I realize that this probably is not a typical question, so let me
start by saying that any comments on how to make it better would
certainly be appreciated.

I am looking for a survey of the best doctors in Boston for someone
with a collection of repetitive strain injuries (RSI). My case is a
complex one, and it doesn't fit easily into the common diagnoses.  I
have received diagnoses of tendinitis, tendinosis, tenosynovitis,
thoracic outlet syndrome, and myofascial pain syndrome for pain that
has primarily been in my neck, back, thumbs, fingers, and hands (I do
NOT have carpal tunnel syndrome). However, beyond these diagnoses, I
seem to be very susceptible to repetitive strain injuries (in other
areas of my body as well), and seem to heal from them very very
slowly. I would tend to see this extreme susceptibility to repetitive
strain injuries as being connected to a bunch of other symptoms I
have, and suspect that my connective tissue might just heal more
slowly than most people's. This makes it very important for me to find
an especially smart, open-minded, and compassionate doctor who will be
able to provide the documentation that I need in order to work without
further injuring myself--even though such accommodations might not
seen immediately necessary based only on the classic diagnoses and
even though my RSI can't be verified using lab tests or other
"objective" measures. I'm looking to form a relationship with a
physician who will really get to know my case, who will work as
closely with me as is necessary in order to provide the best care.

A search like this will of course rely on many intangible factors that
may be hard to track down on the Internet.  In the end, there will
probably be a lot of work that I will have to do on my own in terms of
calling possible providers and asking questions, etc. To be honest,
I'm not quite sure what can be done to gather information about these
intangible factors, so I'm looking for an answer that will include
research and recommendations about this very question (i.e. what can
be done on my side).  Unfortunately, I am insanely busy right now, and
won't be able to do very much of the research myself.  However, I have
lined up a bunch of people who would be willing to help me out with
things like interviewing possible providers, etc. Thus, I'm looking
for an answer that would include a plan for what these people could do
to follow up on the answer that you provide.  In other words, please
research what can be done to find a very good match for a doctor for
someone in a situation like mine, and do as much of it as you feel is
appropriate (see below for further guidance regarding how much to do).
 However, if there are things that can only be done in Boston, or that
would require an excessive amount of calling, please include a "next
steps" plan for what people on my end would be able to do to finish
the project.  The people who would be doing this for me won't
necessarily have any relevant experience doing things like this, (they
would be college students) so I am sure that they would appreciate
very clear and explicit directions for what they should do.  I won't
be able to work with them very much, so clear explicit instructions
would be very important.

For example, RSI Action (http://www.rsiaction.org/ and
http://www.masscosh.org/index.htm) has a binder (or binders) of
evaluations of RSI doctors in the Boston area. Unfortunately, those
binders do not exist in an electronic format.  Certainly, doctor
evaluations would be very very helpful in this search, so I could have
someone go there and make copies of the relevant pages.  In fact, they
could possibly even send scans of those pages back to you for you to
incorporate into your answer, though it may be more efficient for you
to provide (in the "next steps" plan) instructions for how they can
incorporate the information into the materials you provide. For
example, you could gather all of the information that you have
collected into a file, somehow transmit that file to us, and then they
could integrate information from the RSI action database into the
file.  If Google won't allow us to exchange files in that manner,
perhaps you could paste comma delimited text into your answer that we
could import into a spreadsheet program or possibly you could include
raw XML/html that we could paste into a file and open either in
Microsoft Word or OpenOffice.org 2.0. I like computers a lot (too
much!), so technical workarounds like this are definitely possible.

In deciding whether to do something yourself or whether to have
someone else do it by including it in the "next steps" plan, use the
following guideline: I really don't care who does it as long as it is
done well in the end and as long as I don't have to get too involved,
given how busy I am.  Of course, if you are going to include something
in the "next steps" plan, it seems sensible that you try it out once
or twice yourself, so that you are better able to instruct someone
else to do it. Other than that, I don't want to micromanage, so will
trust your judgment.

I have learned to think of my RSI as something that I will be dealing
with for the rest of my life.  I hope to find a doctor who will stick
with me for thirty years. If you have atypical disabling RSI like I
do, finding the right doctor can be crucial for your quality of life,
which is why I'm taking this search so seriously (aside from medical
aspects, because my case is atypical and because there are no medical
tests that can back up my claims, a doctor has to really be willing to
stick his neck out in order to provide documentation so that I can get
a job that won't worsen my disability. It is much easier for them to
just tell me to just not worry about it so much-- perhaps also
prescribing high-dose ibuprofen and some OT-- and then to look
surprised when my symptoms have worsened two years later. This has
happened to me several times before with fairly devastating
consequences). When I look back on this in twenty years, I want to
know that I got the best medical care that I possibly could have.

One approach would be to go the "Mass General" route, going to the
best teaching hospital that I can find and trying to get an
appointment with the most accomplished physician.  The advantages of
such an approach are clear: someone who works on the cutting edge, who
sees many other people with repetitive strain injuries is more likely
to have seen a case similar to my own and to know what to do about it.
 On the other hand, as the first paragraph suggests, I need someone
who will really take the time to get to know my case. Reading my
symptoms to figure out "how much is too much" can be difficult,
because underuse can be almost as dangerous as overuse, and I'd like a
physician who will get to know me well enough to help me with this.
I'm not sure what the best strategy is to handle this. Perhaps I could
work with multiple doctors.

Another possible route is to hook up with someone who does research on
RSI. Certainly having research articles on RSI to one's name is a very
impressive credential. Also, if I could find someone who might be
interested in publishing a case history on me and how I seem to be
very susceptible to RSIs, I'm sure that the level of care that I would
receive would change my life very much for the better. Certainly,
Boston would seem to be a good city to be in if one is looking for
medical researcher!

In terms of specialties, though it seems like almost no one has heard
of them, I think that a physiatrist would be an excellent match (
http://www.aapmr.org/condtreat/what.htm ). The reason for this is that
my issues seem to focus on connective tissues such as tendons
(tendinitis and tendinosis), synovial sheaths (tenosynovitis; synovial
shades are tubes through which tendons slide), fascia (myofascial pain
syndrome; fascia are sheets of connective tissue around muscles).
There is nothing really to operate on, and rehabilitation generally
consists of avoiding the offending activities, exercising,
anti-inflammatory agents, and applying modalities such as heat and
cold.  As far as I can tell, these seem to be the domain of the
physiatrist.  In comparison, orthopedists seem to be much more surgery
oriented, and, as I mentioned, surgury probably wouldn't be helpful.
Of course, I am much more interested in general expertise than in what
is listed as their official specialty, so I wouldn't completely rule
anyone out based on official specialty.

Based on the above paragraph, Spaulding Rehab seems like it might be a
good place to look. Other resources worth checking out for referrals
might include MIT's ATIC:
http://web.mit.edu/atic/www/index.html
or a similar institution at a different university.  I haven't looked
at it for a while, but a web site, www.tendinosis.org, seems to
describe pretty much what I have (mine would be a very bad case), and
you could mine its bibliography for names of physicians who also do
research.

I am looking for an answer that not only provides a lot of raw
information, but which also provides a lot of analysis, synthesis, and
organization.  It should include a summary that can be read (including
recommended links) in less than two hours and which includes
information on, say, the top ten or fifteen candidates, but should
also include a more detailed reference section, that I can return to
over the next several years as needed.  I will probably provide a
version of the answer that doesn't include unnecessary personal
details to a couple of the web sites I've mentioned in hopes that it
may help other people, so it wouldn't hurt to include some extra
details that may be of use to a wider audience.  Finally, it should
include a very clear and explicit "next steps" plan, describing what
both I and people helping me should do next to move the project along.
(We won't necessarily follow exactly those instructions, but having
something written down will save me a bunch of time.  For this reason,
it would probably be good to include alternative approaches to the
"next step" plan if appropriate).

One place to get great info would be at the FINDADOC web site:
http://eeshop.unl.edu/findadoc.html
in particular,
http://eeshop.unl.edu/providers/massachusetts.html  ,
where it has patient recommendations for Massachusetts RSI doctors.

Another great resource is the SOREHAND e-mail list:
http://sorehand.org/

I also just came across:
http://www.ctdrn.org/rsi-support/selecting_a_treating_physician-joan_lichterman.htm
but haven't had a chance to read it.

In the past, the thoracic outlet syndrome braintalk community
originally hosted by the Mass General Hospital neurology department
would have been a great source for referrals, but both it and its
successor, braintalk.org, seem to be down.

Obviously, the ideal physician would devote a large proportion of
their practice to repetitive strain injuries. Ideally, the doctor
would work in a clinic or center that focuses on repetitive strain
injuries.  I figure that this would increase the likelihood of them
having good specialists whom they had good relationships with and whom
they could refer me to if something was outside of their area of
expertise.

My nature is to be very skeptical of alternative medicine.  However, I
do recognize that alternative medicine practitioners may be more
open-minded, and may be better at listening.  As I say, I am firmly
skeptical, but I am interested in learning more.

Please make sure to include:
1.) a list of clinics focusing on repetitive strain injuries in the area
2.) A list of questions that it would be good to ask a provider I am considering.
3.) Any suggestions that you might have about how to better use Google
answers in this project.

Hello Robbins,


  I have found physicians for you, from RSI specialists to
rheumatologists. I found them using numerous web searches; seeking
complaints and reviews, and even forum recommendations. I have not
posted many sources as the info was extraneous, and I have posted
names and contact numbers, and found additional information. (Who
wants to wade through all that?) You are fortunate to live in Boston,
where you are surrounded by some of the top hospitals in the country!

