Key #4:
Patience
4.1. Trust the Process
You will experience relapses and frequent obstacles. Behavioral addictions to computers and devices are tough to break and it will probably take a lot of time and discipline for people who are just starting out. Not to mention there are times when you just need to use them: emergencies, or when you misplace your stylus or other accessibility gadget, or when equipment just breaks or doesn’t work correctly. Not only devices, but certain exercises can inflame my tendinitis and deQuervain’s syndrome (like rows, chin-ups, curls, deadlifts). In the short term for folks with RSI, there are necessary activities which cause pain. I relapse and end up with symptoms for days or weeks. I sometimes get angry and frustrated with the condition and want to throw my headset through my computer monitor.
Being mindful, and adopting a “that’s just life” attitude helps me keep a cool head and shrug despite the pain and frustration. I can turn those sharp and unpleasant moments into a laugh by saying to myself “well what did you expect?”. However, the best peace of mind for me also comes from knowing that I am doing everything I can to recover physically and in my career. I trust the process: by exercising and doing daily home rehab, consulting my medical and fitness experts, sticking to my diet habits, and working on my computer and devices hands-free, I know that in any given moment my recovery is moving in a positive direction. Habits over time are powerful: by aggressively pursuing physical rehabilitation and career satisfaction every day, I experience fewer episodes of frustration.
If you have been aggressively pursuing rehabilitation then eventually it becomes easy to stop worrying about your RSI (even though it’s definitely still there). Recovery for you could be a matter of months but it could be years. It probably took years for you to develop your RSI injuries, and an equal sacrifice is required to undo that. You need to have patience, give it time, trust the process.
4.2. Reevaluate your plans and strategies
My recovery journey has been a sequence of attempting some strategy (a new exercise, medication, massage point or tool, computer input device), and then deciding whether it works for me, or rather how the strategy affects progress towards my goals.
I have found that the RSI community is becoming very active on the Internet, which is an amazing thing, and I love knowing about all of these different stories and perspectives, but there are a lot of strong and sometimes contradictory opinions among both RSI sufferers and medical experts.
In order to navigate this confusing environment, I encourage you to adopt the mindset of a scientist and conduct experiments with different strategies. There are a lot of good ideas out there, and some work better for others than for you. You need to discover what works for you. Does yoga work? Does physical therapy work? Does acupuncture work? What exercises do my hands respond positively to? What are my weak points, i.e. exercises which may need a slower or lighter weight progression? Even at work and in your personal life, it’s important to evaluate your habits and whether they are helping you accomplish your goals, and whether any tweaks should be made. You don’t have to do this on your own either – ask questions and give honest feedback to your occupational therapist, your boss, your doctor. Tell them your goals, share your progress and frustrations with them, and help them help you continue to strategize and recover.
An attitude of patience and flexibility, as well as recording progress in a regular journal, will help you find exactly what works for you as well as prioritize the strategies and activities.
ACTION PLAN #4:
Patience
- Get a massage or a manicure if you do not do so already. It may be worth asking your Workers’ Comp or primary doctor if massage services are covered!
- Answer these questions in your journal: how have you been doing with your daily stretching routine? What improvements or setbacks have you noticed with your injury? How is your progress towards meeting your exercise and nutrition goals?
- Each day for one week, track how often you compulsively touch your phone. I recommend you keep an open journal page or notepad on your desk, write down the date, and make a tally mark each time you touch your phone or device with your hands. (This exact strategy also helped me stop biting my nails/cuticles)
Thank you for reading! Let us know in the comments your thoughts and feedback.
For those interested in using a computer HANDS-FREE, check out Dragon Dictation and the 3DRudder Footmouse!
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