You don't mention whether you had any wrist-ache/RSI when you were a (presumably regularly-or-at-least-frequently-playing) super-good violinist?
I find that my wrist always aches after playing violin if it's the first time I've played for ages, but that's just the ache of out-of-training muscles -- I'd expect nothing less (see also legs aching after the first long bike-ride for a while, etc). When I was actually practising regularly it was fine, except when I really overdid it (three days of long rehearsals & concerts in a row, that kind of thing). I have played piano and violin for most of my life (though these days I play much less frequently than I did when I was still having lessons) and am quite convinced that this is one of the reasons why I don't get RSI -- because [handwavey explanation ahoy!] I've been doing different things with the wrists, not letting them lock into one particular pattern of movement. I'd say if you want to play again, give it a try, take it gently at first (little and often rather than long splurges of playing), & who knows, you might find it helps!
However I would say don't waste time with a cheap(-as-in-nasty) violin, you won't enjoy it as much & you'll be frustrated at not being able to get a good sound! -- why not rent a decent one? Millers say you can rent a violin for £8 per month (http://www.millersmusiccentre.co.uk/index.php?main_page=page_4&zenid=23e11e4e76957781d4c0dfb19ac8e954) and if you buy within 6 months they'll refund the rental costs; in fact, 6 months of consistent practice is probably long enough to be able to tell if it's improving/worsening/not affecting the RSI, too.
You don't mention whether you had any wrist-ache/RSI when you were a (presumably regularly-or-at-least-frequently-playing) super-good violinist?
It's so long ago that I can't remember clearly whether I had any pain when I was actually playing, but I do know that after I gave up I used to get occasional days when my left wrist would ache all day even without me having done anything unusual with it recently. So I wasn't very surprised when that was the one to keel over first in the later RSI incident.
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I find that my wrist always aches after playing violin if it's the first time I've played for ages, but that's just the ache of out-of-training muscles -- I'd expect nothing less (see also legs aching after the first long bike-ride for a while, etc). When I was actually practising regularly it was fine, except when I really overdid it (three days of long rehearsals & concerts in a row, that kind of thing). I have played piano and violin for most of my life (though these days I play much less frequently than I did when I was still having lessons) and am quite convinced that this is one of the reasons why I don't get RSI -- because [handwavey explanation ahoy!] I've been doing different things with the wrists, not letting them lock into one particular pattern of movement. I'd say if you want to play again, give it a try, take it gently at first (little and often rather than long splurges of playing), & who knows, you might find it helps!
However I would say don't waste time with a cheap(-as-in-nasty) violin, you won't enjoy it as much & you'll be frustrated at not being able to get a good sound! -- why not rent a decent one? Millers say you can rent a violin for £8 per month (http://www.millersmusiccentre.co.uk/index.php?main_page=page_4&zenid=23e11e4e76957781d4c0dfb19ac8e954) and if you buy within 6 months they'll refund the rental costs; in fact, 6 months of consistent practice is probably long enough to be able to tell if it's improving/worsening/not affecting the RSI, too.
It's so long ago that I can't remember clearly whether I had any pain when I was actually playing, but I do know that after I gave up I used to get occasional days when my left wrist would ache all day even without me having done anything unusual with it recently. So I wasn't very surprised when that was the one to keel over first in the later RSI incident.