Carpal-Tunnel-Syndrome Books

In my opinion, stretching and ergonomics are only aspects of conquering repetitive strain injuries and this book title presumes too much in the interest of drawing attention to itself.

4 1/2 months ago I experienced sudden onset bilateral arm pain, primarily in the distal halves of my forearms accompanied by carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms in my hands, with occasional aching pain clear to my plexus on my right arm. My doctors turned out to be fear mongers, so I declined their invasive tests and surgeries and have focused my efforts on supporting my body's natural healing process. Although the healing rate seems to be less than 1% improvement per day on average, I would encourage anyone with similar symptoms to treat this problem conservatively.

This book has an interesting high-level discussion of fascia. It is primarily a book of drawings which depict various stretches, and an organization which allows you to choose the stretches most appropriate to your injury. I found a couple of the stretches useful, but have found plenty of other useful stretches on the Internet and in other books which are not covered here. It also has a discussion of ergonomics which is fairly typical of other texts.

I am convinced that my injury is primarily acute tendinitis followed by chronic tendinosis. I have spent a tremendous amount of time studying tendon injuries partly by reading medical textbooks. One of the primary reasons for stretching tendons is that it stimulates proper healing and strengthening for a variety of reasons, not just to free up fascia. It would be nice if this book contained more background information about tendons in addition to the discussion of fascia.

Another interesting aspect of my condition is the fact that I have had cramping and inflammation which lead to poor circulation and healing. I have found that both hot and cold therapy as well as massage are instrumental in the healing process. I perform all of these things by myself most of the time, with a little help from friends occasionally. This book really doesn't address these issues, so I'd also recommend exploring some books on massage and trigger point therapy.

My instructor suggested this book for us training to become a Licensed Massage Therapist so that we wont burn out. Has great stretches and simple. What people dont realize is that its the repetitive motion in the shoulder and upper arm that causes the muscles at the carpals (wrist) to tense up as a reaction to the pain in the upper arm, trigger point therapy is a great way to relieve the strain as well. I highly recommend this book to everyone.

This book will cure your repetetive strain injuries. Butler describes how to stretch properly and what stretches will benefit you most depending on where you have pain or numbness. It is amazing how much better I got, and how quickly! You will need to keep up on your stretches to stay well.

I'd only be repeating the praises others have given this book, but I just want to say I highly recommend this book. The stretches are explained clearly and simply and they do work. I've bought this book for friends and when they follow the exercises, they get relief. Another plus, is doing the stretches FEELS so good and it only takes maybe 15 minutes.

This book was loaned to me at my job as a computer engineer. I had carpal tunnel affecting my wrists & forarm. Excellent, easy stretches which really relieve the pain. I recommended it to a friend who cleans houses for a living, and she was able to stop wearing the arm brace. Great for those tiny, hard to stretch muscles.

I just heard this author speak at a teacher's conference. The material presented was excellent, and reflected the fresh and new approach of this book. I am so pleased that finally there is a book that treats the subject of body mechanics in a functional and practical way. This book is exactly what our profession has been waiting for. Buy it and enjoy!

If you are a massage student, therapist, or teacher of massage therapy, you should buy this book. It's the best book written on body mechanics. It provides all the information needed to sustain a healthy massage career. The burn-out rate for massage therapists is too short; this book will help to eliminate it.

I've been teaching massage for over 15 years, and in all that time I've never come across such a wonderful book on body mechanics. This book is a gem. As a teacher I find its content up-to-date and concise. The photos are clear, the exercises are brilliant, and the tips for students are an extra bonus. My students have learned an incredible amount from this book, and I see it in their work with each other. I wouldn't be without this book in the classroom, and my students will be so thankful for it after they graduate.

I was recently at a massage convention. This book was by far the best one there on the subject of body mechanics. Its functional approach, illustrations, layout, and overall format not only make it easy to use, but a pleasure as well. All others fail to brighten up an otherwise historically dry subject. It will relight your fire and renew your, perhaps neglected, promise of self-care!

If you are a therapist, of any kind, you must buy this book. I use mine almost everyday to help keep myself injury free - and so far, so good. I also use the "client education tips" regularly to education my clients. The book also has helpful "practice tips" which help me to remember good body mechanics when at the table. I love this book - so will you!

Good instruction, a great price, and a growing-in-importance subject area all add up to a definite recommendation.

