MA: wrist pain

Monique Y. Mudama said:

This is a new tag: Medical advice ;-)

I know, I should see a doctor; I guess my question is, GP
or Ortho? Also, has anyone had something similar?

Here's what happens: for ... months now, and I don't know
what started it, lifting things palm-up with my right hand
has caused a sharp pain in the wrist, specifically the
bone protrusion on the same side as the pinky. It makes
lifting a bike tricky at best, and after all of the hike-a-
bike yesterday, my wrist now hurts just from turning up
the palm; no weight required.

For months (a year or more?) this has been an on and off
problem; it usually subsides enough that I hope it's
healing up, but it never goes away.

Thoughts?

my vote is to always go for massage therapy first. I have an
amazing practitioner who's really helped to deal with hand
pain due to overuse from my work, and some on-going residual
in my back from two car accidents. I'm always hesistant to
go for some one who might want to cut me, or use me to help
with their boat payments. My chiropractor also adjusts all
my joints, not just my back, and I think that helps too.

I know you do computer work, have you had your work station
checked for ergonomics?

penny

Monique Y. Mudama said:

This is a new tag: Medical advice ;-)

I know, I should see a doctor; I guess my question is, GP
or Ortho? Also, has anyone had something similar?

Here's what happens: for ... months now, and I don't know
what started it, lifting things palm-up with my right hand
has caused a sharp pain in the wrist, specifically the
bone protrusion on the same side as the pinky. It makes
lifting a bike tricky at best, and after all of the hike-a-
bike yesterday, my wrist now hurts just from turning up
the palm; no weight required.

For months (a year or more?) this has been an on and off
problem; it usually subsides enough that I hope it's
healing up, but it never goes away.

Thoughts?

Is the ortho as easy to see as the GP? (And not terribly
more expensive?) Get that sucker X-rayed; probably won't
show anything, but got to rule out a bone spur or similar.

My guess: time for a cortisone shot. (Sometimes they
work wonders.)

Bill "expert at chronic pain; human pin cushion" S.

Quoted message said:

Here's what happens: for ... months now, and I don't know
what started it, lifting things palm-up with my right hand
has caused a sharp pain in the wrist, specifically the
bone protrusion on the same side as the pinky. It makes
lifting a bike tricky at best, and after all of the hike-a-
bike yesterday, my wrist now hurts just from turning up
the palm; no weight required.

For months (a year or more?) this has been an on and off
problem; it usually subsides enough that I hope it's
healing up, but it never goes away.

I have the exact same problem with my wrist, except it's on
my left hand. It's sporadic, hurts just in front of my bone
protrusion, and it hurts when I twist my wrist.

No repetitive motions here... it worsens with twisting
motions, such as bunnyhopping or backhopping (trials).

I got it x-rayed, but the doofuses here at the campus
medical clinic wouldn't know a broken bone from a stray coke
can in someone's stomach. They said nothing was wrong and
gave me a splint thing. It inhibited my riding so I stopped
using it after a week after seeing no improvement. It took
about 4 months for it to get progressively better until I
learned a few new tricks a few days ago.

--
Phil, Squid-in-Training

On 2004-07-04, ZeeExSixAre penned:

Quoted message said:

I have the exact same problem with my wrist, except it's
on my left hand. It's sporadic, hurts just in front of my
bone protrusion, and it hurts when I twist my wrist.

No repetitive motions here... it worsens with twisting
motions, such as bunnyhopping or backhopping (trials).

I got it x-rayed, but the doofuses here at the campus
medical clinic wouldn't know a broken bone from a stray
coke can in someone's stomach. They said nothing was wrong
and gave me a splint thing. It inhibited my riding so I
stopped using it after a week after seeing no improvement.
It took about 4 months for it to get progressively better
until I learned a few new tricks a few days ago.

New tricks?

--
monique

Monique Y. Mudama said:

On 2004-07-04, ZeeExSixAre penned:

Quoted message said:

I have the exact same problem with my wrist, except it's
on my left hand. It's sporadic, hurts just in front of my
bone protrusion, and it hurts when I twist my wrist.

No repetitive motions here... it worsens with twisting
motions, such as bunnyhopping or backhopping (trials).

