Hi everyone,

I wanted to share my experience with RSI today. I haven’t seen this specific angle discussed much here in this subreddit, so I figured sharing my story might help some of you out there who are struggling.

My Backstory

I work as an IT Director, which means I naturally spend all day staring at screens and pounding away on a keyboard. A few years ago, I developed massive RSI issues. For about a year and a half, it was incredibly intense: everything from stinging and tingling in my fingers, moving up through my forearms and upper arms, all the way into my shoulders and chest. The worst part was that it changed every single day—constantly shifting in intensity, affecting both arms. It was an absolute nightmare.

Eventually, I managed to get it somewhat under control through more sports and targeted strength training. At least, that’s what I thought. While things improved, it never went away 100%. For years, there wasn't a single day where I didn't feel something. Some days were better, some were worse, but the symptoms were always lurking in the background.

The Turning Point & The "Accident"

A while ago, I started focusing heavily on my health, changing my diet, and getting blood work done to see what nutrients I might be lacking. I started supplementing based on the results. But even though I got my Vitamin D3 and Omega-3 levels up to an optimal range, it didn't really move the needle for my RSI.

But then, recently, I hit a random patch where I didn't feel a single symptom for two to three weeks. Completely pain-free. I honestly thought, "Wow, it’s finally gone!" But right after celebrating, the pain came roaring back just a week later, and it was pretty brutal for a couple of days.

That got me thinking: What exactly did I change during that pain-free window?

The answer turned out to be simple: During the weeks I was symptom-free, I had been taking a daily morning routine of Zinc, Selenium, and a Vitamin B-complex. During the week the pain returned, I had gotten lazy and stopped taking them. Since B-vitamins are notorious for repairing nerve tissue, they became my prime suspect.

Through further research recently, I realized that... On top of that, the biochemistry aligns perfectly: Zinc is an absolute essential co-factor. Without sufficient zinc, the body cannot convert many B-vitamins (like B6) into their active, bioavailable forms. One relies heavily on the other.

My Current Routine & Biochemistry

I started deep-diving into the biochemistry of B-vitamins. Since then, I’ve been taking a moderate B-complex (covering 100% of the daily recommended intake) every single day, while making sure my zinc levels stay optimal as well.

And what can I say? I have it completely under control. I can sit at my PC from early morning until late at night working and tinkering—something I thought would be impossible for the rest of my life just a while ago. The issues are basically gone.

Because of this, I’ve been reading up a lot on biochemistry lately, and I noticed another very clear, reproducible pattern:

• The Alcohol Factor: If I have a few drinks over the weekend (which heavily depletes the body’s Vitamin B stores), the standard dose often isn't enough at the beginning of the week. Sure enough, I'll start to feel that familiar, slight tweak or twinge in my arms.
• The Solution: Whenever that happens, I simply bump the dose up to two B-complex capsules in the morning for 2–3 days. The twinge usually vanishes within 48 hours. For my body, there is a clear, direct correlation here.

A Tip for Your Next Blood Lab: Homocysteine

I am still "researching" this myself, but if you want to dig deeper, you should consider getting your Homocysteine levels checked. It’s a standard test and usually quite cheap to get done at a local lab or through your doctor.

Homocysteine is a toxic byproduct created during various metabolic processes in the body. If you lack B-vitamins (specifically B6, B9/folate, and B12), your body can't break down this toxin efficiently, causing levels to spike. Here is the kicker: high homocysteine levels actively attack your blood vessels, tendons, and nerves—the exact structures that are already giving us hell with RSI. So, a high value is an excellent indicator of a hidden Vitamin B deficiency.

Disclaimer

To be absolutely clear: I am not a doctor, a biochemist, or a medical professional. I am just an IT guy who, after a year-long odyssey, managed to find a solution that works flawlessly for his specific body. Since this approach is cheap, safe, and incredibly easy to test, I just wanted to put it out there. Maybe it helps someone else turn a corner!