Help my Wrists!!!!
One month ago I woke up with the most unbearable pain in my wrists. It felt as though I had sat on them all night. I couldn’t wash my hair, brush my hair or teeth, or even turn my bedroom doorknob without yelling in pain. My doctors reaction was, “well its swelling from pregnancy. Normal stuff, it’ll go away. Try not using it for a while and take some tylenol.”I do have bouts of swelling due to normal pregnancy stuff, but I just don’t believe this is pregnancy related. I found a tiny bit of information about de Quervains disease, which sounded just like my symptoms, but I couldn’t find enough to actually go to my doctor with and demand testing and treatment. I have about 4 weeks until my due date so I would like to set up some kind of treatment regimin now to save me time in the future. I am in terrible pain. I cannot perform the simpilist of procedures that daily life brings me. I am a very busy person with lots of responsibility and interests. I have been forced to give up on my gardening for now, and had to deligate other chores to my older kids and husband. I would like to be myself again and be able to do things for myself. I just cannot live like this. I am too independent to just sit on my sensored and do nothing. I feel like an idiot complaining about my thumbs and wrists all the time. Someone please help me. Give me some advise. Clue me in to what has happened to me.
3 comments
Ron H
I would go to an orthopedic hand surgeon. I had pain and numbness in my hand and wrist that would not go away for several weeks. It was caused by riding a bike on rough roads.
Ditto
My daughter-in-law had the same symptoms during her first pregnancy. She ended up having a simple surgical procedure on both wrists to release pinched nerves.
Lauren
I just stumbled upon this site and thought it was interesting because I AM a physical therapist, however, I have yet to find any replies by a PT on the site. Anyway, in response to your question about your wrist pain, I would see a different doctor immediately. Your doc sounds like an ignorant, old school, male MD who thinks that women are going to have to just live with debilitating pain during pregnancy. This is just not the case. If your OB is the one who told you this, then I would turn to your family doctor,or better yet, to an orthopedic doctor if your insurance will allow you to go there directly (without seeing your family doctor first). Unfortunately, it is hard to diagnose your problem sight unseen. It is possible that you do have DeQuarvain’s, but there are many other possibilities too. You will have to talk closely with the doctor to see if any testing is necessary(xrays, MRI,etc.) Due to the pregnancy, these may be contraindicated. But often times a good doc can make a pretty accurate diagnosis simply by looking, feeling, and asking good questions. Once you know what you’re dealing with, I would ask for a prescription for occupational therapy, and a good OT with hand experience could get you soon on your way to feeling better. Don’t wait to do any of this. With only 4 weeks to go, you need your hands to be in strong working order to take care of that little bundle soon. Good luck!