  I have worked in hospitals for over 25 years as a health care
professional, and I have seen patients adore physicians that we, those
who worked along with them, thought were lousy doctors. On the other
hand, we have seen patients think the most brilliant physicians were
twits. It?s all subjective and depends on what you think makes a great
doctor. I?m not a doctor, but it seems to me that you should not rule
out problems that lead to RSI, and not focus expressly on RSI. For
this reason, I am including several rheumatologists in the list.

  Because of copyright restrictions, I am able to post only a small
amount of a web site here. Please see each site for complete
information. At the end of the answer, I have complied a list of
names, addresses, and phone numbers. The Google interface does not
provide for very good formatting, so you may need to copy and paste
into an Excel Spreadsheet or a Word Table. Perhaps just printing out
the answer and marking it up with different colored markers and
highlighters can help those who will be making calls for you.

  Remember, building a relationship with a doctor may take time. You
may need to try out several doctors before you find one that ?fits?
you. Even with ratings, rankings and recommendations, it?s hard to
gauge a doctor?s philosophy, compassion and attitude without talking
to her/him in person.
 

   I?d like to start this answer with some quotes from Joan
Lichterman, East Bay RSI Support Group, Oakland, CA -
   ?An accurate diagnosis is essential, but diagnosing repetitive
strain injuries (RSIs) is extremely difficult. As Dr. Emil Pascarelli
and Deborah Quilter note in Repetitive Strain Injury: A Computer
User's Guide (John Wiley & Sons, 1994), "RSI can be a baffling
disease, affecting neck, shoulder, forearm, and hand, as well as bone,
nerve, and muscle. Ailments in these areas can be treated by
orthopedists, hand surgeons, neurologists, occupational medicine
doctors, physiatrists, rheumatologists, internists, and family
practitioners" (p. 42).

 Dr. Pascarelli claims that most of his patients "saw at least six
different specialists before they were properly diagnosed, and they
often describe an exasperating odyssey. Typically, people try both
traditional medicine and alternative treatments. First, they see their
chiropractor or acupuncturist. When that doesn't solve the problem,
they try their general practitioner. Then they see a rheumatologist,
or orthopedist, then a hand surgeon, then an occupational health
physician. Because there is an uneven awareness in the medical
community about RSI, any one of these doctors could be the right one
for you ? but any one of them could also be the wrong one. For
instance, people go to orthopedists because they have musculoskeletal
problems, but if that orthopedist is not knowledgeable about soft
tissue injury, the problem may be underestimated, ignored, or
misunderstood"

   ?As important as it is to do your homework, don't defer your
treatment until you've learned everything you can about repetitive
strain injury, and don't kick yourself because you have it, and don't
expect to learn everything at once. In between learning that you have
RSI and learning how to manage it you are likely to go through a bleak
period of having to give up a lot of things you do and love, and then
a period of learning anew how to do everything. But if you are patient
with yourself, take responsibility for your care, and develop the
assertiveness to get what you need, you will get better.?

Here, she took the words right out of my mouth! ?By the way, it is
critical to have your family practitioner run a number of tests to
check whether you have a systemic problem that may be causing your RSI
symptoms, such as diabetes, thyroid problems, lyme disease,
degenerative disk disease, etc.? Also, chondritis, myopathies and
myositis could be involved.
http://www.ctdrn.org/rsi-support/selecting_a_treating_physician-joan_lichterman.htm


    ?Actually, Repetitive Strain Disorders (RSI) is really a misnomer.
They should be called Cumulative Trauma Disorders or CTD, reflecting
the true nature of the disease. YES, CTD is a disease. It is a disease
of the musculoskeletal system, produced by a gradual build up of tiny
amounts of damage. This damage occurs on a daily basis as a result of
repetitive motions and/or sustained postures, focused to only a few
parts of the musculoskeletal system. All suffered by a working body
that cannot tolerate the damage because of various contributing
medical circumstances.?

   ?It is the lack of blood supply that is the primary mechanism of
injury. When you watch people at work, you quickly realize that it is
very difficult to eliminate repetitive motion from most jobs. A good
strategy instead, is to decrease sustained posture and to increase
blood supply to the working tissues. You may not be able to reduce
repetitive motions, but you can usually improve the blood supply to
the working tissues by reducing posture stress and stretching
exercises. That is one extremely effective and efficient strategy for
preventing cumulative trauma disorders?
http://www.impaccusa.com/rsifaq.html


Then, starting with your second question first:

2) A list of questions that it would be good to ask a provider I am considering.
================================================================================


Questions to ask a potential doctor?s staff/doctor:
---------------------------------------------------
   ?First phone the doctor's office to find out if s/he accepts
workers' compensation cases, and if you could make a telephone
appointment to ask the doctor a few questions. If the doctor or a
well-informed aide won't take the time to talk to you, perhaps you
should look elsewhere. The questions to which I would want answers
are:
 
What percentage of the doctor's cases are RSIs, and what percentage of
those get better?
 
How long is the initial diagnostic appointment, and how does the
doctor diagnose the injuries (for example, does s/he take a thorough
case history, including work history, job conditions and duties)? Does
the doctor check for myofascial stress and neurovascular compression
(two major sources of hand problems)?
 
What kind of treatment does the doctor prescribe? For example, does
s/he support "alternative" therapies (acupuncture, chiropractic,
myofascial release work ? and any others in which you're interested)?
 
If the doctor's customary treatment regimen doesn't help your
condition, will s/he be willing to send you to another treatment
professional for evaluation and/or treatment?
http://www.ctdrn.org/rsi-support/selecting_a_treating_physician-joan_lichterman.htm


   ?Most of us find our doctors through the recommendations of others,
and that can be a blessing -- or a curse. One physician's
type-A-personality bedside manner may be perfectly suited to your
hypochondriac best friend's needs but not to your laissez-faire
approach to survival.

   Whether you're in an HMO or have the means to go to any doctor you
desire, nothing is more important than getting comfortable with your
primary-care physician, typically an internist with a specialty in
some field of particular relevance to you. If you're not comfortable
with the gatekeeper, you won't be comfortable with his or her
referrals, which are often sought during times of crisis, and you'll
end up shortchanging your health in ways you wouldn't dream of doing
to, say, your appearance.

   If you're fortunate enough to have a friend who's a doctor, ask for
referrals, for scuttlebutt, and for guidance. But Mack Lipkin, a
professor of clinical medicine and director of the primary-care
division at NYU Medical Center, who frequently finds himself serving
as a medical clearinghouse, says his recommendations are only as good
as the information prospective patients provide at the outset.?
http://newyorkmetro.com/bestdoctors/articles/02/bestdoctors/index.htm


   ?Once you feel like you've found a good match, you should provide
accurate, thorough information about yourself so your new doctor can
care for you in the best way possible, Frank and Rudnick said.

Start by covering four topics during your first visit: your medical
history, your family history, your lifestyle, and the medications you
take.
Knowing which health problems you've had in the past can help your new
doctor assess your current health status and be on the lookout for
potential problems, Rudnick said.

And learning about your family's medical history can also help your
new doctor help you, Rudnick and Frank said. Certain diseases and
conditions -- cancer, diabetes, heart disease, mental illness, high
blood pressure and high cholesterol, for instance -- often run in
families, Rudnick said.?
http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=53609


   ?Step 3: Ask around for advice
Talk to friends and family about doctors they recommend. Perhaps your
current doctor can even make some recommendations. Nurses in your
doctor's office or at your local hospital might be able to offer
recommendations, since they often work with several doctors.

 You might also consult:
?	A local hospital you respect. If you've heard that a particular
clinic or hospital in your town is good, you might want to call that
hospital's referral service and ask for more information about the
doctors available to see you.
?	Local, county or state medical societies. Networks of doctors in
your area might have referral services to assist you with your search.
Check your local telephone directory.
?	Medical organizations. The American Medical Association (AMA) is a
national organization that allows you to search listings by name or
specialty. Some organizations have local chapters that can supply you
with the names of specialists in your area. Medicare operates an
online directory of doctors on its Web site. You can search by
location and the doctor's specialty.?
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/senior-health/HA00058



   ?At your first appointment you'll probably be able to tell if
you've found a doctor you're comfortable with. Did she review your
past medical history, find out about diseases that run in your family,
inquire about your current health habits, and perform a thorough
physical examination? Did she listen well to your questions? Did she
talk to you about prevention, such as diet, exercise, monitoring for
breast cancer, osteoporosis, etc? Was she approachable? Did she
explain things in ways you could understand? If the answer to all of
the above is yes, and you felt a good "chemistry," then your search
was successful. Good luck!?
http://healthlink.mcw.edu/article/901217376.html


??  Audition the doc. Once you've found a potential candidate, set up
an office visit to meet the doctor so you can find out whether or not
your interests mesh. "I like to interview my doctors," says Lifetime
Online community member Selene. "Many people don't realize that they
are allowed to have expectations of their doctors beyond their simply
showing up and writing a prescription." Dr. Krupat agrees. "The first
meeting is like a first date," he says. "You can size each other up
and find out whether or not you work well together." During the
meeting, tell the doctor what you're looking for in terms of the
relationship and ask him to tell you the same. For instance, Dr.
Krupat has found that some patients get frustrated when physicians
offer a number of treatment options, rather than just telling them
what to do. Others prefer docs with a more give-and-take style.

