I'm hoping that one of our great doctors will see this...
In November of 2004, I developed tendonitis in my wrist from serving in my job as a waitress. I got a cortisone shot in March of 2005, and had the month of March off...by April, my wrist was as right as rain.
I quit my serving job in July due to other concerns, and haven't done it since then.
Out of the blue, about 2 weeks ago, my wrist started hurting again. The concave and discolored appearance that the cortisone shot left had dissipated also by this time - but the pain resurfaced. Obviously, the cortisone wore off.
I find that if I don't sleep with my wrist brace on, I wake up numerous times in the middle of the night with pain...and it's excrutiating.
I really don't want to get another cortisone shot. But I also don't want to continue having this pain!
When I originally had the problem, it was determined that the sheath covering the tendon from my wrist to my thumb had become detached. The pain I'm having now is exactly like what it was a year ago before the shot.
In my present job, yes, I use the computer (but have done that for the better part of 30 years now so really don't think that's the problem), and I write alot.
Can anyone suggest anything that might help this? I try ice packs and heat (alternately), and it relieves it for just a short time)
Sometimes the next shot lasts much longer than the first. But it matters a lot, of course, what the exact diagnosis is. You might, if you haven't already, need to see a hand surgeon -- usually an orthopedist who has extra training in the field (there are some in Portland). If it's carpal tunnel syndrome, which it may well be, surgery has a good chance of helping; but it's for those in whom the night splints and non-surgical treatments aren't doing the trick.
Posts: 1505 | Location: Puget Sound, USA | Registered: 06-03-02
I will be having the final post-op appointment for my shoulder this friday (which is doing awesome ) and since I get along really well with the surgeon, I'll see if he minds chatting with me a bit about it, even though I was seeing him on a workers comp claim which is now finished.
You may wish to try one of those ergonomic keyboards that are available. The one I use has 2 sections of the standard QWERTY Layout in a fixed angle about 20 degrees split down the 56,ty,gh,bn middle.. No problems with the wrist for quest some time now.
Our clerical assistant had a more extreme keyboard that could have the 1/2s orient vertically if she liked and could be changed daily.. With extra effor you could learn some other keyboard layouts too..
Once straighted out..one of those 'ouch' of prevention goes a long way to pounding out cure on a different keyboard.
Peteeo...thank you for your response, but over the years I've tried several ergonomic keyboards and just couldn't stand to use them. Although I'm very adaptable, I can still only type well on a straight keyboard! Those darned curved things are just crazy!
I sincerely don't think the problem comes from computer use...as I mentioned, over the last 30 years I've always used the computer. Never had problems before 14 months ago, when I took a job as a server.
And if anything, I'm on the computer ALOT less now that I had been in the preceeding 2 years. Now, most of my computer use is with my computer at work - which has a touch screen for the mouse rather than a regular mouse. (Which, btw, I never thought I'd like but have gotten used to it very quickly!)
I don't know WHY, even though I ceased doing THAT repetitious job 6 months ago, the problem came back now.
This last week, it has gotten worse...the area on the left side of my right wrist is swollen and bruised...for no reason...and hurts ALOT when I use it - writing, picking something up, etc...
I've been wearing my wrist brace every night when I sleep. This last week, even in the brace, I've woken up with pain.
Tomorrow morning...hopefully the surgeon that did my shoulder can give me an idea of what the heck could be going on. If he recommends another cortisone shot, I will do it...because right now, I'll do anything to relieve the pain.
David - That's a great link, I'm sure that many people don't even realize how their posture when at the computer can affect them!
Luckily, since I've almost always worked on computers, over the years I have learned the proper posture and placement of equipment, and haven't had any of the normal problems.
I DID speak with the surgeon on Friday that had done my shoulder surgery about this problem. He immediately knew what the problem was, even though I can't begin to pronounce the name of it. He said that if I got 10 months of total relief from the cortisone shot last year, that unless I opted for the surgical fix, it would be in my best interests to go for another shot.
I have an appointment with my regular doctor this Friday to get a cortisone shot, because I definitely do NOT want surgery. When I see her, I'll get the info on what this is called...it is pretty common, but isn't carpal tunnel.
Sorry, but I have serious reservations about a chiropractor's take on carpal tunnel. They maniuplate necks. When all you have is a hammer, everything starts to look like a nail. It's true that some symptoms of carpal tunnel can be confused with neck problems, because it's indeed true that the nerve starts there. But the carpal tunnel is just what it says: a tunnel at the wrist (carpus) through which the nerve passes. If the problem is indeed carpal tunnel syndrome, then by definition the problem is in the wrist, and the surgical solution -- if required -- is to unroof the carpal tunnel. The way to diagnose it is not with chiropractic mumbo jumbo one-size fits all gross neck xrays. It's by nerve conduction studies down the length of the nerve and across the wrist. My opinion has been and remains as strong as ever: chiropractic is a bogus pseudo-science, practiced either by out and out knowing charlatons, or by credulously misguided practitioners. There are cases where certain spinal maniupulations are useful and proper, and some chiropracters are accurate in assessing and carrying out the manipulations. But they (except for the exceedingly rare one who knows his/her limits) stray WAY beyond the known and proveable. It is, however, a great racket.
Posts: 1505 | Location: Puget Sound, USA | Registered: 06-03-02
) and since I get along really well with the surgeon, I'll see if he minds chatting with me a bit about it, even though I was seeing him on a workers comp claim which is now finished.
