recently i noticed my wrist was sore. no swelling, and not a constant pain.certain movements make it hurt more.. a sharp stabbing kind of pain.
i crochet alot and crocheting does not bother it. (thank god)
i also use a computer keyboard often so i know i have been putting myself at risk of carpal tunnel syndrom
how long do you self treat this before heading to the dr?
ther is NO swelling, NO bruising, NO deformities, NO known injury just pain.
google research only brings up conditions involving swelling so its not been all that helpful
called the nurse line, they recomended i self treat for 7 days as long as self treating is helping. if i still have pain after 7 days i should call for an appt.
i have only had the pain for 3 days, self treating is helping, and its not bad enough to need pain meds.
thank you Starr B. i can honestly answer 3 of the questions with a no and #2 with a sometimes. so i am thinking its not bad enough to need a dr at this time.
lastnight i sat in our jacuzzi for a bit and it brought great relief. nearly no pain today. so i will be keeping my eye on it and if it lasts longer than 7 days or comes back way worse i will make an appt.
julie s. its interesting that your comparing my issues to one that a friend of mine has. and i do not find pain hysterically funny. you should think about what you say before you say it.
I occasionally have wrist pain. I find it goes away if I wear a wrist brace at night for a few days.
I'm sure that the "right answer" is to see the dr. However, I'm not going to bug you about that since I rarely go myself unless I really have to :)
My guidelines for myself are:
1. Does the pain keep me up at night?
2. Does the pain interfere with my job?
3. Have I tried something for 7 days consistently with no relief (like IB or ice or stretching)?
4. Have we met our deductible for the year (yes, sadly for myself this is a real consideration - never for my kids/hubby though, I would make them go no matter what)?
If the answer is yes to all 4 questions, I make an appointment.
Good luck!
Carpal tunnel syndrome can be caused by ANY repetitive motion.
So crocheting can be a contributing factor as well your computer.
You might NOT notice any visible swelling - the irritation is internal.
I'd try wearing a wrist brace for a few weeks - day and night - there are many velcro models that you can take off for washing/showering.
You can rub some Aspercream into it or use warm and cold packs and see if that brings some relief.
You can also try putting your fingers and thumb into a sturdy rubber band and stretch the band out by spreading your fingers outward - this strengthens the muscles of the back of your hand - which can make your wrist feel better - at least if did for me when I had carpal tunnel when I was pregnant.
If the pain doesn't get any better in a few weeks then go see a doctor.
Some people need surgery to relieve carpal tunnel.
We aren't doctors and can't diagnose you over the Internet. Please get to a doctor. Carpal tunnel does not always show swelling, bruises, deformity or "known injury" for everyone who has it, but it is associated with what you describe: "Certain movements make it hurt more." It's also associated with numbness that can come and go, but even if you haven't experienced numbness, see a doctor to check.
Putting off seeing a doctor while you continue to crochet and use the computer might only make your pain (carpal or not) worse and harder to treat as time goes by.
Why not see a doctor now and -- if it is NOT carpal tunnel -- then rule that out officially and feel relieved, or if it IS carpal tunnel, start treatment all the sooner? If its not carpal tunnel, your doctor should check for arthritis or nerve problems. What you describe could sound as much like arthritis as carpal tunnel. All these conditions have symptoms that can be different in different people so other people's anecdotal experiences might not help you.
My sister in law's life has been devastated by carpal tunnel so I admit I would always err on the side of getting checked out early. She is a massage therapist and all her training and effort to build her own business are now in jeopardy. In your case, even if it's not carpal tunnel or arthritis -- why go on with self-treating pain, which is a symptom, when a doctor visit could help find the underlying cause?
Considering your question about your friend who doesn't seek doctors right away I find this hysterically funny. So your friend is an abused freak but you are normal. Okay then..
I have carpal tunnel and I know no one who has swelling due to it. It is not as serious as people think so long as you don't have a job that requires you to keep hurting it and you take proper care.
You need to see a doctor for proper diagnosis and treatment.
A couple of weeks ago I noticed that my ring finger on my right hand hurt. No swelling or other visual symptoms. I knew I hadn't injured that finger.
Long story short, I realized my posture was putting stress on a nerve that runs through my elbow. I pulled my monitor closer so I'd stop putting weight on my arm by leaning forward and adjusted my chair a touch. Problem solved, pain went away in a few days.
Think about how you sit and work. About your wrist supports or lack. Look at your whole upper body' spositioning and habits, not just your wrist. If you can't sort it out, then I would consult your doctor.
I had pulled the tendon in my right hand/wrist years ago. After I had pain for a few days, I went to the doc. Better to have an actual diagnosis then nothing at all. Nothing could be done except wear a wrist brace at the worst times. It took a year to heal. It does occasionally hurt but not more than a short time. It was caused by doing the same movements over and over. Crocheting and computer time can contribute, just like they can contribute to carpel tunnel. And no swelling, bruising etc. I woke up with the pain and thought I slept wrong.
Joint pain, I treat with aspirin and heat. I don't go to a doctor unless it's persistent for over a couple of weeks, or there is some reason to suspect injury.
IMO, see a doctor. My friend thought she had carpal tunnel and found out it was really ehlers danlos syndrome. She now knows what she can and can't do and has braces for her wrists and fingers for when she needs to type, etc.