?  Be alert to these warning signs. If any of the following occurs,
find another physician:
1.	She gives you orders, rather than discussing options. 
2.	She doesn't give you an opportunity to ask questions. 
3.	She rushes you, without an apology. 
4.	She interrupts you while you're voicing a concern.
http://www.lifetimetv.com/reallife/health/features/doc_right2.html

??  After the exam, did the doctor talk to you about your concerns and
ask you if you have questions? Did he seem knowledgeable about your
illness, tests, current treatment options and medications? Did he
discuss all of your treatment options with you? Did he immediately
discredit any treatment options? Did he ask you if you were currently
taking any medications?

?  When discussing testing and treatment options, was the doctor
condescending when you asked for clarification of the information he
was giving you? Did he seem cocky or egotistical or try to sound more
knowledgeable than other doctors? Did he discuss any of his
philosophies about treatment? Are they unusual or against the norm?
Did he ask for your opinions about treatment and treat you like a
partner? If he disagreed with you, how did he address your
disagreement?

?  When discussing pain management, what were his philosophies? How
does that correspond with your philosophies? Are you confident that
the doctor will manage your pain to your expectations? Are you
confident that he will be available in an emergency? Who fills in for
him when he's on vacation or unavailable? Do you feel that you can
trust his judgement enough to comply with his treatment??
http://lungdiseases.about.com/od/generalinformation1/qt/findgooddoctor.htm


   ?Decide what qualities are most important to you - experience,
reputation, good bedside manner, office hours/location, or insurance
coverage, for example. While the doctor with the highest grade point
average may be the best choice for some, a physician?s manner is more
important to others.?
http://www.aanma.org/medicalcenter/mc_finddoctor.htm




Phone Questions:
================

1) Is the doctor board certified?

2) Does this doctor see other patients similar with similar problems
as yours? (RSI, soft tissue injuries)

3) What is the doctor?s attitude about your role in your health care?
Is he or she willing to receive input from you?
 
4) Is your doctor willing to take time for an interview before you
make your choice?

5) Is your doctor willing to work with other health care providers in
partnership with you?

6) How much time does the doctor spend on an initial visit?

7) How long is the wait in the waiting room, generally speaking.

8) Which hospital affiliations does the doctor have?



Ten signs you have the wrong doctor:
http://thyroid.about.com/cs/doctors/a/neednewdoctor.htm



1)A list of clinics focusing on repetitive strain injuries in the area
======================================================================


Massachusetts General Hospital
15 Parkman Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02114
Phone: 617-726-5750
Fax: 617-726-8543
 
Director of Neuromuscular Clinic:
Robert H. Brown, Jr., D.Phil., M.D.
Medical Co-Director of ALS Clinic and Director of Clinical Trials Unit:
Merit E. Cudkowciz, M.D.
Specialties:
Neuromuscular
Other medical specialties:
Rehabilitation

Other information:
The Neuromuscular Clinic was opened at the Massachusetts General
Hospital in 1983 to serve the population of neuromuscular patients. We
are a designated MDA clinic. It encompasses the full range of
neuromuscular disorders, primarily of adults, including muscular
dystrophies and myopathies, neuropathies, neuromuscular junction
diseases and ALS. Its research focus is ALS and selected muscular
dystrophies. The clinic offers full diagnostic and therapeutic
services for our neuromuscular clients. We are affiliated with a full
complement of physicians, nurses and therapists from all of the
relevant disciplines. In addition, we interdigitate closely with a
laboratory that studies the basic pathogenesis of these diseases and
with the Clinical Trials Unit at our hospital. That Trials Unit is now
conducting several clinical trials in ALS.

Other diseases treated:
Muscular dystrophies, post-polio syndrome, myasthenia gravis.
http://www.wfnals.org/clinics/usma.htm


=======================================


?RSI Action is a student group providing preventative education about
RSI to the general public and to students at Harvard. It also provides
advocacy and support for Harvard students with RSI.

Harvard staff should see the section on staff. Our purpose is three-fold: 
?	Education of students, to prevent RSI. 
?	Advocacy for students with RSI. 
?	Support for students with RSI. 

Harvard staff
Harvard clerical and technical staff with problems are encouraged to
contact the union (HUCTW), at 617-661-8289. The contacts are Donene
Williams and Gloria Buffonge. They are willing to talk to non-HUCTW
staff members as well, but are unable to work with those staff members
in their worksite.?
http://www.rsi.deas.harvard.edu/about_us.html

   ?When you first go to UHS , you will see your primary care
physician. UHS primary care physicians have received some training in
RSIs, but certainly aren't specialists. (Elsewhere, most clinicians
have likely received no training.) Try to get referrals to more
knowledgeable people, depending on your symptoms. Several people in
our group received incomplete or faulty diagnoses from their primary
care physicians (though this may not be representative of people's
experience at UHS in general). Since getting the proper diagnosis and
treatment is very important, we strongly recommend getting a referral.
If your symptoms are not very severe (e.g. minor pain only while
typing -- goes away quickly), then you may not be able to get
referrals. Instead, your physician will (or should) probably suggest
rest, ergonomic changes, stretching, and exercise, as well as possibly
splints, anti-inflammatories, ice, or heat.

In a classic case of tendonitis, with these changes, your symptoms
should go away in about two weeks. In any event, schedule a follow up
appointment so that if your symptoms do not go away, you can get more
referrals.?
http://www.rsi.deas.harvard.edu/tips.html#uhs 



=======================================


RCHI
311 Service Road
East Sandwich, MA 02537

General Information (508) 833-4000
Inpatient Referrals (508) 833-4200 
Outpatient Appointments (508) 833-4141 
Physician Appointments (508) 833-4160 
Community Programs (508) 833-4008 
Employment Opportunities (508) 833-4041 
Development Office (508) 833-4004 
Patient Accounts (508) 833-4023 
General Fax (508) 833-4195

Directions on this page
http://www.rhci.org/html/quicklink_contact.htm


(Affiiated with Spaulding Rehab)

Because of copyright restrictions, I am only posting information on
two of their physiatrists.

Susan Ehrenthal, M.D., Staff Physiatrist
Medical School: Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans
Internship: Tulane University School of Medicine
Residency: Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine, New York
University Medical Center ? Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation;
Chief Resident
Diplomate: American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Interests: General rehabilitation. Acupuncture. Musculoskeletal
injuries, chronic pain (including fibromyalgia and myofascial pain),
arthritis, osteoporosis, sports medicine, trigger point injections,
electrodiagnostics.
Other: Medical acupuncturist
Offices: RHCI in Sandwich; RHCI-Yarmouth
Appointments: Sandwich ? (508) 833?4160; Yarmouth ? (508) 771?1300





Scott Abramson, M.D., Staff Physiatrist
Medical School: Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago
Internship: UCLA San Fernando Valley ? Internal Medicine
Residency: Harvard Medical School ? Physical Medicine and
Rehabilitation; Chief Resident
Diplomate: American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Memberships: Fellow, American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Interests: General rehabilitation. Neurological, orthopedic, cardiac
and pulmonary rehabilitation, treatment of musculoskeletal and
neurologic injuries, electrodiagnostic studies, spine injections,
trigger point injections, sports medicine, Botox injections for
spasticity and pain management.
Office: RHCI in Sandwich, RHCI-Bourne
Appointments: (508) 833?4160
RHCI?s medical staff includes six full-time physicians: a neurologist
and five physiatrists (physicians specializing in physical medicine
and rehabilitation).
Information, appointments: (508) 833?4160
http://www.rhci.org/html/physicians_docs.htm




Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital
(617) 573-7000
125 Nashua Street, Boston, MA 02114


Outpatient Services:
Downtown Crossing (617) 728-6050
294 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02108
http://www.spauldingrehab.org/



Alec L. Meleger, MD
Physiatrist
Director, Spaulding/Harvard Pain Medicine Fellowship
Board Certification: 
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 
Pain Medicine
Research Interests: 
Interventional Spine Care 
Musculoskeletal Medicine 
Comprehensive Pain Management

Dr. Meleger?s numerous publications are posted on this page:
http://www.spauldingrehab.org/staffprofile,uid=136



James Sarni, MD
Staff Physiatrist
Instructor, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation,
Harvard Medical School
Education: 	MD, Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, 1986
Residency: 	Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Physical Medicine &
Rehabilitation,1989
Fellowship: 	Hospital for Joint Diseases, 1990
Board Certification: 	Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, 1991
http://www.spauldingrehab.org/staffprofile,uid=151




   When I worked for a major teaching hospital, patients with RSI
injuries found our sports medicine program was helpful. I suggest you
investigate the UMass Sports Medicine program. They may or may not see
non-student athletes.
http://www.athletics.umb.edu/sports_medicine/index.html







CNOT
CNOT, the Coalition on New Office Technology, 650 Beacon St., 5th
Floor, Boston in Kenmore Square, 617-247-6827 is a great resource. You
can check out the CNOT home page, http://www.rsiaction.org/. While
most of their members are in Massachusetts, they are a national
resource. They run various seminars and maintain a referral book with
reviews of various doctors related to RSI. If you need to find a good
doctor, or you want to check on a referral, or you have a good or bad
experience with a doctor, give CNOT a call. Out of the same office is
the Office Technology Education Project, with the same phone number.
Finally, in this one space, there is RSI Action, (an unaffiliated
inspiration for Harvard RSI Action), which works on issues of RSI in
the UniveRSIty, across universities in the Boston area, and in general
on RSI prevention and advocacy for workplace and legislative changes.?
http://www.rsi.deas.harvard.edu/resources.html




=======================================


Physicians:
----------
   Some of these physicians are not likely to be practicing in 30
years, but once you have a definite diagnosis and a treatment plan,
other doctors should be able to  manage your care. At the very least,
an older doctor can refer you to one of her/his younger partners.




