Yes, Food Allergies Were Causing My RSI Issues

I've started posting to this blog again after a break of a year or more, mostly because there is still lots of interesting stuff going on in the field of ergonomics and health related to repetitive stress injuries and other ailments attributed to the daily modern grind.  I originally stopped posting because my main incentive for starting this blog four+ years ago went away: after several years of suffering from repetitive stress injuries (my hands were my main problem), the pain disappeared.

No, it wasn't magic.  It was a visit to a doctor for other unrelated (or so I thought at the time) problems.  She had me tested for food allergies, and I came up positive for sensitivities to gluten and dairy (and a few lesser ones).  It was hard to give up these foods, which show up in nearly everything, (and I do cheat from time to time) but one of the benefits was that my hand problems gradually diminished.  Today I can spend a full day working at the keyboard (or playing World of Warcraft *furtive guilty look*) with pain.  Eliminating the allergy foods also helped me get rid of my other issues (I was having heartburn at night, insomnia, headaches during the day, and needed an inhaler for asthma).

Interestingly, when I cheat, as I am wont to do now and then (especially for desserts, mmm), I'll often know it as some of my symptoms will flair up. 

So, for those of you suffering from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome or other joint issues/RSIs, it's probably worth a trip to the doctor to get tested for food allergies.  It doesn't take much time or cost much (I think I paid about $125 for a blood test that checked for allergies to close to 100 common foods), and it may make a world of difference.

Comments

[Ilya Varnayev]

Hello,

I would be interested in ruling out food allergies as being the cause of my RSI. What test did you get done?

Please post in the comments if you can, the e-mail that I provided of this post is very rarely checked.

[Ergoblog]

I'll just cut and paste a description of the test. You could ask your general doctor about it, but you can also go to an allergy specialist.

Formal name: Allergen-specific IgE antibody test
Also known as: RAST test, Allergy screen

"The allergen-specific IgE antibody test is done to screen for an allergy (a type I hypersensitivity) to a specific substance or substances when a patient presents with acute or chronic allergy-like symptoms.

The allergen-specific IgE antibody test may be done (instead of other medically supervised allergy testing) when the patient has significant dermatitis or eczema (also a sign of allergies), is taking necessary histamines or anti-depressants that would make other testing more difficult, or if a dangerous allergic reaction could be expected to follow another test.

The allergen-specific IgE antibody test may also be done to monitor immunotherapy or to see if a child has outgrown an allergy, although it can only be used in a general way; the level of IgE present does not correlate to the severity of an allergic reaction, and someone who has outgrown an allergy may have a positive IgE for many years afterward."

All they do is draw a sample of blood and send it off to be tested, so it's pretty painless on your part.

[Ariel]

I've had severe RSI problems for over a year and a half and issues with wheat/gluten intolerence for nearly five years. I read your blog last week and immediately cut out my daily hot cross bun and other wheat products and have noticed a substantial difference... thanks a million!

[Cristin McKee]

This is very very interesting (and I'm quite happy for you solving your RSI troubles!). Could you let us know how long it took for the symptoms to clear up once you changed your diet? Thanks!