I got it x-rayed, but the doofuses here at the campus
medical clinic wouldn't know a broken bone from a stray
coke can in someone's stomach. They said nothing was
wrong and gave me a splint thing. It inhibited my riding
so I stopped using it after a week after seeing no
improvement. It took about 4 months for it to get
progressively better until I learned a few new tricks a
few days ago.

New tricks?

Stuff like hopping up 3 or 4 stairs, riding backwards for
a couple pedal strokes, doing manuals... street and
trials stuff.

Believe it or not, it's incredibly useful on the trail...
trials is like tricks at close to 0 mph and street is like
tricks at speed. But both of them help on the trail
because you're clearing the same type of obstacle, whether
it be a slick root at the top of a hill, a 2-foot ledge
without a (kids, don't read this) tranny, or a multitude
of other things.

--
Phil, Squid-in-Training (oops)

On 2004-07-04, pas penned:

Quoted message said:

my vote is to always go for massage therapy first. I have
an amazing practitioner who's really helped to deal with
hand pain due to overuse from my work, and some on-going
residual in my back from two car accidents. I'm always
hesistant to go for some one who might want to cut me, or
use me to help with their boat payments. My chiropractor
also adjusts all my joints, not just my back, and I think
that helps too.

Massage therapy before doc? After insurance, the massage
ends up being much more expensive. I do have a massage
therapist friend, though, who could maybe help me out. I've
been thinking it would be nice to get a massage ... but oh,
so expensive.

Quoted message said:

I know you do computer work, have you had your work
station checked for ergonomics?

No ... I've been messing with it. I get cramps around my
left trap when I sit at my work desk, but I have minimized
that in various ways. I honestly don't think it's the
computer work -- the only wrist-related problem I've had
with that is solved by a wrist pad. It's definitely not CTS,
in any case.

It's always bothered me after doing exercise-related things,
not work-related things ...

--
monique

On 2004-07-04, S o r n i penned:

Quoted message said:

Is the ortho as easy to see as the GP? (And not terribly
more expensive?) Get that sucker X-rayed; probably won't
show anything, but got to rule out a bone spur or similar.

Pretty much, yeah. It might take an extra week or two
to see the ortho, but I don't need a referral for
insurance purposes.

Quoted message said:

My guess: time for a cortisone shot. (Sometimes they work
wonders.)

But a GP could do that just as well, right? Would they not
do an x-ray? Hrm.

Quoted message said:

Bill "expert at chronic pain; human pin cushion" S.

=/ That's no fun. Although I do wonder if acupuncture, or
=maybe
acupressure, might not be an interesting exercise ...

--
monique

On 2004-07-04, ZeeExSixAre penned:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

It took about 4 months for it to get progressively
better until I learned a few new tricks a few days ago.

New tricks?

Stuff like hopping up 3 or 4 stairs, riding backwards for
a couple pedal strokes, doing manuals... street and
trials stuff.

Believe it or not, it's incredibly useful on the trail...
trials is like tricks at close to 0 mph and street is like
tricks at speed. But both of them help on the trail
because you're clearing the same type of obstacle, whether
it be a slick root at the top of a hill, a 2-foot ledge
without a (kids, don't read this) tranny, or a multitude
of other things.

Ohhh. I thought you meant that you learned new tricks to
minimize wrist pain.

--
monique

Monique Y. Mudama said:

On 2004-07-04, pas penned:

Quoted message said:

my vote is to always go for massage therapy first. I have
an amazing practitioner who's really helped to deal with
hand pain due to overuse from my work, and some on-going
residual in my back from two car accidents. I'm always
hesistant to go for some one who might want to cut me, or
use me to help with their boat payments. My chiropractor
also adjusts all my joints, not just my back, and I think
that helps too.

It's cheaper than surgery. You need to see your GP, then get
a referral for massage. Maybe I"m lucky, my copay for
prescribed masssage is $10, and I have no problem getting
referrals as it's effective treatment for me. The docs I
work with are fairly wellness oriented as compared to boat
payment surgery oriented.

penny

Monique Y. Mudama said:

This is a new tag: Medical advice ;-)

I know, I should see a doctor; I guess my question is, GP
or Ortho? Also, has anyone had something similar?

Here's what happens: for ... months now, and I don't know
what started it, lifting things palm-up with my right hand
has caused a sharp pain in the wrist, specifically the
bone protrusion on the same side as the pinky. It makes
lifting a bike tricky at best, and after all of the hike-a-
bike yesterday, my wrist now hurts just from turning up
the palm; no weight required.