These physicians were recommended by Dr. John Sarno (See below)

Boston area--Physicians & Psychologists
Eugenio Martinez, MD
The Spine Center- New England Baptist Hospital Bone and Joint Institute
125 Parker Hill Avenue
Boston, MA 02120
emartine@caregroup.harvard.edu
(617) 754-5246

or

Eugenio Martinez, MD
Pro Sports Orthopedics
200 Providence Highway
Dedham, MA 02026
emartine@caregroup.harvard.edu
(781) 326-7108
(781) 326-5839 Fax 
http://profiles.massmedboard.org/Profiles/MA-Physician-Profile-View-Doctor.asp?Brn=76293



=======================================

Ronald D. Siegel, Psy.D.
20 Long Meadow Road
Lincoln, MA 01773
www.backsense.org
(781) 259-3434



=======================================




Harvard Resources:
?  Edgar S. Miller, DO. 49 Red Pine Dr Carlisle, MA (978)369-6030 (Not
sure if this is a business or home phone!?) Very highly recommended.
(He has been licensed since 1952, so he will not be able to follow you
for 30 years!) I did not include him on the ?Call list?, but you may
reconsider him.
?  James H. Gronemeyer, DO. 290 Massachusetts Ave, Arlington MA 02174.
(781) 646-7790.
Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine
http://profiles.massmedboard.org/Profiles/MA-Physician-Profile-View-Doctor.asp?Brn=60288


?  B. Jayne Alexander, DO. (508) 697-3185



=======================================

Mark C. Gebhardt, MD, among Boston?s 100 Top Docs
Specialty
Bone and Soft Tissue Tumors
Children's Hospital Boston
Orthopedic Surgery
300 Longwood Avenue
Fegan 2
Boston, MA  02115
Phone: 617-355-6021
Fax: 617-730-0456
http://www.childrenshospital.org/chnews/03-10-06/topdoctors.html

And

Mark C. Gebhardt, M.D.
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Department of Othopaedic Surgery
330 Brookline Ave - Chief, Ortho.
Boston, MA 02215
office phone: 617-667-2181
patient phone: 617-667-2140
fax: 617-667-2155
http://children.photobooks.com/directory/profile.asp?dbase=main&setsize=5&last=Gebhardt&searchButton.x=0&searchButton.y=0&pict_id=9903870


A Mass. Board of Registration in Medicine profile
http://profiles.massmedboard.org/Profiles/MA-Physician-Profile-View-Doctor.asp?Brn=47866



=======================================



?Dr. Robert A. Sands is Board-Certified in Internal Medicine and
Rheumatology. He earned a M.D. from Baylor College of Medicine and
completed an Internship at Georgetown University Hospital. Dr. Sands
also completed his Residency at New England Medical Center and a
Fellowship at Beth Israel Hospital/Brigham and Women?s Hospital. He
sees patients at Winchester Hospital and at his office at Baldwin Park
II in Woburn.?
http://www.winchesterhospital.org/webpage.cfm?site_id=8&org_id=1&morg_id=0&gsec_id=0&item_id=3966

Arthritis and Rheumatology Center   Treatment of arthritis, joint and
muscular diseases
Choate Medical Center, 23 Warren Avenue, S-150, Woburn, 
  Tel. 781-938-3985
Robert Sands, M.D.
Khalid Syed, M.D.
http://www.cummings.com/woburn_medical_center.htm

133 Brookline Ave
Boston, MA 02215-3904 
(617) 541-6300
http://boston.citysearch.com/profile/4731165

A Mass. Board of Registration in Medicine profile on Dr. Sands
http://profiles.massmedboard.org/Profiles/MA-Physician-Profile-View-Doctor.asp?Brn=47776



=======================================


Peter A. Merkel, M.D., M.P.H.
MED Arthritis Center Office address 715 Albany St, E 
Office phone 617-414-2501


?Newton resident Peter A. Merkel, M.D., M.P.H., a rheumatologist at
Boston Medical Center (BMC) was recently named one of America?s Top
Doctors by Castle Connolly Medical Ltd.

The America?s Top Doctors guide, recognized by consumers seeking
high-quality medical care, is a trusted and authoritative resource for
identifying top doctors in the United States. The selected top doctors
are nominated by hospital presidents; vice presidents of medical
affairs; and chiefs of service in anesthesiology, obstetrics and
gynecology, medicine, emergency medicine, pediatrics, psychiatry,
radiology and surgery; as well as randomly selected board-certified
physicians.?
http://www.bu.edu/phpbin/webph/index.php

Merkel, an associate professor of medicine at Boston University School
of Medicine, joined Boston University Medical Center in 1998. He was
previously a faculty member at Harvard Medical School.?
http://www.bu.edu/phpbin/news/releases/display.php?id=970

?Massachusetts -  Boston University School of Medicine Arthritis
Center, Boston,  Massachusetts,  02118,  United States; Recruiting
Ashley Leavitt  617-414-2509    leavitta@bu.edu  
Peter A. Merkel, MD, MPH,  Principal Investigator
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct/show/NCT00315393


=======================================


David E. Trentham, M.D.
BIDMC-Division of Rheumatology
110 Francis Street, W/LM-4B
Boston, MA 02215
Phone: 617-632-8658 
Fax: 617-632-9681

http://bidmc.harvard.edu/?node_id=6

?One of the leading researchers in the field of arthritis and
rheumatology is David E. Trentham, M.D. Dr. Trentham holds a medical
degree from the University of Tennessee College of Medicine, and has
spent almost 30 years working in the field of rheumatology. He is a
member of several associations in the field, including the American
Society of Clinical Rheumatologists, and is on the board of directors
for the International Society for Rheumatic Therapy. Dr. Trentham is
an associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School; his
primary research interests are the immunologic properties of collagen,
animal models of arthritis, cellular autoimmunity in rheumatic
diseases and therapeutic evaluations in rheumatoid arthritis. HSR
talked with Dr. Trentham about the research on Type II collagen.
Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School
http://www.zoominfo.com/people/Trentham_David_3506385.aspx



=======================================


Fitzgerald, Lisa M., MD

300 Mount Auburn Street
Suite 410
Cambridge, MA 02138
Phone: 617-868-2650 
Fax: 617-868-2641
830 Boylston Street
Chestnut Hill, MA 02167
Phone: 617-754-6840 
BIDMC-Division of Rheumatology
110 Francis Street, Suite 4B
Boston, MA 02215
Phone: 617-632-8658 
Fax: 617-632-9681
http://bidmc.harvard.edu/?node_id=6



=======================================

Stuart Rosenberg,MD

375 Longwood Avenue
3rd floor
Boston, MA 02215
Phone: 617-632-7441 
Fax: 617-632-7442
BIDMC Division of Rheumatology
110 Francis Street, Suite 4B
Boston, MA 02215
Phone: 617-632-9674 
Fax: 617-632-9681
http://bidmc.harvard.edu/?node_id=6

?Previously, Rosenberg was associate medical director for practice
management at the Ochsner Clinic, a 420-pysician-multispecialty group
practice in New Orleans. He was a staff rheumatologist and regional
medical director for Ochsner Health Plan. Prior to this, Rosenberg was
director of ambulatory services and a member of the executive
management team at the University of Virginia Medical Center (UVMC).
He had also been assistant professor of medicine, and later, director
of internal medicine/subspecialty clinics at UVMC. Rosenberg received
an AB degree from Duke University and an MD from the University of
Virginia.?
http://www.zoominfo.com/people/Rosenberg_Stuart_25817967.aspx


=======================================


Dr. Robert Yood
Phone: (508) 595-2855
?In working with his patients, Dr. Yood strives to make them feel as
comfortable as possible in dealing with their disease. ?I try to
understand the patient?s fears, anxieties and concerns and respond
accordingly. I also work hard to educate my patients so they can
understand their disease and the risks and benefits of each treatment
option I present?that?s very important.?
In addition to being Chief of Rheumatology at Fallon Clinic, Dr. Yood
is also Medical Director of the Research Department, which is
currently conducting more than 30 different drug studies and dozens of
epidemiologic studies. ?This research eventually impacts patients in
terms of the medications they take and type of care they receive.
That?s why it?s so important to build our knowledge base in treating
different diseases.? Dr. Yood is also very involved in teaching and is
Chief of the Division of Rheumatic Diseases and Musculoskeletal
Medicine at Saint Vincent Hospital and Clinical Professor of Medicine
at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. ?I work a lot with
medical residents, both at St. Vincent Hospital and in the office
diagnosing patients. For me it?s very satisfying to help train the
next generation of physicians.?
http://www.fallon-clinic.com/internet/physician/index.aspx?PAGE=mtd/mtdYood&LEVEL1=physician&LEVEL2=meetthedoctor1


?I've had excellent treatment from (and rapport with) Dr. Robert Yood,
who's affiliated with the Fallon Clinic in Worcester (no 'H'), MA
where I live.?
http://eeshop.unl.edu/providers/massachusetts.html

?Dr. Robert Yood - Chief of Rheumatology receives prestigous Paulding
Phelps Award for outstanding service.?
http://www.fallon-clinic.com/internet/physician/index.aspx?PAGE=awardsPublications&LEVEL1=physician&LEVEL2=awardspublications


=======================================


From the site you posted, I found these practicioners:



Fornier, Thea H., CN,
247 Main St., North Andover
MA 01845, Ph 978-686-7103
Nutrition, kinesiology, muscle testing.


