marcminish wrote:The only test I had was the doctor tapping me on the arm/hand and asking questions. He's the same guy that has told me a couple of times words to the effect of, "Well, some docs will tell you that you need XYZ test... but it won't really do any good." Appreciate the tip though. I'll let you know if he suggests it.
He told me that I pretty much just have to live with it, maybe wear a brace. The only alternative is to have some kind of surgery where they drill a hole through my wrist bones. I'm rather knife averse as you might guess.
It has gotten to the point that even driving hurts. I have to type with care now too. Climbing is out for good. The pain never completely goes away ever. Doc said the surgery can eliminate the pain but I'll have to forever be sensitive about what I do. Is that what your doc said too?
Have you had the surgery?
The symptoms aren't bad enough (yet) to warrant having surgery, even though the over-charging, electro-crazy doctor described the condition in one of my wrists as "extreme." There is no way I could afford the surgery now anyway, after being laid-off from my job this year. I am lucky enough to have insurance through my wife's job now -- and so is my son. We're really lucky we never tried to be one of those single-income families, because we would have nothing now.
So, I have insurance, but without the work, there is no way to afford my patient's portion of the surgery costs without missing a house payment.
My condition got to this point earlier in the year, when I did a bunch of heavy yard work after losing my job. I guess I should have sat on my ass indoors instead. That's the reward I get for trying to make productive use of my time.
The other (ortho) doctor said the condition is one that does not improve on its own. It can only get worse or stay the same, for the rest of one's life. So that was encouraging. Not.
But the symptoms have subsided in the last few months, since I stopped swinging a pick axe in the yard. So I can only assume that the doctor meant the underlying physiological condition never improves, even though the symptoms can subside, because I have had a definite relief in symptoms since earlier this year.
So, maybe there is hope for your situation, that the symptoms may lessen over time, especially if nothing happens to aggravate the condition.
I specifically asked the doctor what I should and shouldn't do, so that it doesn't get aggravated. He said it is bothered by the wrist being bent either forward or back, especially for prolonged periods. He said to just keep the wrist straight as much as possible, which I guess is mostly what the brace will do for you.