Customer Reviews

It's Not Carpal Tunnel Syndrome!: RSI Theory and Therapy for Computer Professionals

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is a terrific book. I've been an RSI sufferer for eight years and it's the best I ever read. Damany & Bellis stay humble about the things they don't know.

They provide just enough structural and physiological information to help the reader anchor themselves in a real understanding what's going on. A lot of the books spew out a lot of muscle names and nerve names kind as a way of groping for credibility, without really making sure that information is something the person can use.

They're open to the ambiguity, and lay out alternative explanations, for some of the big imponderables in RSI -- such as why some people get injured others don't, or why some recover and others don't.

They have pretty darn good descriptions of the nerve glides and stretches and so forth that a person needs to do. One of my great frustrations with even skilled physical therapists is that they describe a stretch and then walk away, without giving the patient good instructions that that they can follow when they get home.

The most important thing of all is this: the book seems honest and clearheaded and genuine, and it's clear that they're really interested in helping to move the ball forward in understanding RSI.

I really enjoyed the voice and details of this book. It conveyed a much better understanding of the underlying problems to all the pain I was going through, repeatedly. Simply understanding the fact that I have to maintain my body, do things to help it repair itself from the damage I do to it on an everyday basis really helped me figure out what I had to do to be pain free.

This book offers very clear, respectful advise and case studies. It shows that the symptoms can vary according to the severity of the cause and how people's bodies are built. No Instant Cure, no promises, but it does give a very useful, general approach to how to understand and manage the overall problems.

I liked this book because it perfectly described my problem: obsessive computer use. I am a programmer who can easily spend all day and all night writing code. This book was written for that kind of user, and it helped me understand exactly what was causing my problem and what had to be done about it. If you hate your job and think that your boss is to blame for your condition, try another book. If you're a computer-using animal and have noticed that your hands or arms have started to go numb or weak - get this book *now*. The down side to this title are its amateurish computer models used to demonstrate exercise techniques.

If you suffer, like me, from a RSI, namely from PC overuse (although there's a lot of ways of acquiring this illnes, like knitting, playing golf, tennis or other repetitive motion) this is the book for you.
There are many books out there, and although I have not read them all, I have researched a lot about this illness and this is one of the best books to get. Filled with information about Computer acquired RSI, the authors go through every major detail about the illness: Posture, genetics, diet, work habits, ergonomic workstations, you name it, they have researched a lot.
Then book features a direct and easy language, nice B/W illustrations, and many sites for research all over the Web, which you can use to further your knowledge about RSI.
This book doesn't feature too many excersices, it is mainly informative, and the authors just give a few pointers and encourage the reader to find professional help.
Now the negative: There are a couple of things I did find somwhat odd in this book. After describing and defining RSI, and documenting how missunderstood this illness is by the medical community, they jump into their major recommendation: Go to a doctor and get a proffessional opinion. Well then you have to find a doctor versed in RSI, and not one that only want to operate, like they did on the many cases described in the book.
Second, I actually found a little offensive. They are quick to dissmiss any form of alternative therapy such as herbs, taking vitamn B6, homeophaty or even acupuncture regarding them as 'new agey' and not worth trying. To the mainstream or regular medical community, massages and physcal therapy like the authors suggest are also alternative. I have personally combined exercises with acupuncture and healthy eating habits plus suplemments, with good results.
In all, a great resource book, not many excersices but a lot of info, and we all know the best tool against any illness is information.
Buy it along with Conquering Carpal Tunnel Syndrome : And Other Repetitive Strain Injuries by Sharon J. Butler and begin your journey towards recovery.
Peace and Health to you.

I read "It's Not Carpal Tunnel Syndrome!" and all I can say is it's a great book. I've determined that my particular problem is that the ulnar nerve in my elbow is being pressed on because I'm constantly supporting my entire upper body by putting my elbows on the arm rests of my chair. This has caused serious irritation to the nerve and recently I've been waking up in the middle of the night because my pinky and part of my ring finger is numb. To anyone with RSI, I can't recommend the book strongly enough. It is by far the best book on the subject. I even gave my Doctor a copy of it because he, like most, is totally clueless about RSI. Even I knew I didn't have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome after doing 5 minutes of research, yet that's all he kept talking about was Carpal Tunnel. Not once did he even attempt to address the root cause(s) of my problems ... he just wanted to give me anti-inflammatory drugs and told me to wear a brace. No thanks. This book really opened my eyes ... it should be mandatory reading for all Doctors.

Damany and Bellis' work is distinguished from all other RSI books in three ways which make it indispensable:

1. It takes a stand on the nature of RSI - i.e., that it's an entire upper body problem - and supports that view with lucid explanations.
2. It relates the only published, detailed case of an RSI sufferer who found great value in a mind-body approach.
3. It describes the only physical therapy approach that has provided consistent results.

Few practitioners have any long term success stories, let alone consistent success. Every one of Damany's patients has improved significantly in a matter of months. The expertise behind her phenomenal success is conveyed in this outstanding book.

It's an incredibly great book with the most information I've ever seen about RSI until now! I wish I had this book 2 years ago and better, I wish all the doctors here had this book!

I'd like to thank you the authors for dealing so explicitly with TOS (toracic outlet syndrome). I examined my upper chest and noted that my right collar bone was barely distinguishable where it connected to the sternum. I then noticed that the tissue on the right front and side of my neck was inflamed, and especially at the thoracic outlet.

I can see how only an experienced RSI diagnostician would pick this up; I missed the neck completely, and not one doctor ever looked for the signs. And yes, I have been getting "shocks" emanating from the thoracic outlet and brachial plexus mentioned at their companion Web site.

I then went and checked the book and found that this is consistent with the patho-physiology of TOS.

I have had RSI since early 1993 and have read many books and articles on the subject. In addition, I have had physical therapy at several different locations over the course of several years. This book is excellent. It explains how RSI is caused and it has an excellent treatment program. It also has a detailed prevention program, as well as a treasure trove of additional resources. This book should be read by anyone who has RSI, treats RSI patients, or uses a computer.

I work with General Practitioners, Physician Assistants, Orthopedic Surgeons and Osteopaths who continue to follow the "standard party line" of treating carpal tunnel and similiar disorders with NSAIDs, see the OT for splints and the advice to "call me in a month or so if it doesn't get any better." For patients of providers like these (who sadly are in the majority), this book opens a window to the true causes and reasons behind the pain and discomfort. It explains in understandable language what might be really going on - and ways to finally get to the root of the problem and begin to effectively treat the oftentimes debilitating symptoms. Many professionals in the medical field are woefully lacking in effective treatment strategies for the all too common disorders discussed in this book. "It's Not Carpal Tunnel Syndrome" provides information on diagnoses, ergonomics, healthy work habits, lifestyle changes, trigger point massage, and great information that will enable you to ask the right questions of your healthcare provider because with these "syndromes" education is vital and key to success. I have personally lent my copy out to patients in my clinic with excellent results. I strongly recommend this book to anyone suffering from overuse and repetitive type injuries, non-traumatic pain and discomfort related to computer type work and the frustration of being "treated" by health care providers who throw ineffective outdated treatments at these widespread problems. Before you have surgery, read this book!