending a book called "It's Not Carpal Tunnel Syndrome!: RSI Theory and Therapy for Computer Professionals" Along with this book people recommended and were ecstatic about The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook: Your Self-Treatment Guide for Pain Relief, Second Edition.

Let me tell you that for about three weeks now I have been practicing the treatments In the trigger point therapy workbook and have had a drastic reduction in pain and that I am expecting a full recovery from my repetitive strain injury symptoms. (I hope im not running afoul of the advertising rules of the forum!)

The books premise (which to me sounded a little silly) Is that knots in the muscles impede the mobility of nerves which cause pain or even numbness in the affected areas (my case the hands and wrists). The books go on to explain that you can referred pain from trigger points (which are basically very painful spasms or knots in your muscles) in your hands even if the trigger points are in the upper arms lower arms or even the neck muscles. Trigger points can be relieved through massage. I read the customer reviews of the books and decided to try it out.

I wouldnt post about this but I when I am watching Starcraft or videos related I see poor day 9 with his pillows supporting his hands; Or hear stories of TLO Injuring himself by doing a stream to support charity. I see all of the Live players obsessively stretching their wrists and it breaks my heart!

I wish I could explain a bit better but I encourage people with problems to try out this method that has helped me and that I am convinced will lead me to a good recovery from my problems. There are cases In the books of people who could not move their hands they were so cramped up and painful, and almost everyone had a full recovery. Check out the reviews of the books i listed on amazon! I really hope I can catch the attention of the community because Im really optimistic about this. Please post below if you have questions! Or If you have tried Trigger Point therapy!

Bigtony United States. July 18 2012 14:37. Posts 891

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This works wonders for me:

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enjoylol July 18 2012 14:55. Posts 40

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On July 18 2012 14:37 Bigtony wrote:
This works wonders for me:

Man just tried this and almost broke my wrists and forearms, I must not be flexible anymore

"Dresser in styler"

Bigtony United States. July 18 2012 15:13. Posts 891

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On July 18 2012 14:55 enjoylol wrote:
+ Show Spoiler +
Man just tried this and almost broke my wrists and forearms, I must not be flexible anymore

If it hurts too much, don't put your arms underneath your belly. Instead just lie down with your arms near your sides and your palms face down. Over time move your arms closer and closer to your body until you can put them underneath.

You should feel discomfort but not necessarily pain.

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FireSA Australia. July 18 2012 15:21. Posts 362

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ahahahaha you know what I love, I read the op, then watched the video, then promptly did the locust pose. Though I am slightly unsure as to whether I am doing it right. Arms go under you, twisted around so that hands are touching the floor, yes? In any case, it didn't hurt, though the wrist felt weird, not pain, but weird. Also, I do not recommend this with a belt buckle on xD

Ropid Germany. July 18 2012 15:32. Posts 1305

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This seems to be the same idea about the wrist as in that locust pose video:

I do it regularly, and I believe it may have helped combating a numb feeling I often had in my shoulders, arms and hands.

"My goal is to replace my soul with coffee and become immortal."

Bigtony United States. July 18 2012 15:51. Posts 891

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that wrist wand looks very similar, yes.

On July 18 2012 15:21 FireSA wrote:
ahahahaha you know what I love, I read the op, then watched the video, then promptly did the locust pose. Though I am slightly unsure as to whether I am doing it right. Arms go under you, twisted around so that hands are touching the floor, yes? In any case, it didn't hurt, though the wrist felt weird, not pain, but weird. Also, I do not recommend this with a belt buckle on xD

If your arms are in good shape it wont necessarily hurt. Your elbows should be underneath your belly as well if you can manage it and your hands should be palm down reaching for your feet. Basically you hands should be framing your crotch.

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Malarkey817 United States. July 18 2012 16:02. Posts 161

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On July 18 2012 14:37 Bigtony wrote:

Who the hell talks like this? She takes like a 5 second pause in the middle of a phrase, and then rushes through the next 8 sentences with no audible punctuation or breathing lol! I think i'd snap my own wrists if I ever tried something like this. The dude on the left looks like he breaks his spine during the last lift.

"Mnet's Nicole The Entertainer's Introduction to Veterinary Science changed my life." -TuElite

semioldguy United States. July 18 2012 16:14. Posts 7263

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I'm going to go ahead and move this into the Blogs forum.

I'm such a good lover because I practice a lot on my own.

BrTarolg United Kingdom. July 18 2012 16:17. Posts 2496

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I personally just use well adjusted armrests so you don't pinch or impinge any of the nerves

Itsrigged United States. July 18 2012 17:14. Posts 2

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Thanks semioldguy!

Brtarolg Armrests are very good for keeping alot of weight off your arms!

chao Germany. July 18 2012 17:26. Posts 21

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I use trigger point massage for chronic headaches and neck pain that I had for over 10 years. It's magic. Like actual *ing magic. Definitely try it if you have issues with muscle pain.

EdgeSC March 24 2013 16:53. Posts 24

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Has your RSI fully healed from trigger point? I had to know

http://www.twitch.tv/edgesc

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