Questionable advice

[spudtater]

galaxy_girl00 has been suffering yesterday and today with a hurty wrist. Not sure what it is; whenever she moves it in certain directions, she gets shooting pains down the outsides of her wrist. Symptoms don't sound quite right for RSI, but she can't think of any incident where she might have injured it, either.

Yesterday she was keeping it bound up and trying not to move it, which I thought was sensible, given that moving causes hurtyness. This morning, however, she phoned NHS 24, who advised her to "keep it mobile". I advised her, in turn, to ignore this advice, and to go in and see a real doctor instead.

(No offense meant to nurses — some of them are competent.)

Comments

[luckylove.livejournal.com]

Just out of curiosity, is it or any other part of her body (ankles and fingers for example) swollen?

Does it hurt more when she bends it backwards and less when she bends it forwards? If so then it sounds more like carpal tunnel syndrome and a trip to the doctors for advice and possibly a splint (depending on GP and severity) is in order. The pain isn't quite where I'd expect it to be but it's an idea. If it's just a sprain then keeping it mobile is in order.

From here.
Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the median nerve, which runs from the forearm into the hand, becomes pressed or squeezed at the wrist. The median nerve controls sensations to the palm side of the thumb and fingers (although not the little finger), as well as impulses to some small muscles in the hand that allow the fingers and thumb to move. The carpal tunnel - a narrow, rigid passageway of ligament and bones at the base of the hand ¾ houses the median nerve and tendons. Sometimes, thickening from irritated tendons or other swelling narrows the tunnel and causes the median nerve to be compressed. The result may be pain, weakness, or numbness in the hand and wrist, radiating up the arm. Although painful sensations may indicate other conditions, carpal tunnel syndrome is the most common and widely known of the entrapment neuropathies in which the body's peripheral nerves are compressed or traumatized.

The reason I asked about swelling is because it's a lot more common in pregnant women who are suffering from lots of swelling. I got it when I first started quetiapine. It can cause swelling of extremities.

[galaxy-girl00.livejournal.com]

Nah, nothing else is swollen. To clarify it is sore on the top of the wrist, on the out side of the hand. It is especially tender and sore where the ulna bone meets the wrist.

The pain is only present when i bend the wrist forwards and backwards or if i bend it side to side. I can't pick up anything too heavy without pain either. Due to the location of the pain I'm ruling out an RSI for now.

If there is no improvement I might go to the GP's open surgery tomorrow.

I very much doubt anything is broken as my bones are very strong. Most likely a damaged tendon.

[gominokouhai]

When they say ``keep it mobile'' they don't mean ``deliberately cause yourself pain''. They mean to do what movements you can do, otherwise the joint freezes up and you end up with worse problems.

I'd suggest tubigrip for support, if she likes, but don't immobilize it. And go see a GP if symptoms persist.

Is there any point in phoning NHS 24 if you're just going to ignore them?

[spudtater.livejournal.com]

She phoned them. I advised her to ignore them.   8^P

[gominokouhai]

Is there any point phoning NHS 24 if one's boyfriend is going to veto all their suggestions?

You're like China. You're China in the UN Security Council of your girlfriend's health.

[alienspacebat.livejournal.com]

Most gps now recommend no support on this kind of injury as it causes the muscle to degrade and potentially heal badly if there has been a tear. They tend to recommend ibuprofen orally or in gel form (or alternatively Voltarol which I prefer) and gentle regular movement of the joint

You can also now directly refer yourself to physio in Edinburgh through a triage nurse. I'm not sure where to phone but it may be worth describing your symptoms to them

[alienspacebat.livejournal.com]

See http://www.ecps.scot.nhs.uk/access.htm for self referral