Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, while being the most common,
is only one type of Repetitive Stress Injury. There are three
basic categories of RSI:
- Repetitive Stress Injuries involving nerves: Carpal Tunnel
Syndrome, thoracic outlet syndrome, ulnar nerve compression
at the elbow and wrist - Repetitive Stress Injuries involving tendons, muscles and soft
tissues: bursitis, myositis, rotator cuff tendinitis, tendinitis
including “tennis elbow” ganglion cysts, DeQuervain’s disease
and trigger finger. - Repetitive Stress Injuries involving the vascular (blood vessel)
system: Raynaud’s syndrome and thoracic outlet syndrome.
The following charts summarize the most common types of RSI and
their symptoms.
Bursitis |
|
Other Names | |
Primary Area Affected | Shoulder, Elbow |
Type | Connective tissue |
Symptoms | Grinding sensation, Pain or irritation, Restricted motion. |
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome |
|
Other Names | CTS, writer’s cramp, occupational neuritis, partial thenar atrophy, median neuritis |
Primary Area Affected | Wrist & hand |
Type | Nerve |
Symptoms | Tingling, pain or numbness in the area of the hand served by the median nerve– the thumb, the pointing finger, the middle finger and the half of the ring finger closest to the middle finger. Sensations also occur in the palm and back of the hand. In more advanced CTS, the pain can be excruciating. Symptoms often are more severe during sleep.Loss of sensation, notably a feeling of clumsiness and loss of sensitivity to hot and cold. |
Ganglion Cyst |
|
Other Names | Bible bump |
Primary Area Affected | Wrist |
Type | Connective tissue |
Symptoms | Bump or concentrated swelling. |
Golfer’s elbow (Medial epicondylitis) |
|
Other Names | Tendinitis |
Primary Area Affected | Inside of the elbow |
Type | Connective tissue |
Symptoms | Pain or irritation on the inside of the elbow, often radiating down the arm. |
Myositis |
|
Other Names | Muscle inflammation |
Primary Area Affected | Arm |
Type | Muscle |
Symptoms | Aching, tiredness. |
Raynaud’s syndrome |
|
Other Names | Raynaud’s phenomenon, Raynaud’s disease, Vibration syndrome |
Primary Area Affected | Hands and fingers |
Type | Vascular |
Symptoms | Unusual sensitivity to coldPale white or blue hands, particularly following exposure to coldOccasional tingling or numbness. Can lead to loss of sensation & control |
Rotator cuff tendinitis |
|
Other Names | Superspinatus, tendinitis, subdeltoid bursitis, subscromial bursitis, partial tear of the rotator cuff |
Primary Area Affected | Shoulder |
Typ | Connective tissue |
Symptoms | Pain, sometimes intense, or irritation in the shoulder. |
Tennis elbow (Lateral epicondylitis) |
|
Other Names | Tendinitis, bowler’s elbow, pitcher’s elbow |
Primary Area Affected | Outside of the elbow |
Type | Connective tissue |
Symptoms | Pain or irritation on the outside of the elbow, often radiating down the forearm. |
Tenosynovitis |
|
Other Names | Tendosynovitis, tendovaginitis, tenovaginitis, peritendinitis |
Primary Area Affected | Any tendon |
Type | Connective tissue |
Symptoms | Pain or irritation, particularly while using the hand or armSwelling can occur. |
Stenosing tenosynovitis |
|
Other Names | |
Primary Area Affected | Any tendon |
Type | Connective tissue |
Symptoms | Pain or irritationCan result in uneven movement of fingers (see Trigger finger). |
De Quervain’s Disease |
|
Other Names | De Quervain’s syndrome, De Quervain’s disorder |
Primary Area Affected | Side and base of thumb |
Type | Connective tissue |
Symptoms | Aching in affected area.Weakness in thumb.Loss of muscle tone (muscle atrophy). |
Trigger finger |
|
Other Names | Stenosing tenosynovitis crepitans |
Primary Area Affected | Forearm |
Type | Connective tissue |
Symptoms | Pain in the forearm or wrist.Snapping or jerking movement of one or more fingers.Rattling or crackling sound in hands or wrists. |
Tendinitis |
|
Other Names | Tendonitis |
Primary Area Affected | Forearm, elbow, shoulder |
Type | Connective tissue |
Symptoms | Pain or irritation, particularly while using the hand or arm. |
Thoracic outlet syndrome |
|
Other Names | Neurovascular compression syndrome, hyperabduction syndrome, cervicobrachial disorder, brachial plexus neuritis, costoclavicular syndrome |
Primary Area Affected | Shoulder, arm, hand |
Type | Neurovascular |
Symptoms | Tingling and/or numbness in the fingers and hands.Weak hands.Atrophying muscles in the hand.
Pale or bluish hands (as in Raynaud’s syndrome). Arm pain. Chronic tired arms. |
Ulnar nerve compression at the elbow |
|
Other Names | Cubital tunnel syndrome, cubital outlet syndrome, cubital canal syndrome, beer drinker’s arm, telephone operator’s arm |
Primary Area Affected | Elbow, forearm, hands |
Type | Nerve |
Symptoms | Tingling, pain or numbness in the area served by the ulnar nerve, particularly the little finger and the half of the ring finger closest to the little finger, as well as on the ulnar side of the hand and forearm. (The ulnar side is where the little finger is.) The sensation can be more severe at night.Hand weakness. |
Ulnar nerve entrapment at the wrist |
|
Other Names | Guyon’s canal syndrome, Guyon’s tunnel syndrome |
Primary Area Affected | Wrist & hand |
Type | Nerve |
Symptoms | Decreased hand strength |
- What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
- How serious is the “CTS” problem?
- Are Working Women more at risk for developing CTS than Male Workers?
- Basic 4 Step Procedure for diagnosing CTS and other RSI
- Can employers prevent their employees from developing CTS and other RSI?
- What forces are preventing “CTS” victims from exercising their right to receive Workers Compensation benefits?
- What are the “dangers” of processing “CTS” related medical bills through group health insurance?
- Frequently Asked Questions about “CTS”