=======================================

Simms, Robert, MD, Rheumatologist
Boston University School of Medicine, Arthritis Center, K5, 71 East
Concord St., Boston, MA 02118, Ph 617-638-4310.  FMS.




=====================================================


Have you ever had scintigraphy testing for lesions from RSI? It
appears to be useful in advanced cases. ?Repetitive strain injuries
(RSI) are characterized by lesions to the soft tissue after strainful
work. RSI require rapid diagnosis and treatment since it may lead to
temporary or permanent functional impairment. Diagnosis is based
mainly on clinical complaints, physical examination and radiographs.?
http://www.alasbimnjournal.cl/revistas/2/aborthopheadics.htm



=======================================

Mass General/Boston Children?s Hospital have a neuromuscular research center:
?Neuromuscular diseases are a group of diseases that can be relatively
mild, moderate, or severe, and can present early or later in life. The
severe cases of neuromuscular disease may lead to death in early
infancy while milder cases may cause significant muscle weakness that
persists for life. These disorders can be inherited in different ways,
including both X-linked and autosomally. As summarized by (1) O'Brien
and Kunkel (2001), neuromuscular disease research has significantly
progressed since dystrophin was cloned. The functions of dystrophin
and its associated protein complex (DAPC) are being elucidated.
(Please refer to our Researcher Informaiton section for a diagram of
the DAPC.) However, a delay in developing treatment has taken longer
than expected. New advances have created the potential for several
therapies which will be explored further, in hope that we will be
better able to manage muscular dystrophies. Our research is dedicated
to this goal.?
http://www.chb-genomics.org/hndp/pat_fam-index.php


Elizabeth Taylor, MS, CGC
Research Study Coordinator,
Board Certified Genetic Counselor
Children's Hospital Boston
Division of Genetics
300 Longwood Avenue
Enders 6 
Boston, MA 02115

Telephone: 617-919-2169
Fax: 617-730-0253
E-mail: etaylor@enders.tch.harvard.edu
http://www.chb-genomics.org/hndp/contact-index.php



=======================================

Alternative Therapy that many on RSI forums recommend:
?Most patients have cramping or twisting postures that are not
completely resolved by all of the best attempts of using medications.
Especially for these patients, it is important to maintain as much
flexibility and as complete a range of motion of the affected body
part as possible.
Gentle stretching and range-of-motion exercises suggested by your
physician can help. Your physician may also suggest evaluation by a
physical therapist or occupational therapist. The intent is to
preserve range of motion and flexibility, not necessarily to lessen
the amount of spasm. However, after gentle stretching, the affected
body part may feel better temporarily.?
http://www.dystonia-foundation.org/treatment/comp.asp



=======================================

Feldenkrais Method
From Cathy Wong, N.D.,
Your Guide to Alternative Medicine.
FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now!
What is Feldenkrais?
?Feldenkrais is a form of movement re-education developed by nuclear
physicist and engineer Moshe Feldenkrais after suffering a
sports-related injury. Rather than undergo surgery, he explored
alternatives and created his own form of rehab integrating physiology,
anatomy, martial arts, psychology, and neurology.

A key principle of Feldenkrais is that the way that a person speaks,
moves, and thinks is based on the self-image that person has developed
over the years. In order to change the way we move and carry
ourselves, we have to change how we see ourselves.

Feldenkrais recognized the importance of proper breathing to movement.
He also believed that postures and movements reflected the state of
the mind and body. For example, a depressed person may have hunched
shoulders?
http://altmedicine.about.com/od/therapiesfrometol/a/Feldenkrais.htm

?yes, I understand. Most people can't stop working. But I do worry
about you overusing your left hand. My doc was top notch but it's the
OTs who can help you. I urge you check out the Feldenkrais
practitioner site and call up any OTs or PTs in your area.?
http://www.mediabistro.com/bbs/cache/t25763_1.asp


32 practicioners in Boston
http://www.feldenkrais.com/guild/find/list.lasso?country=&state=ma



=======================================


3) Any suggestions that you might have about how to better use Google
answers in this project.

   It?s always good to post site you have already found, and you did
that! Nothing bothers researcher more than getting told, after the
fact, that the researcher already found those sites! (Yet failed to
tell us). I actually researched without using your sites, to see what
I could find, and later found I came across your sites anyway!

   As you noted, this question was locked and left several times. It
is quite a daunting project, and it took considerable time. I felt
confused, and am not even sure I was able to provide you with
sufficient information. I hesitated taking this question after reading
it thoroughly for fear of not being able to meet all your criteria.
Perhaps by breaking a large project into two (or more) questions, it
would be less of an overwhelming task to researchers.

  Subjective answers are always difficult. We can?t be sure you will
like the doctors we find, and we can?t be sure the doctors are still
at the posted locations. We can?t be sure the doctors are accepting
new patients, and we can?t always find the doctor?s age. Sometimes the
customer ?punishes? a researcher with a low rating when they find that
a doctor has retired or moved.

  Do remember, that Google Answers has the Clarification process,
which encourages a dialogue between customer and researcher. You can
utilize this if I have failed to include something.

=======================================



Additional:


Dr. John Sarno is at NYU Medical Center, and not Boston, but he seems
to enjoy a great reputation.
http://www.med.nyu.edu/people/J.Sarno.html

?He calls the painful syndrome which results Tension Myositis Syndrome
(TMS). In essence, he argues that the pain exists not because there is
a structural injury at the site of the pain, but because your brain
has somewhere deep inside chosen to latch onto the pain as a mechanism
to divert you from painful feelings that have been pushed deeper than
your conscious level. He boasts a high rate of treatment success, and
there are many Harvard students in the RSI Action Group who have been
healed by his program (and they are available to talk to you). The
following several pages have been adapted from a handout which the RSI
group has produced about Dr. Sarno, and are a summary of Dr. Sarno's
research on TMS.?

Dr. Sarno?s writings on TMS:
http://www.tarpityoga.com/tms.html


Dr. Sarno?s book:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0060851783/ref=nosim/102-4921246-8552959?n=283155


If you have MS Word installed (And you said you did) You can read a 7
page  handout from Dr. Sarno. Click on the blue word ?Handout? near
the bottom of the page. I am unable to post it here due to copyright
restrictions.
http://www.rsi.deas.harvard.edu/mb_what_is.html


=======================================


?ARMS has received national coverage from such publications as Time
Magazine and the Congressional Quarterly Researcher and is the only
international RSI resource listed in Dr. Koop's Self-Help Advisor,
written by the former Surgeon General of the United States?
http://www.certifiedpst.com/arms/

Newsletter Archives
http://www.certifiedpst.com/arms/newsletters.html

Order additional Information and newsletter
http://www.certifiedpst.com/arms/contact.html


=======================================

Success Stories
http://www.geocities.com/la_rsi/healing.html?200630


=======================================

Musculoskeletal Disorders
http://www.mic.ki.se/Diseases/C05.html

Polymyositis
http://healthgate.partners.org/browsing/browseContent.asp?fileName=100268.xml&title=



=======================================

List of rheumatology clinics in the Boston Area
http://local.infospace.com/insp.bylocation/local/byloc/MA/Boston/Health-and-Fitness/Doctors/Rheumatology

The BrainTalk site has relocated to
http://brain.hastypastry.net/
I found nothing of use on the cached site.

This is the chat forum
http://brain.hastypastry.net/forums/chat/flashchat.php

Monthly support group in your area:
650 Beacon Street, Kenmore Square, Boston, 4th Floor, in the room to
your left as you exit the elevator. There is a physician evaluation
book there as well. ?RSI Action?s book of user evaluations of
health-care and other providers may be viewed by appointment at the
MassCOSH office in Dorchester; call 617-825-7233 extension 10. You may
also view it during the monthly drop-in meeting. If you have RSI we
invite you to contribute evaluations of providers you have used?
Clicking on the link under RSI ACTION FLYER takes you to a
downloadable Word document that states ?RSI Action?s book of user
evaluations of health-care and other providers may be viewed by
appointment at the MassCOSH office in Dorchester; call 617-825-7233
extension 10. You can also view it during our monthly drop-in meeting.
We invite you to contribute evaluations of providers you have used;
the forms are on our web site.?
http://www.rsiaction.org/



You may also contact:

The Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics
1010 Vermont Avenue NW
Suite 513
Washington DC 20005
(202) 347-4976

AOEC will refer you to an occupational and environmental clinic near
you. The clinic may direct you to doctors knowledgeable about RSI or
support groups in your area.?
http://www.rsihelp.com/physician.shtml



=======================================

For your eventual appointment:

  Request copies of your records from past doctors you have seen,
particularly any imaging studies, such as X-rays, MRIs, etc., and
blood tests. Take them with you, or request that they be faxed in
advance of your appointment.

   Wear easy to remove clothing, for comfort and ease in undressing.

  Take or wear any supportive devices you may use, such as a brace or splint.

  Compile a list of medications you have tried, and a separate list of
all medications you currently take and their dosages. Include any
supplements and vitamins.

  Ask if you should be fasting in case fasting labs may be drawn.

  Compile a list of all therapies you have tried.