For months (a year or more?) this has been an on and off
problem; it usually subsides enough that I hope it's
healing up, but it never goes away.

Thoughts?

I've had the same thing for years. Carpel (sp?) Tunnel
Syndrome. I live with it because the pain of the operation
is worse according to the HR Director in my office.

--
o-o-o-o Ride-A-Lot o-o-o-o
www.schnauzers.ws

S o r n i said:

Monique Y. Mudama said:

This is a new tag: Medical advice ;-)

I know, I should see a doctor; I guess my question is, GP
or Ortho? Also, has anyone had something similar?

Here's what happens: for ... months now, and I don't know
what started it, lifting things palm-up with my right hand
has caused a sharp pain in the wrist, specifically the
bone protrusion on the same side as the pinky. It makes
lifting a bike tricky at best, and after all of the hike-a-
bike yesterday, my wrist now hurts just from turning up
the palm; no weight required.

For months (a year or more?) this has been an on and off
problem; it usually subsides enough that I hope it's
healing up, but it never goes away.

Thoughts?

Is the ortho as easy to see as the GP? (And not terribly
more expensive?) Get that sucker X-rayed; probably won't
show anything, but got to rule out a bone spur or similar.

My guess: time for a cortisone shot. (Sometimes they work
wonders.)

With lidicane (sp?). Works in seconds on the pain, cortisone
decreases inflamation & helps healing that way. I've had a
shot couple in my elbow. Time and rest (which meant no road
riding, the MTB was OK-Go figure) were what mattered most.
If insurance doesn't require you to see a GP 1st, go
straight to ortho. At the same time you should pursue
Penny's advice. No reason not to pursue multiple therapies.
Word of advice; if any one of them tells you something like
"Oh don't get massage, there just a bunch of hippies" or
"Don't see an MD, they'll warp your chi" drop 'em. A lot of
health care practitioners fall into the "When the only tool
you have is a hammer, the whole world looks like a nail."
mold (except my wife :-) ). Also, if it hurts, don't do it!

Good Luck, Shawn

"Monique Y. Mudama" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

This is a new tag: Medical advice ;-)

I know, I should see a doctor; I guess my question is, GP
or Ortho? Also, has anyone had something similar?

Here's what happens: for ... months now, and I don't know
what started it, lifting things palm-up with my right hand
has caused a sharp pain in the wrist, specifically the
bone protrusion on the same side as the pinky. It makes
lifting a bike tricky at best, and after all of the hike-a-
bike yesterday, my wrist now hurts just from turning up
the palm; no weight required.

For months (a year or more?) this has been an on and off
problem; it usually subsides enough that I hope it's
healing up, but it never goes away.

Thoughts?

--
monique

See if you can find a physical therapist that treats sport
injuries. Maybe someone who's connected with a sport club.

I had a pain deep in my heel that wouldn't go away. No
matter what kind of stretching and stuff wouldn't help. I
finally gave up and went to see this therapist from this
high end sport club that had a good reputation. He spent 5
minutes poking me and asking where it hurts. He isolated the
pain and taught me this specific stretching exercise that
actually stretched the offending area. All my other mickey
mouse stretching couldn't stretch it. The pain was gone in
couple weeks.

Icing pain is also good because it increases blood flow
to the area.

OT: You also might want to find a physician who does sports
as your regular physician. Mine does triathlons. He use to
see me come in all banged up. A couple pointers he give me
were come in right away if I have any open wounds near any
joints and any impacts in the torso area.

Ride-A-Lot said:

Monique Y. Mudama said:

This is a new tag: Medical advice ;-)

I know, I should see a doctor; I guess my question is, GP
or Ortho? Also, has anyone had something similar?

Here's what happens: for ... months now, and I don't know
what started it, lifting things palm-up with my right
hand has caused a sharp pain in the wrist, specifically
the bone protrusion on the same side as the pinky. It
makes lifting a bike tricky at best, and after all of the
hike-a-bike yesterday, my wrist now hurts just from
turning up the palm; no weight required.

For months (a year or more?) this has been an on and off
problem; it usually subsides enough that I hope it's
healing up, but it never goes away.

Thoughts?

