east lancashire rsi group
symptoms
- Pins and needles, tingling, burning
- Numbness, loss of sensation
- Pain
- Tenderness
- Cramp
- Coldness or whiteness in the fingers
- Loss of strength or grip
Symptoms may affect the fingers, hands, wrists, elbows or arms and can occur at any stage in the development of the injury.
RSI is a progressive long-term condition. It takes time for repetitive damage to reach a level where pain is experienced. A slight ache every now and then may be all that is felt to start with, and this can all too easily be ignored. The conditions usually develop through three broad stages:
Stage 1 (mild) Pain, aching and tiredness of wrists, arms, shoulders or neck during work which improves overnight. This stage may last for weeks or months, but is reversible.
Stage 2 (moderate) Recurrent pain, aching and tiredness occur earlier in the working day, persist at night and may disturb sleep. Physical signs may be visible, such as swelling of tendon areas. This stage may last for several months.
Stage 3 (severe) Pain, aching, weakness and fatigue are experienced even when the person is resting completely. Sleep is often disturbed and the sufferer may be unable to carry out even light tasks at home or work. This stage may last for months or years. Sometimes it is irreversible and the person never regains use of the affected part of their body.