Chronic wrist pain & numbness

[Stripes]

Hello, I am basically looking for some ideas/help/ advice.

In May this year I was driving to work when somebody drove into the passenger side of my car, twisting the steering wheel in my hands. About ten minutes after I had calmed down a bit my wrists started to hurt and got progressively worse. I immediately went to A&E and was put in splints for a suspected Scaphoid fracture in my right side and a suspected sprain in my left.

I then attended hospital for an xray on my right wrist, however nothing showed up and I was sent away for another couple of days with right wrist still in a splint. At this point I was in a considerable amount of pain, unable to do anything and Co-Codamol was not helping at all. A week later I then had a bone scan on both wrists and no fractures showed up.

I have since had an MRI scan on my back and neck, a test for carpel tunnel (both showed up nothing) and a cortisone injection in my right wrist (which did help alleviate some pain) tried a number of different pain killers and seeing a physio.

However I am still suffering from constant pain, in both my left and right wrist AND elbows (both sides) and a constant loss of feeling in the thumb/left side of my right hand which has not changed since accident. As well as pain when moving my wrists, and cramps in my hands. I still struggle to do most daily routine jobs but have improved since the accident and can now lift a pint of water in my left hand without too much difficult but am unable to in my left. Monotomous actions such as ironing are a struggle and cause the pain to increase dramatically and I am only able to do this with my left and even then only manage about three shirts before the pain becomes unbearable. The increased pain then remains for a few days before settling back down to it's usual amount.

I am currently waiting to see a neurologist for the loss of feeling in my right hand and have been referred to a pain clinic but other than that the Orthapeadics have given up on me and told me so.
I am a groom and so need both of my wrists, and I'm starting to give up. Nobody seems to know what is wrong and find the symptoms showing up in both arms odd.

If anybody has any ideas on what my problem could be I would really appreciate some help.

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[Emanuele]

Hello Stripes,

Is the loss of sensation that you are experiencing just on that part of the right thumb you mentioned or does it goes anywhere else? Is it just a sensation of numbness or when you touch it you definitely percieve less?

what movement exactly elicit pain in your wrist and elbows? Does bend in a way rather than another (extend or flex or rotate) your wrists make the pain worse? Does flex and extend your elbows give you any trouble at all?
Have you ever thought to visit a senior osteopath? I wonder if this trauma may have cause some dysfunction on your wrists and elbows and I wonder if manipulating those peripheral joints could be of any benefit for you.

all the best

[Stripes]

Hello Stripes,

Is the loss of sensation that you are experiencing just on that part of the right thumb you mentioned or does it goes anywhere else? Is it just a sensation of numbness or when you touch it you definitely percieve less?

what movement exactly elicit pain in your wrist and elbows? Does bend in a way rather than another (extend or flex or rotate) your wrists make the pain worse? Does flex and extend your elbows give you any trouble at all?
Have you ever thought to visit a senior osteopath? I wonder if this trauma may have cause some dysfunction on your wrists and elbows and I wonder if manipulating those peripheral joints could be of any benefit for you.

all the best

The numbness covers the entire thum section and the finger alongside is marginally desensitised. It feels numb and there is a loss of feeling along with constant pins and needles. Also difficult to move and no strength in right thumb.


Pain in wrists and elbows is symmetrical in both sides hurts to bend/flex/rotate no particular movement, just movement in general. Elbows hurt after flexing or to touch. Uncomfortable and painful to straighten fingers or keep wrists anything but straight.


Since accident range of movement has dramatically increased and physio/ doctor seem a lot happier about this however pain and other problems still remain and causing problems.
I have only seen my physio, gp and multiple orthopaedics so far (but waiting to see neurologist and pain clinic)

[Emanuele]

Not very easy to understand from here, it seems like there is a nerve involvement as you are complaining of an objectifiable loss in sensation and muscle power too, although I can't really know whether the weakness you feel is due to pain and so you refrain the movement or it is indeed a neurological problem.

And what about the other fingers? are they affected too? either dorsally and on the palmar surface or both? (sorry it's not to being picky but different nerves innervate different part of our fingers)

Can you do the thumb up? can you bend your thumb over to touch your little finger?

Let us know what the neurologist thinks about it!

All the best