Not sure just what is causing me such severe, constant wrist pain. The neurological tests only showed mild carpal tunnel. It feels like they are pulled and sprained and there is a hammering pain. The Enbrel doesn't seem to help it, nor does Lyrica, or Oxiprozin. Morphine doesn't even touch it.
Terri thinks it could be the Sjogren's. I also have Raynaud's and psoriatic arthritis. Tendonitis could be thrown in for an added kicker? Plan on talking to Rheumatologist next week about it, it tops the list.
I've had carpel tunnel surgery on both my wrist. My left wrist was the most recent, and it is causing me the most pain right now. My surgery was a year ago, plenty of time for that to heal. I have constant pain, and sometimes I will pick up an object, it doesn't have to be heavy and I get a sharp pain. I picked up a carton at work yesterday and let out a yelp!. I think it may be tendonitis, I can rotate my wrist and it will crack and give momentary relief. I've been thinking about following up with the surgeon on this, but I've been off so much for Dr visits at work this year trying to find out what's up with me . They excuse the absence with a doctor's note, but now they are saying I am abusing the system and verbally warned me about it. My pain doesn't sound as severe as what you are experiencing, but it is ever constant. It wakes me up at night, and my wrist and forearm are weaker than my right side.
Yes, JC the numbness is worse at night. It is so difficult to find a way to place them to sleep, most of the time I have to put them over my head to ease the 'thumping'. I have also tried the wrist splints, but they make it worse.
So sorry you are still in pain even after surgery. My GP had told me that surgery only helps those who have CT the worst, and that it can still cause them problems, even if most of the pain is eased. Seems we can never hope to be totally eased of an ailment. If I find anything that helps me I will surely pass it on to you.
Wishing you WELL,
SK
sunrisetrisha said:
SK
I've had carpel tunnel surgery on both my wrist. My left wrist was the most recent, and it is causing me the most pain right now. My surgery was a year ago, plenty of time for that to heal. I have constant pain, and sometimes I will pick up an object, it doesn't have to be heavy and I get a sharp pain. I picked up a carton at work yesterday and let out a yelp!. I think it may be tendonitis, I can rotate my wrist and it will crack and give momentary relief. I've been thinking about following up with the surgeon on this, but I've been off so much for Dr visits at work this year trying to find out what's up with me . They excuse the absence with a doctor's note, but now they are saying I am abusing the system and verbally warned me about it. My pain doesn't sound as severe as what you are experiencing, but it is ever constant. It wakes me up at night, and my wrist and forearm are weaker than my right side.
So sorry you have to go through this, it is that way with me, and sometimes just brushing my teeth is agony. My blood work is not showing SLE, I have had 3 brain MRIs now, my GP and DC are not wild about the spinal tap. I go down hard with any further invasive action to my back. Asking my GP if 'HE" would do the spinal tap, he backed off immediately saying they no longer do the x-ray guided tap, and he would never subject a person to that danger, especially me after seeing what PM injections and a mylegram did to me.
So if I have SLE, I may never know, I do have many of the symptoms, it was his first suspicion.
I am so sorry you are struggling with the pain in your wrists. That is tough since you can't do anything without using your hands/wrists. I have it from time to time...and I have to rest my wrists...no computer, no piano playing, and esp no picking up bags of groceries. Even house cleaning can aggravate it...or holding a book to read! Unfortunately I must push up from a chair...use the roller walker..and open door knobs - all use the wrists. I do rub the gel on my hands and wrists before going to bed and pray I can get to sleep. Now I feel for you and hope you can get help soon!
Thank you for responding Faye, I know about those challenges, and we are getting the baby tomorrow. I try to have my husband do any lifting him, but sometimes you just have to, he is a 'climber', so I am often getting him down from things, and places!
The crazy thing is that they never seem to get any better if I don't do these things, but then it is hard to live any measure of life without using your wrists.
I do constantly rub them with Sports Cream, seems to help as much as the V gel.
I think people fail to understand with our challenges, it the "everyday" living that is constantly before us. It is not doing the unusual chores, but it meets us head on in our daily doings!...the simple peasures that are often taken for granted...such as having a grandbaby over for the day...or holding a 2yr old's hand on a walk!
