ANNA’S STORY
A new life after work.
“When I first noticed my RSI symptoms, I had a work role that encompassed writing reports for Parliament in a government department’s policy section. Physically, this meant using a computer most of the time, usually for six or seven hours a day.
Over a period of fifteen years, on two or three occasions, hours of mouse-clicking or using arrow keys caused aching soreness, but a bit of rest and changing how I used the equipment (eg, mouse to left hand) solved it.
In particular, I had one exceptionally long day of typing - working a report up for a suddenly imposed deadline. I experienced no symptoms on that day, but the following week, I noticed pain, numbness and clumsiness in my forearms, wrists and hands. I went to my GP and was given a few days' rest. However, on this occasion, the symptoms continued whenever I returned to computing and I've had them ever since.
My GP worked with me to put in a compensation claim with the insurer which they accepted. With the acceptance of the claim, I returned to work with rehabilitation support. My understanding was the insurer wanted me to have no leave as it interfered with the rehabilitation process. Then, I worked for four months part time, with my pay topped up by the insurer.
To help physically, I was given voice-activated software to use. I found the software had limitations on the way I had previously performed my role and these limitations were not understood by my colleagues or immediate work supervisors. No one wanted to listen to the problems I was having with the software.
I found if I rested the symptoms subsided, but they would never go away completely so I felt I was left with the role of always managing my symptoms. The compensation provider allocated weekly physiotherapy sessions for a time. Initially the exercises worked, but after a while they stopped helping.
Some of the exercises given by the physiotherapist caused pain as they were targeting weak areas. I stopped doing them.
From a supervisory perspective, I was allocated a caseworker, rehabilitation person and others. This would find me in round-table meetings at work with up to three to six people who were all supposed to support my rehabilitation process. I thought it was very poor productivity that so many people were involved, and ironic how little help they really were. I remember one supervisor telling me not to talk to my colleagues and “Just do what you are told.” I felt pressured to perform.
In my home life during that period, I was a single Mum raising a small child, doing all the housework, managing high-maintenance pets, trying to cope with personal grooming, with no close family support locally.
After four months of “rehabilitation”, I went on stress leave, supported by my GP. My OOS symptoms were no better. I felt the stress was caused by the poor management and possible disbelief of my symptoms at work. While on stress leave, as a distraction, I enrolled in some art classes but was limited in what I could do, due to difficulty with fine motor skills.
I rested and as I did not engage in any PC activities, the symptoms were much better. I found if I did activities slowly, a little at a time, it helped. Financially, I used sick leave to support my time off work. I didn’t put in a claim for stress leave because it was too stressful!
After four months on leave, I never went back to work. I changed from sick leave to leave without pay, which led eventually to the single parent pension.
After some months, the insurer sent me to a specialist (occupational physician) who they said would review me and help me with advice on how to treat my condition. I felt later, when I saw the report, that the purpose of the consultation was to undermine me, to pick out any information that could be used to recommend closing the case.
My GP wrote a letter to the insurer stating the patient was still sick, needs help and requesting that they not close the case. There were now two conflicting reports. The insurer decided to choose their own specialist’s report and the case was closed. I then rang a lawyer who advised me to put in a psychological claim for work-related stress with the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, but I felt too stressed, scared and upsetI stopped work. I resigned. I was scared about what would happen next, which made me very stressed. I now had no trust in the insurer or my immediate work supervisors. I no longer wanted caseworkers and rehabilitation personnel all supervising me and telling me what to do. They weren’t helping. I decided to get on with my life as best I could by myself. I could see that if I didn’t use a computer and monitored all my activities to not do any one thing for too long, and rest when my symptoms flared up, I could at least run the house and raise my child.
Five Years Later
I’m still looking and hoping for a cure, although I feel grief for loss of my former lifestyle.
What I find difficult now is tiredness around social activities and explaining what you do with yourself… I say "art". Another difficulty is people who always say “Are you working yet?” or “How do you manage for money?”
Medically, I have a new GP who specialises in OOS injuries. He has recommended a chiropractor and gym program which includes weights for maintenance of my body strength. He says that this will maximise what I can do. Daily I cope with my life through regular gym work, rest and making goals. My biggest way of managing is mixing activities and not over-doing it in one area.
On the emotional front, I love the time I have with my daughter. I access counselling services, for example, Parentline. I spend time with my friends. I like to make things nice in my home and enjoy these things. I love putting flowers in the house and appreciating small things. I don’t like to be a victim. I make sure I get sun and fresh air every day. I take care of my appearance which I feel gives me inner confidence. I work out regularly at the gym which helps get the blood pumping and has helped with lifting shopping bags.
Physically, I have improved my posture management with books from the library. I have also learnt and practise a number of relaxation techniques. I do Iyengar yoga, a rehabilitation style of yoga which is very precise and slow and makes me aware of my body. I have hot baths with Epsom salts which relax the muscles. This helps when I’m tired, especially in the evenings. I have bought myself a lovely small car which is easy to drive and was designed for people with arthritis. I bought myself a great bed which is posturally very supportive but also super soft and “cuddles me like a massage”.
Intellectually, I do a lot of reading, mainly in the self-development area to achieve goals I’ve set myself about areas I want to learn about. I am self-contained and content. I appreciate me and value me as a person. I have learnt not to be perfect. I have set life goals which I accomplish at my own speed. I do art, writing and poetry. One day I hope to have my own art exhibition.”