=========
Call List
=========

Massachusetts General Hospital
15 Parkman Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02114
Phone: 617-726-5750
Fax: 617-726-8543




RSI Action at Harvard
617-661-8289




RCHI
311 Service Road
East Sandwich, MA 02537
General Information (508) 833-4000
Inpatient Referrals (508) 833-4200 
Outpatient Appointments (508) 833-4141 

Susan Ehrenthal, M.D., Staff Physiatrist
Scott Abramson, M.D., Staff Physiatrist




Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital
(617) 573-7000
125 Nashua Street, Boston, MA 02114

Outpatient Services:
Downtown Crossing (617) 728-6050
294 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02108

Alec L. Meleger, MD, Physiatrist
James Sarni, MD, Staff Physiatrist




CNOT, the Coalition on New Office Technology
650 Beacon St., 5th Floor, Boston (Kenmore Square)
617-247-6827






Eugenio Martinez, MD
The Spine Center- New England Baptist Hospital Bone and Joint Institute
125 Parker Hill Avenue
Boston, MA 02120
(617) 754-5246
 or
Pro Sports Orthopedics
200 Providence Highway
Dedham, MA 02026
(781) 326-7108
(781) 326-5839 Fax






Ronald D. Siegel, Psy.D.
20 Long Meadow Road
Lincoln, MA 01773
(781) 259-3434





James H. Gronemeyer, DO
(781) 646-7790



Mark C. Gebhardt, M.D.
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Department of Othopaedic Surgery
330 Brookline Ave - Chief, Ortho.
Boston, MA 02215
office phone: 617-667-2181
patient phone: 617-667-2140
fax: 617-667-2155
http://www.dfci.harvard.edu/abo/danafarber/detail.asp?personID=326



Robert Sands, MD
133 Brookline Ave
Boston, MA 02215-3904 
(617) 541-6300



David E. Trentham, M.D.
BIDMC-Division of Rheumatology
110 Francis Street, W/LM-4B
Boston, MA 02215
Phone: 617-632-8658 
Fax: 617-632-9681


Fitzgerald, Lisa M., MD
300 Mount Auburn Street
Suite 410
Cambridge, MA 02138
Phone: 617-868-2650 
Fax: 617-868-2641
830 Boylston Street
Chestnut Hill, MA 02167
Phone: 617-754-6840 


Stuart Rosenberg,MD
375 Longwood Avenue
3rd floor
Boston, MA 02215
Phone: 617-632-7441 
Fax: 617-632-7442


Dr. Robert Yood
Phone: (508) 595-2855




Peter A. Merkel, M.D., M.P.H.
MED Arthritis Center Office address 715 Albany St, E 
Office phone 617-414-2501



Simms, Robert, MD, Rheumatologist
Boston University School of Medicine, Arthritis Center, K5, 71 East
Concord St., Boston, MA 02118, Ph 617-638-4310


Fornier, Thea H., CN,
247 Main St., North Andover
MA 01845, Ph 978-686-7103


=======================================


I hope you have found this information useful. If anything is unclear,
please request an Answer Clarification, and allow me to respond,
before you rate. I will be happy to assist you further on this
question, before you rate my answer.

Sincerely, Crabcakes






Search Terms
=============
RSI + differential diagnosis
Best Sports medicine physicians + Boston
Best RSI Physicians + Boston
Best soft tissue physicians + Boston
Musculoskeletal disorders + Best physicians + Boston
Myositis + physicians + Boston
Best rated physicians + Boston + rheumatologists
repetitive stress injuries specialists + Boston
CTD + MSD + physicians + Boston
Top rated physicians + Boston

---

Request for Answer Clarification by robbins-ga on 09 Sep 2006 17:31 PDT

Hello, Crabcakes.

My name is Moonsie and I'm helping Robbins, as per his original post. 
I've read both Robbins' question and also your detailed answer.  Thank
you very much for all of the information you collected.  Now, we're
all in a solid place to start searching for a doctor with whom Robbins
can develop a long relationship for at least 30 years.  So, thanks!

Robbins also requested a "Next Steps" plan.  While we got a lot of
information and questions to ask healthcare providers, I don't see a
clear cut step-by-step plan.  You could provide one, as you say that
you "have worked for over 25 years as a health care professional," and
as Robbins' assistant who will be following this plan I would greatly
appreciate that.  We imagine something like this:  Step one--see when
you have enough time to talk with prospective Dr. Doe; Step two--call
and make appointment with Dr. Doe; Step three--etc.  Be in the mindset
you are writing a manual "Finding an RSI Specialist, For Dummies".

Thanks again, Crabcakes.  I'll repeat Robbins and say that "I realize
that this probably is not a typical question".  Your initial search
and survey was very helpful, and we look forward to receiving the next
set of answers.  Thank you!!!

---

Request for Answer Clarification by robbins-ga on 09 Sep 2006 18:17 PDT

(This one is from Robbins)

I haven't yet had a chance to carefully read your entire answer
(insanely busy, as I mentioned in my original post), but as I look at
the various physicians you included, I don't see many descriptions
that really scream out "RSI SPECIALIST." From haunting the MGH Neuro
webforum on thoracic outlet syndrome, I was able to find a couple of
doctors who specialized in TOS, so I imagine that there must,
similarly be doctors out there who specialize in RSI. I don't
currently see such specialists in your post. I see many talented
doctors, but no real specialists. Could you give me a list of the 5-8
best general RSI docs in Boston, including documention to explain why
you consider them to be RSI specialists? I know that this will be hard
to find, but it is really what I'm looking for.

Regarding specialties, Pascarelli has the following to say in his new
book: "Over the years, I have become more perplexed about what medical
specialty is likely to have physicians trained to evaluate patients
with RSI. RSI is a soft tissue neuromuscular illness, but there is no
soft-tissue medical specialty. ... Hand surgeons and orthopedists, who
often see RSI patients, have been trained to treat illnesses
surgically. Generally, RSI is a nonsurgical illness, and though many
surgeons recognize this, not all do. ... After you see your primary
care physician, you may be referred to one of the following
specialists: an occupational medicine specialist, a hand surgeon, a
physiatrist, a neurologist, a rheumatologist (arthritis specialist),
or a pain management specialist."

As I look through the list, I find myself really drawn to the
physiatrist or the occupational medicine specialist. I'm less
attracted to pain docs because my symptoms have always been fairly
mild. Likewise, Sports medicine docs are used to more traumatic and
acute injuries, and may not "get" my problems. (though maybe they
would). (I may owe you some tip money for not having thought of this
earlier). Regarding rheumatologists, correct me if I'm wrong, but I
really do think of them as being more about joints, arthritis,
autoimmune and other disorders. I definitely think that it is worth
going to another one (I've already had one do a thorough workup trying
to rule out other causes of my RSI--yep I've seen many doctors) just
to rule out something like an autoimmune problem, but I wouldn't think
of them as being my core, long term, bond of trust documentation
writing doc.

I really have to run, but as I take off, as I look through your "list
of clinics" and "list of docs" lists, I feel like there must be some
physicians in Boston who to a large extent specialize in RSIs, as well
as a specialized clinic that pretty much does the same. (The MGH
clinic seemed to really be about ALS, and RSI Action isn't a clinc.
RCHI might be better, but I don't see much information about it.) If,
indeed, there are no such true RSI specialists, then it would be
important to me for you to describe your methodology carefully enough
so that I would be confident that if there were such specialists, you
would have definitely found them. I'm not sure if a bunch of Google
searches alone will be sufficient if you need to give a negative
answer. I know that this would be very hard, but I think that it would
be what it would take for me to give you the perfect score and the tip
that I really want to give you.

Thank you for all of your efforts,
Robbins

---

Clarification of Answer by crabcakes-ga on 12 Sep 2006 22:51 PDT

Hello Robbins (And Moonsie),

   I performed a very thorough search, and spent many hours on what i
found. I fond it hard to believe that there are many RSI "only"
specialists.

  Please let me dig around some more. I'm also a bit unclear on what
you mean by a Next Step process. Once you narrow down a few doctors to
visit.... is this the Next step?

  In any case, I am working.... and will post ASAP!

  Sincerely, Crabcakes

---

Clarification of Answer by crabcakes-ga on 13 Sep 2006 13:24 PDT

Hello again,

 I have found additional specialists for you. Please refrain from
rating, as I will be searching further and will post ASAP!

  
Here is a list (unrated) of physiatrists in the Boston area. Each name
links to contact information. Perhaps some of the recommendations
below, or the names I posted in the original answer will heo guide
you.
http://www.physiatry.org/field/Resultsmap.CFM?kmembers__StateOrProvince=MA


"Physiotherapy should certainly be considered as a starting point for
anyone who is suffering from RSI symptoms. It is effective in the
early stages of recovery for relieving pain and increasing the range
of motion in the back and limbs. Initially the treatment would
probably consist mainly of work to mobilise the cervical and thoracic
spine (neck and upper back) in order to increase the blood circulation
in the surrounding tissue. This releases muscles and helps to free up
the nerves that run from the back and down into the arms. The arms are
then mobilised by means of stretches to try to increase their range of
motion, and to relieve the ?tension? in the nerves. Self treatment is
a major part of obtaining this improvement, as the stretches need to
be repeated at regular intervals throughout the day, as directed by
the therapist. On commencing treatment, it may well be that the pain
increases for a couple of days after each visit, and the RSI gets
worse before it begins to improve. Sometimes the pain improves in one
area, but worsens in another. This is all quite common, and dictates
the speed and form that the treatment takes. However if the treatment
just aggravates symptoms without producing any improvement, then don?t
continue with it.