As a college student who spends hours and hours in front of a computer working on my thesis, this book has transformed the way I work. No longer do I suffer from back pain, sore wrists, and neck strain. Beautifully written, concise, and practical,"Ergaerobics" is truly a "must have" book for everyone! Every college campus should provide it for their students!

"Why does working @ my computer hurt so much" is the best book I've found on preventing repetitive stress injuries. It filled with practical information for anyone who spends long hours in front of a computer (secretaries, programmers, writers, college students).

The authors, both physical therapists, provide guidelines for arranging your workstation and how to sit there once it's arranged. The best part is an extensive list of exercises for your back,neck,jaw,thumbs,wrists,elbows, and shoulders designed specifically to prevent repetitive stress injuries. In addition, each exercise is illustrated so you never have to wonder if your doing the exercises correctly.

Once again, a great book!

As a college student who spends hours and hours in front of a computer working on my thesis, this book has transformed the way I work. No longer do I suffer from back pain, sore wrists, and neck strain. Beautifully written, concise, and practical,"Ergaerobics" is truly a "must have" book for everyone! Every college campus should provide it for their students!

ErgAerobics is a comprehensive guide to help computer users avoid "Computer Induced Repetitive Stress Injuries." In an easily understandable, entertaining, and concise manner ErgAerobics provides basic human anatomy information that anyone can understand as well as facts about Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Lower Back Pain, Neck Pain, TMJ Disorder, Tennis Elbow, Shoulder Impingement Syndrome, Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, and DeQuervain's Disease. ErgAerobics offers tips on how to prevent and treat computer induced repetitive stress injuries, how to properly arrange a workstation, behavior modification techniques to help the reader interact with a computer in a safer, more cooperative manner. ErgAerobics is enhanced with simple, inconspicuous, effective exercises to help with the prevention and treatment of computer induced repetitive stress injuries including why, when, and how to exercise. If you spend days working at a computer - read ErgAerobics.

This book focuses on entrapped median, radial and ulnar nerves: How they get trapped, and what to do about it. Here's a book that explains it better than any hand surgeon or nuerologist will. Also, you'll learn what it is a professional can do for you and what you can do for yourself. This book really explains it all much better than many other books (and I've read many newer ones). I was so happy to get it, I stayed up into the wee hours and devoured it.

Dr. Scott M. Fried's The Carpal Tunnel Helpbook provides an effective, non-surgical program for the management of carpal tunnel syndrome and other types of related nerve problems, providing the latest information on early symptoms of problems and suggestions for modifying home and work situations. Pain management exercises and suggested medications are at the heart of this practical self-help guide.

I found this book through Tammy Crouch Fletcher's RSI FAQ and the many suggestions helped me to improve my symptoms without surgery. Full of common sense, written by a patient (Ms. Crouch Fletcher had two surgeries and researched virtually every treatment available), full of good interviews and tips, and designed to help you help yourself. Excellent read before visiting the surgeon!

Tammy is honest about herself and in her book shares the importance of knowledge verses the quick-fix. The resources given in the book alone, are worth the price of the book. A must read!

In a publishing climate and a culture where behind every commercial publication, you just know lurks some author and editor with $$$ in her or his eyes--particularly in such how to books like become rich in real estate, write a best selling novel, how homeopathy cured my pet anaconda, I found this book extremely informative, passionate about its subject, sincere, clearly written but, the major defect is its structure; Dr. Pacarelli has taken a lifetime of experience (he says he's treated 6,000 cases of RSI) and provided a clear explanation of the many causes and types of the disorder. You will learn that "carpal tunnel" syndrome, which is the media's and layperson's term for disorders arising many from keyboarding (in the past typical sufferers were more likely to be musicians, sewers, sign language interpreters, etc.) is the diagnosis in only EIGHT percent of the cases of hand and arm damage. Dr Pascarelli explains it all: there are anatomical charts of the muscle system, the nerve system, photographs of hand & arm anomolies among sufferers, diagrams & photos of the wrong way and the right way to sit at a computer station, exercises, treatments, ergonomics, etc. You will learn why your average doctor, even orthopedists don't make proper diagnoses, even treatment plans, and often lack the knowledge of the big picture of RSI that affects not just nerves, but soft tissue, musculature, mood, and a lot more. You will be given a chapter of illustrated exercise routines. You will learn (and understand through experience)that splints are basically worthless and often harmful (except perhaps for sleeping). You will learn a host of treatment modalities--some described in detail, lesser mainstream ones like Alexander Technique, Feldenkreis, and Rolfing--which he is not adverse to trying. He also is up to date enough to discuss devices like voice activated software and the like. The problem arises in that after a discussion of the many types of RSI, the treatment plans he advocates are not specified as to which particular RSI syndrome you have. They are all lumped together. Nevertheless, this book is written in a compassionate, authoritive, supportive tone, although the fact that he suggests some people might just not ever get better from RSI is pretty sobering and pessimistic.

