Chronic Wrist Pain

Hi,

I'm new to this site but noticed Mira's page on her wrist problem and wondered if anyone could please help me out with mine.

I'm quite an active person and used to go to the gym regularly. During one session, nearly 14 months ago, I was doing a bench press set when I foolishly tried to change my wrist action mid-way through the movement. Foolish I know, but a pain radiated from my wrist. It was minor at the time, may be due to the adrenlaine pumping through me at the time. I carried on with the rest of my regime and finished with a seated row exercise, in which the wrist felt quite painful.

At the time I thought may be it was a minor strain, and so ignored it. However, over the next few days the pain remained and wouldn't disappear. I tried hot baths and deep heat, etc to try and calm the pain down (THERE WAS NO SWELLING AT ALL, HENCE I DIDN'T ICE IT).

The main pain came from my right wrist, as I'm right-handed and used it more than the other. So, I tried using my left wrist to help relive the strain on the other arm. Bad idea, because soon that started to ache as it was obviously strained from the extra work.

I have been to see my local doctor MANY times and have always been told the same thing that the tendons in my wrist are inflamed and are pressing on the sheath, causing my pain (Least that is what I think he says, I forget).

I have seen a physio' to try and adapt my routine to strain the wrists less. She actually seems to think it's more paranoia!!! :S

I have applied Ibuprofen gel and that seems to work temporarily-like all of 5 minutes!!!

Also, it seems that when one wrist hurts more the other hurts less. A strange phenomenon.

But, low and behold 14 months later I still have this pain. I have adapted to it the best I can. But, I'm getting fed-up of the wrists frequently seem to feel strained.

I recently went to the gym, heeding my physio's advice to just get on try to do gym , starting at a very low-level. I noticed my left wrist felt fine during most of the exercises but that the right STILL hasn't got better. It still doesn't feel right.

I'm sorry for rabbiting on but I just don't know what to do anymore, also I can't believe my doctor hasn't thought of sending me to get my arms scanned in a MRI?!!

What I do know, is that at the moment, when I extend from my wrists the pain is reduced while when I flex it's increased. Hence most day-to-day activities provide a strain as we tend to pull objects toward us.

Btw I have had neck trouble to-strained neck muscles from appraetntly sitting in the study pose too often. Hasn't really gone either.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Vivek

P.S. Sorry for the essay. :)

Hi,

No apologies required. The more information the better.

Ok, the main issue is diagnosis.
1. Have you sprained the ligaments in that hand? If so, you will need to stabilise the ligaments then learn how to move your hand so you don't overstrain that joint/ligament when doing your exercises
2. Have you exacerbated the tendons? If so, you will need to get them sliding and gliding properly.
3. Have you got referred pain from the elbow, shoulder, neck or thorax? Only a good physio can tell. One way to test it might be to test your wrist and assess how it is feeling when you do a painful movement. Then hold your neck with one hand on a sore spot to "support" it. Then test your wrist again. Do this over many different joints, trigger points etc. If ANY of these points makes your pain better then i would suggest you have referred pain.

In my experience, a physio telling someone to "just get on with it" is usually their way of saying "i have got no idea why you still have pain" and not admitting it. Unless you have been sitting on your butt all this time!!

Seek someone who has a reputation for being wholistic and able to assess the thorax properly. I have fixed many a hand/wrist/arm injury by fixing the thoracic problems and not even going near the arm.

Good luck!