A list of practitioners can be obtained from the Chartered Society of
Physiotherapy; their address is listed at the back of this book. They
also produce a list of RSI specialists. It may also be worth
contacting other sufferers in your local area via the RSI Association
and getting a recommendation. Self-help groups can be a valuable
source of advice and support on these matters.

Verdict

Physiotherapy is probably the best starting point for treatment.

http://www.crazycolour.com/os/rsi_03.shtml

Here is the book to which the above link is referring, at bargain
prices for used copies!:
http://www.amazon.com/Repetitive-Strain-Injury-Handbook-Prevention/dp/080505930X/ref=sr_11_1/103-6624925-2089466?ie=UTF8



You could call this person, who heads a support group in Boston:
 Hilary Marcus, Office of Technology Education Project, (617)776-2777
http://www.ctdrn.org/rsinet/archive/rsinet21-dec94.html#RSI%20SUPPORT%20GROUPS

This person is in NY, but could offer hope,as she counsels RSI patients:
Susan Nobel, (212)241-1527. Monthly. Susan is a social worker at Mount
Sinai Hospital who also offers free counseling to RSI sufferers.

The site to which this site points to is not yet "live" but you could
keep checking it, as summer is practically over!
http://www.uretopia.com/2006/05/rsi-specialists.html


Recommendations by patients:
"Call Kerry Souza at the Coalition on New Office Technology
(617-247-6827) and make an appointment to see the RSI ACTION Health
Care Referral binder. This is a binder with RSI sufferers' individual
opinions and experiences with health care providers in the Boston
area. It covers doctors, OTs, Physical Therapists and alternative
providers."

"I've had excellent treatment from (and rapport with) Dr. Robert Yood,
who's affiliated with the Fallon Clinic in Worcester (no 'H'), MA
where I live.
Patient Recommendation

I have received competent medical care for my RSI from Dr. R. J.
McCunney, at MIT's medical department. On the other hand, I earlier
received less than competent care from the doctor on call there asbout
a year ago (the moral being that you should be sure to get someone who
deals with RSI frequently)."

"RSI doctor in the Boston area, I can offer the name of Dr. Diamond at
MIT Health Services. As you might expect RSI is a big deal at MIT with
lots of CTS sufferers. Diamond is the local specialist. However, I
have not yet seen him so I cannot recommend him at this time. Also I
don't know about access for non-MIT people. I don't have his number at
hand, but call the MIT switchboard, 617-253-1000 to get it.

....You can try Dr. Diamond at the MIT Medical Center (I'm not sure if
he takes patients outside of MIT, but I think he does...) I went to
him, and he was pretty knowledgable. Good luck! "

"I owe thanks to Dr. Sarni, Dr. Stein, and OT Priscilla Mann at
Boston's Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital"

"For about two months, I went to the Spaulding rehab hospital (the one
in Boston) and saw a occupational therapist named Priscilla Mann. She
seemed *very* knowledgeable, and the exercises and stretches she gave
me seemed to help some; they certainly didn't hurt. I even heard that
she helped someone else to get tested with a nerve conduction/emg test
using a method that finally verified that he had a problem. (Often
people have rsi symptoms, but an emg/nerve conduction test done in the
usual fashion doesn't show any problem. This can make getting workers
comp very difficult.) ... A great resource for finding Boston area
doctors, occupational therapists, chiropractors,... is the Coalition
for New Office Technology, on 650 Beacon Street. The organization has
a binder full of health care provider reviews written by rsi patients.
CNOT's phone number is 617-247-6827"

"I personally have found Dr. Thomas Winters (617/472-9925), who was my
GP (general practictioner), very helpful in providing me with the
basics of RSI wcare. He has had extensive RSI experience. (I believe
he is *the* person DEC uses.) He was the person who referred me to
Elaine LaCroix. (I believe my use of Elaine has subsequently led her
to become *the* person Lotus uses.) The following are hand surgeons
who I have been told are some of the top in Boston. (However, it is
not clear to me that surgery is usually the best route.)

- Dr. Andrew Terrono, 617/738-0857
- Dr. Craig Stirrat, 617/232-5561
- Dr. Richard Gelberman, 617/726-2946


"Occupational & Environmental Medicine Program
Boston University Medical Center
88 East Newton Street Clinic Founded 1979
Boston, Massachusetts 02118

AOEC Contact: John Meyer, MD, MPH 617-638-8400 FAX 617-638-8406
e-mail: jmeyer@acs.bu.edu

"For those of you living in the Boston area: St. Elizabeth's Hospital
in Brighton has begun a Mind Body Program. Phone # is 617-562-7916.
It's based on Jon Kabat-Zinn's pain program at UMass.

Cost is $750 - your insurance may cover it. Cost includes - 8 weekly
2.5 hour sessions, one all day session, tapes, book, etc. We learned
meditation and yoga and mindfulness, etc... Dr. Pamela Pettinati runs
the program. The woman is incredible. She's been practicing and
teaching meditation for years. She also has a VERY personal
perspective...she was a reconstructive surgeon for 30 years and woke
up with myasthenia (sp) gravis (a nerve and muscle degenerative
disease that also causes double vision) about 5 years ago to find her
career over before she even got out of bed. She uses a very personal
perspective to teach the program and alot of humor too.

The hospital itself now also offers several alternative med programs
like Feldenkreis, Alexander, etc. as part of Mind Body Program.

I can't tell you how much it has helped me deal with my thoracic
outlet pain, loss of ability to do many activities I enjoy, missed
work, depression, dealing with idiotic suggestions like I should learn
to write with my right hand (I'm a left handed teacher with TOS on
left side), etc, etc...

I still don't even know if my insurance will pay...if not, it's still
the best $750 I will have spent to date! Ben E. Benjamin, massage
therapist
47 Grant Street
Concord, MA 01742 (508) 369-0514
He also founded a school which I believe is in Boston and uses his
name in the title."

"As many other RSI patients have probubly experienced I have been to a million
doctors all of whom offered me no help. These Health care professionals were
excellent!!

1)  Christina Abbott
    The Abbott Center
    323 High Street
    Westwood, MA
    (781)326-3841
She is a certified Neuromuscular Therapist "

"Cecile Raynor certified teacher
    Alexander Technique Associates
    233 Harvard Street Brookline 02446
    (617) 325 0881
    http://alexandertec.com 

I can not speak highly enough of Cecile. She is a sweet and wonderful person
who really cares about her patients in both a mind and body way. As we know
with rsi not just your hands are involved, your whole body contributes to
this problem. I went to Cecile on blind faith not really knowing anything
about the Alexander Technique and was amazed. I had been having so much pain
in my upper back from bad posture that I was for days confined to the floor.
After one visit with her my upper back pain was gone and never came back.
Since then we have continued to work on my posture and my own misuse of my
body. I have learned so much about the way I do things and in an on going
process am learning to change my misuse. I was so blown over by the power of
the Alexander Technique to cure that I considered becoming a teacher. Visits
are for an hour..."
http://eeshop.unl.edu/providers/massachusetts.html


David Crandell, MD
Staff Physiatrist, Inpatient Stroke, Brain Injury, and Musculoskeletal Programs
Instructor, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation,
Harvard Medical School
CONTACT
dcrandell@partners.org
(617) 573-2200
http://spauldingrehab.org/staffprofile,uid=114


Would you consider travelling to Pittsburgh?
"Rubin reported that Carnegie Mellon's commitment to addressing the
problem of RSI is substantial and that it has the strong "top-down"
support of university President Robert Mehrabian, Provost Paul
Christiano, deans and other university officers, as well as the
"bottom-up" support of students, faculty and staff"


    Office of Public Relations
    Carnegie Mellon University
    Pittsburgh, PA 15213

http://www.cmu.edu/rsi/ResourcesPressRelease.htm



"If you live in a fairly large metropolitan region a number of medical
specialists are likely to be available, and you may know or have
access to other injured workers. Wherever you live, however, I suggest
using a number of strategies to find potential treating physicians,
such as the following: (1) See your family doctor and get his or her
assessment and recommendation for treatment (but do not necessarily
assume the doctor is right). By the way, it is critical to have your
family practitioner run a number of tests to check whether you have a
systemic problem that may be causing your RSI symptoms, such as
diabetes, thyroid problems, lyme disease, degenerative disk disease,
etc. (2) Start learning as much as you can about what you're
experiencing and the kind of injuries shared by others doing similar
work. (3) Try to identify others who have related injuries (through a
local support group, committee on occupational safety and health,
independent living center, union, church, school, people you meet in
the course of your daily activities) and find out who their doctors
are, in which medical specialties; what kind of diagnostic work was
done and what kind of treatment they're getting; and whether it has
been effective. (4) Call local physical/ occupational therapy clinics
? particularly if any specialize in neck, back, and upper-extremity
conditions ? and ask whom they recommend for treating various
injuries. (5) Identify other treatment professionals who may be of
help in diagnosing and treating your injuries and, if you can afford
to pay for out-of-pocket treatment, start seeing someone who may offer
some relief. Before selecting a nontraditional or alternative
treatment practitioner as your treating physician, talk to your
insurance claims adjuster to find out how the company views the
particular practice. If the insurance company does not recognize
nonmedical doctors, you are better off paying for nontraditional
treatment on your own. (6) Check which medical specialists are listed
in the phone book, looking first for physiatrists and occupational
medicine doctors."