Blessing on you today for a good day in spite of your difficulties....Thoughts and prayers with you today. You are a fighter!
Hopefully the smiles ... having your little one around... will help minimize the pain which plagues you.
Sorry wrist pain. Dr did the carpul tunnel surgery and I still kept having the wrist pain …he did exploratory surgery and blood tests and found inflammation and the positive results for the antibodies thing…that suggests immune disorder…sent me to a rheumatologist who tested for sjogrens and lip biopsy and then diagnosed lupus. It all started with my wrist pain…
Mine did not start with wrist pain, and for something to be stronger than the back pain is really saying something! I have Sjogren's too, seems they just have to come in groups! Like one is not enough! I have blamed it on the Raynaud's, but don't think so anymore.
Thank you for responding, I hope you are getting relief, it is just terrible, I know!
Wow.....I have had chronic back pain but it has been manageable most of the time. I have slight scoliosis (spelling?) and some disks that are wearing out......I have just been told most of my adult life that I have a 'bad back'. I was feeling so fatigued, like I was 95 years old and I was only 51 at the time...I had no energy. I was coming home from work and just going to bed, and let the housekeeping go, and actually when I look back at pictures of me then, I looked swollen all over. The carpul tunnel had been bothering me so we fixed it. But when it just kept hurting, my awesome orthopedic, was the good kind of dr who said, that he believed me about the pain, and that he wanted to find it, so I agreed to the exploratory surgery. That is when he found the inflammation and then I guess had taken tissue and blood samples so after the surgery...he was honest enough to say I don't know what it is, but you need to see a rheumatologist. She did what the lab tech said was $3000 dollars worth of every kind of blood test, and then the urine sample too. I don't know what all kinds of tests she did but I counted and it looked like it was either 16 or 17 on the script plus the urine sample. She did the inner lip biopsy to rule out sjogrens. I take the generic for plaquenil and then usually an over the counter anti-inflammatory unless I am reall y doing poorly. I have also taken melaxicam for inflammation.
I learned to use a left mouse, to spread out the stress on my right wrist, and it still will ache. The Rheumatologist says I am getting arthritis as well so that adds to just the deep ache and sometimes stinging pain. I don't know if I answered your question. Sometimes nothing helps but just not doing anything and trying to let it pass. From what you describe I think your condition is much more severe than mine, if I can feel better most times with plaquenil and aleve.
I hope you find some relieve soon.....I really do. It is amazing as someone said about how much we depend on our hands and wrists to do soooo much.
I am not sure I am responding on this discussion correctly....I don't do this well....but I remember those days when I couldn't turn the key in the lock, or like you said exactly - pick up the coffee cup... I literally felt like my hand was going to break off at the wrist, it hurt that bad. I remember crying out loud, when I just tried to put the key in the ignition and turn the car on...and my sister in the car was so startled....! I sort of scared her...
Dewing3569 said:
SK
I have wrist pain all the time and they are telling me it is because of the lupus arthritis. Sometimes they hurt so bad I can't pick up a coffee cup.
Thank you for you well wishes. I hope it gets better for you as well!
SK said:
Dear Sarah,
Mine did not start with wrist pain, and for something to be stronger than the back pain is really saying something! I have Sjogren's too, seems they just have to come in groups! Like one is not enough! I have blamed it on the Raynaud's, but don't think so anymore.
Thank you for responding, I hope you are getting relief, it is just terrible, I know!
I hope I responded to this question...I think under another spot, though. Sorry. Relief is not constant, and certainly not complete. Days are better than others. I do feel the weather changes, and there are just days I call work and say I cannot come in. I am fortunate for now, that I have plenty of leave and can do that. I really hope and pray that I can keep this managed enough because I cannot afford to retire. I have to work. God has been good to me...I will say that. He has kept me going! My best to you,
SK said:
Did it show on any tests, and what gave you relief, or is there none?
I have carpal tunnel in both wrists but never had surgery. My ortho Dr injects cortisone into my wrist which helps. It can't be done too much as it can weaken the ligaments. A splint helps but I don't wear it during the day. My wrists swell a lot, Think it's from arthritis. I try not to type too much as that aggravates the carpal tunnel