I've had the same thing for years. Carpel (sp?) Tunnel
Syndrome. I live with it because the pain of the operation
is worse according to the HR Director in my office.

my massage therapist is able to reverse/correct CTS.

penny

Shawn Curry wrote: you to see a GP 1st, go straight to

Quoted message said:

ortho. At the same time you should pursue Penny's
advice. No reason not to pursue multiple therapies. Word
of advice; if any one of them tells you something like
"Oh don't get massage, there just a bunch of hippies" or
"Don't see an MD, they'll warp your chi" drop 'em. A lot
of health care practitioners fall into the "When the
only tool you have is a hammer, the whole world looks
like a nail." mold (except my wife :-) ). Also, if it
hurts, don't do it!

Good Luck, Shawn

heh, some massage folks are "aura fluffers" and some are
real body workers with healing talent. I love mine, she's
built like a truck driver, listens to Aerosmith on her
days off, and has great big strong peasant hands that know
how to work.

penny

pas said:

Ride-A-Lot said:

I've had the same thing for years. Carpel (sp?) Tunnel
Syndrome. I live with it because the pain of the operation
is worse according to the HR Director in my office.

my massage therapist is able to reverse/correct CTS.

penny

Does she make you cry?

--
Slacker

Quoted message said:

heh, some massage folks are "aura fluffers"

I *hate* those types

Quoted message said:

and some are real body workers with healing talent. I love
mine, she's built like a truck driver, listens to
Aerosmith on her days off, and has great big strong
peasant hands that know how to work.

penny

We just hired a new lady at my work. I'm helping to train
her. She was standing behind me and starting massaging my
neck/upper back. I thought it was a little weird of her
since we just met, but it felt way too good to tell her to
stop. When she did stop, I told her that she should be doing
massages for a living. She then whipped out a business card,
"Certified Massage Therapist." "Damn, you're like a drug
dealer; first one is free, but then you have to pay for
anything more." I remarked.

It will be well worth the $50/hr; she's a strong girl.

--
Slacker

Slacker said:

Quoted message said:

heh, some massage folks are "aura fluffers"

I *hate* those types

Quoted message said:

and some are real body workers with healing talent. I
love mine, she's built like a truck driver, listens to
Aerosmith on her days off, and has great big strong
peasant hands that know how to work.

penny

We just hired a new lady at my work. I'm helping to train
her. She was standing behind me and starting massaging my
neck/upper back. I thought it was a little weird of her
since we just met, but it felt way too good to tell her to
stop. When she did stop, I told her that she should be
doing massages for a living. She then whipped out a
business card, "Certified Massage Therapist." "Damn,
you're like a drug dealer; first one is free, but then you
have to pay for anything more." I remarked.

It will be well worth the $50/hr; she's a strong girl.

Check your health insurance, more of them are covering
massage for therapeutic purposes than used to happen.

p.

On 2004-07-05, jack penned:

Quoted message said:

OT: You also might want to find a physician who does
sports as your regular physician. Mine does triathlons. He
use to see me come in all banged up. A couple pointers he
give me were come in right away if I have any open wounds
near any joints and any impacts in the torso area.

Heh.

Yeah, it's a thought.

--
monique

On 2004-07-05, Shawn Curry penned:

Quoted message said:

With lidicane (sp?). Works in seconds on the pain,
cortisone decreases inflamation & helps healing that way.
I've had a shot couple in my elbow. Time and rest (which
meant no road riding, the MTB was OK-Go figure) were what
mattered most. If insurance doesn't require you to see a
GP 1st, go straight to ortho. At the same time you should
pursue Penny's advice. No reason not to pursue multiple
therapies. Word of advice; if any one of them tells you
something like "Oh don't get massage, there just a bunch
of hippies" or "Don't see an MD, they'll warp your chi"
drop 'em. A lot of health care practitioners fall into the
"When the only tool you have is a hammer, the whole world
looks like a nail." mold (except my wife :-) ). Also, if
it hurts, don't do it!

Yeah, I try to choose more ... open doctors. I'm very happy
with my chiro; my GP doesn't sing the praises of chiro, but
she says that if it feels good, she doesn't see any reason
not to do it.

That being said, though, I am thinking about finding a
competent gyn/gp who possibly is more open to alternate
treatments and also treats a lot of athletes (not that I'm
an athlete, exactly, but I share some of their concerns).
Not sure how to go about doing that.

--
monique