Therefore, after you make a list of potential treating physicians, I
suggest conducting brief telephone interviews with them to ask
questions that address your concerns, and give you some basis for
selection. First phone the doctor's office to find out if s/he accepts
workers' compensation cases, and if you could make a telephone
appointment to ask the doctor a few questions. If the doctor or a
well-informed aide won't take the time to talk to you, perhaps you
should look elsewhere. The questions to which I would want answers
are:

What percentage of the doctor's cases are RSIs, and what percentage of
those get better?

How long is the initial diagnostic appointment, and how does the
doctor diagnose the injuries (for example, does s/he take a thorough
case history, including work history, job conditions and duties)? Does
the doctor check for myofascial stress and neurovascular compression
(two major
sources of hand problems)?

What kind of treatment does the doctor prescribe? For example, does
s/he support "alternative" therapies (acupuncture, chiropractic,
myofascial release work ? and any others in which you're interested)?

If the doctor's customary treatment regimen doesn't help your
condition, will s/he be willing to send you to another treatment
professional for evaluation and/or treatment?
http://www.ctdrn.org/rsi-support/selecting_a_treating_physician-joan_lichterman.htm


"There is no good "rule of thumb" that can be used to find a good
health practitioner when it comes to CTD's. At least not any one that
I can figure out. There is a diverse set of individuals, such as
Hellerworkers, Massage Therapists, Physical Therapists, Surgeons,
Physiatrists, Orthopedic Surgeons, Chiropractors, Feldenkrais and
Alexander Practitioners, Plastic Surgeons, Osteopaths and who knows
who else, that all have had success in treating patients. The problem
is, that for each successful practitioner, there are a number of
unsuccessful practitioners WITHIN THE SAME AREA OF PRACTICE. So we
can't make a blanket statement such as, "You need to see a physiatrist
(or whatever) in order to get good treatment" because there are "good"
and "bad" physiatrists. Couple that with the fact that, in my opinion,
no one practitioner has all of the answers (i.e., near 100% success
rate) and you can see where some of the discouragement comes from. My
advice for someone looking for treatment is this: Get as much of an
education as you can before seeing someone for treatment. Then you
will be better able to determine, in 1 or 2 visits (or perhaps over
the phone, if you are lucky), whether or not this person has any
answers for you. Be ready to be scorned by medical practitioners who
either (1) know less than you or (2) are perplexed because they don't
have any answers to your questions. At least you will know right away
not to book a followup appointment :-)"
http://eeshop.unl.edu/general.html


This article will interest you:
http://rsi.websitehosting-services.co.uk/hands_on_therapies.pdf#search=%22rsi%20Specialists%22


Regards, Crabcakes

---

Clarification of Answer by crabcakes-ga on 15 Sep 2006 18:21 PDT

Hello again Robbins,


    I'm afraid I have exhausted any further RSI resources for the
Boston area. In fact, on many some engines, your question (and my
answer)found in the top 5 sites for RSI information!


   The following four doctors names were found on a site for TOS, and
recommended by patients with TOS.:

Dr. Samuel Goldhaber
Cardiology/Brigham and Women's
Francis St
Boston, MA
Phone: (617)732-4837

Dr. Magruder C. Donaldson MD / Vascular Surgeon
Dr. Edgar Ross / Director, BWH Pain Clinic
Brigham & Womens Hospital
Boston, MA
E-mail : ncdonaldson@bics.bwh.harvard.edu

Dr. Edgar Ross
Director, BWH Pain Clinic 
http://www.tellmeabouttos.com/doclist.htm



If you would be willing to go to New York, this clinic may interest and help you:
"The study in which you are being requested to participate is designed
to test the effectiveness of Myobloc (Botulinum neurotoxin type B) in
treating shoulder, arm and hand pain, tingling, weakness and numbness
due to thoracic outlet syndrome. It has been determined that you have
thoracic outlet syndrome, and that treatment of this type is more
likely to be effective for you than conventional treatments of other
causes of these problems.

Myobloc is a commercially available form of Botulinum type B toxin,
produced in accordance with the regulations of the FDA. It has been
used as an injection for some years in the treatment of spastic
torticollis, another neck and shoulder problem. Botulinum toxin A has
been used for many years for this purpose as well as ocular muscular
defects in children. It has been demonstrated to be safe with no known
serious side effects."
http://www.sciatica.org/research.html


"This webpage has the most comprehensive listing of RSI and Injured
Worker Support Groups that we've been able to compile. Please let us
know of any changes or additions that you may be aware of.

Special thanks to Mary Jeffords of the Injured Workers of New York
Inc., Joan Lichterman -- founder of the East Bay RSI Support Group,
and Penney Kome for their information and assistance in putting this
list together and helping to keep it current."
http://www.tifaq.org/information/supportgroups.html

"Personal, medical conditions may increase the risk of injury. For
CTS, these conditions include:

    *

      Diabetes
    *

      Rheumatoid arthritis
    *

      Thyroid disease
    *

      Gout
    *

      Being overweight or sudden weight gain
    *

      Hormone conditions (pregnancy, hysterectomy or removal of both ovaries)
    *

      Fluid retention (pregnancy, birth control, and sudden weight gain)
    *

      Previous injuries
    *

      Smoking may also increase the risk

Environmental/Psychosocial issues that have been identified to contribute to
injury risk are:

    *

      Low levels of job satisfaction
    *

      Infrequent or inflexible breaks
    *

      Monotonous work (low activity variety and fast pace)
    *

      Limited autonomy (lack of control over the work performed)
    *

      Perception of intensified workload and work pressure (deadlines,
monitoring, bad management)
    *

      Limited support from supervisors and co-workers
http://webword.com/interviews/wright.html



As far as the "second step"...The goal of the first step is to compile
at least 2 , preferably more, names of practicioners to visit. In
order to compile the first step list, one would call and ask the
questions found in the original answer:

Phone Questions:
================

1) Is the doctor board certified?

2) Does this doctor see other patients similar with similar problems
as yours? (RSI, soft tissue injuries)

3) What is the doctor?s attitude about your role in your health care?
Is he or she willing to receive input from you?
 
4) Is your doctor willing to take time for an interview before you
make your choice?

5) Is your doctor willing to work with other health care providers in
partnership with you?

6) How much time does the doctor spend on an initial visit?

7) How long is the wait in the waiting room, generally speaking.

8) Which hospital affiliations does the doctor have?


   Once you have a list of doctors to actually interview, I would have
to think making an appointment would be next. You'd have to visit the
doctors yourself so as to gauge the suitability of this doctor to your
needs.

Therefore, you could ask the following questions:


1) What do you think causes RSI? Your goal is to see if s/he believes
this is an "all in your head" problem.

 
2) How do you treat RSI? If s/he has a set plan, then maybe this is
not the doctor for you. Ask if s/he will be your partner in treating
you, and take your opinions and feelings into account.

3) Will this doctor make you repeat therapies you have tried already
and found ineffective, just to "prove" to the doctor that they won't
work?

 
4) What medications/therapies have you found to be
effective/ineffective on the majority of your patients?
 
5) If you don't improve with the first line of thereapy what would be
the next step?

6) Is the doctor willing to draw up several plans, allowing you to
decide when and if to move to the next plan if you find one not
working for you?

7) Does this doctor stay informed of the newest research? Attend
conferences, read journals, etc.? Is s/he willing to consult with
other specialists about your condition?

8) Will this doctor's covering physicians (in her/his absence) treat
you  according to your physician's plan? Subscribe the same drugs? In
other words, would the covering physician be willing to go along with
your doctor and not try and change therapies, unless you were willing
to do so?

9) What are my options for contacting you after hours if I get worse,
since you  know my medical history best?


I hope this has helped. Again, I apoplogise for not being able to fit
your desired format.

Good luck, and I wish you the best!

Sincerely, Crabcakes

---

Request for Answer Clarification by robbins-ga on 22 Sep 2006 15:55 PDT

Hi, Crabcakes.  

This is Moonsie here.  It's been some days since your last post, and
Robbins and I want to say thank you for your extended efforts.  The
format of your last reponse was much closer to what we are looking
for.  We both know this is a very stressful process.  Thank you so
much.  We will be in touch next week, detailing some of the
difficulties that we've had and also with any further clarifications
we will need.

All My Best, Moonsie

HI Robbins-ga,

It seems that you have already done a great deal of research on the subject.
It would help a Researcher if you could mention websites and medical
facilities that you have already eliminated.

Good luck, Myoarin

PS:  This is a free comment, of course.

Thanks for the comment. 

Actually, I haven't looked for a doctor in years. The information that
I included up there was just general info that I've accumulated from
living with this condition. I read the sorehand mailing list a couple
of times during the nineties and early two-thousands, and many of the
links are just sources that I learned to trust during that time
period. (For example any resource hosted at eeshop.unl.edu probably
has something to do with Paul Marxhausen, whose judgement I have a
great deal of respect for.)

At this point, I really can't say that I've ruled anything out or even
really have an opinion on practically any of the providers you will be
looking at.

I just found the following on Marxhausen's web site: "Questions about
RSI can also be addressed to a board of health professionals using the
moderated USENET group misc.health.injuries.rsi.moderated, which
carries a regularly posted FAQ that is unsurpassed." I thought it
might be useful.

Thanks!

Hmmmm... I see that this question is periodically getting locked and
then unlocked, but as far as I can tell no one is really taking on the
question. Is that a bad sign?

Sorry for the delay in giving a rating... I will get to it soon.