Do I have RSI? How serious is it?
Hello,
I would like to hear your opinion on the seriousness of my case.
I had some wrist pains due to bad habits while typing (pain level: 1-3/10 being most painful) last year from a lot of computer work. I don't think it ever fully recovered at any point.
I started playing the piano recently and I get pain/strain/aches (pain level: 1/10) on random areas on both arms. At first, it was only a little strand of area on my right arm. I read up on RSI and looked for some wrist stretches and did them diligently. It got worse over the days. I cut my practice time from 2 hours to 1 and have the teacher look at my technique. 3 different piano teachers said there was nothing wrong with my technique from what they can see. I even tried to rest for a week, but it didn't show much improvement. Somehow I think the more I thought about the pain the more I feel it.
The pain I feel is diffuse and not specific to a point unlike my wrist pain last year. The thing that worries me is that the pain lasts throughout the day unlike the pain last year that only comes when typing and lingers for a few hours. The pain, isn't really painful but more of a muscle strain-ish pain from overexercise. The pain does not limit my daily activities at the moment. Does the fact that I am feeling the 'pain' throughout the entire day makes it serious even if the 'pain' I am feeling is not limiting? Is there a way for me to continue my daily piano playing? Is it physiological or psychological (read up a little of the success stories of John Sarno method or something)
Cheers.