Dr. Pascarelli has done us all a great service by explaining the various mechanisms of
RSI. He has done it in a way that makes a great deal of sense to the layman and has
been very helpful to me personally. Kudos to Dr. Pascarelli for writing a book for the
patients and sufferers of RSI, and not another book that only doctors can understand.

I bought this book when I found out that Dr. McCabe, with whom I had made
an appointment for carpal tunnel treatment, had written a book on the topic. It was very thorough. The technical parts were written to be quite easy to understand. I appreciated the hand exercises which were included. There were also open-minded discussions of the possible pros and cons of non medical alternatives to carpal tunnel treatment, with patient feed back on some of them.

As for me, I had tried many of the alternatives, B6, pilates, exercises from the book Conquering Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, over the counter medication for pain, hand braces and even learning to use my left hand to do the extensive note taking required in my job as a speech pathologist. These methods provided some relief for over a year, but never made the problem go away.

When I met Dr. McCabe my daughter was with me while he did his examination and asked extensive questions. She commented later, "He seems like a poster boy for how medical practice should be done." My overall impression is that this book was written with the spirit of truly trying to help others through his expertise in this field.

So far my treatment has been an injection which seems to be working well.
I have met one lady who chose surgery over an injection because she is needle phobic. For those like her I wanted to say that the injection was like a mild pin prick (though this may depend on the surgeon - I don't know) that I believe would not even have brought a tear to most children.
The "pain" was gone in seconds and I have experienced no side effects.
You can drive home easily after an injection.

If injections do not seem to be sufficient for resolution of my carpal tunnel, I am no longer so leery about hand surgery. For one reason, the physician who did my nerve conduction study test said that many of the
"horror stories" of carpal tunnel surgery are due to people getting treatment from doctors who are not specialists in hand surgery, for example from orthopedic surgeons. I would hope anyone would research surgeons carefully before deciding to get that invasive type of treatment.

If you can get back to normal with alternative methods, how wonderful for you. But if you try them for a few months and they don't work, please seek expert help so that things don't get worse for you and maybe be less treatable as time goes by.

Wow! Reading this was informative and also mind boggling. This is a very good reference guide. This should be in every ergonomic's office. I have been collecting data on Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and found this book to be most helpful.

As a certified massage therapist, I work on many people with this "CRS." The authors' suggestions for exercise are what I've seen recommended by the physical therapist I work with, and I've seen results. Of course, massage is very beneficial, and I was glad to see it was also recommended to provide some pain relief. The only way to truly beat the chronic pain cycle is through good posture and strengthening/stretching, and the authors do a good job of providing effective, easy to perform exercises. There is a way to gain relief from this chronic problem...it may require a little work on the part of the sufferer, but follow the suggestions given in the book, and you may soon be pain free. I've seen it work. I plan on giving this book to all my favorite clients for Christmas.

An excellent sourcebook covering all aspects of Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) the new epidemic of the technological age. You may have RSI and not even know it, and if you are reading this review you are definitely at risk for it (computer users are particularly at risk). Almost two-thirds of all workplace injuries in the U.S. are caused by it. The author, a newspaper reporter, describes the injury, what causes it, how to recognize if you have it, how to avoid it if you don't yet have it, the various treatments available, and how it is likely to affect your life outside the workplace. To illustrate each chapter, the author has included interviews with RSI victims from across the country. She concludes with a description of her own affliction with RSI, a story that is searing, yet ultimately uplifting. The most important value of this book is not just that it is a comprehensive review of this disease, but even more importantly, that it calls attention to a disease that can be truly thought of as the new plague of the twentieth century, a disease that has so far claimed its victims in silence. What is particularly insidious about RSI is that unlike the other epidemics that afflicted humankind, the contagion is not spread from person to person, but from machine to person, meaning the epidemic will increase just about as fast as our use of computer keyboards increases. Because this epidemic is not transmitted in the way previous epidemics have been, it has remained a silent yet increaing crippler of otherwise healthy and productive adults. The public awareness that will be required to halt the spread of this disease can be found in the pages of this book. I highly recommend it.