Post by Ashley&Scott on Jun 13, 2014 15:58:53 GMT -5
Yep, did they put you in a brace? The brace & cortisone helped me a ton. The doctor was surprised that it cleared up in 2 weeks. I found that typing/scrolling on my ipod touch with my thumb really aggravated it.
Just a heads up it will probably get more sore for a few days, then it will get much better.
Post by DarcyLongfellow on Jun 13, 2014 16:23:53 GMT -5
Yep, I had it after my first. It was so, so painful. I'm glad you got the cortisone shot -- that cleared it up almost immediately for me. Mine ended up coming back after maybe 4 months, so I had to get a second shot. But then it never flared up again. (I had some issues after DD2 was born, but not nearly as bad, so I never needed to see the doctor again.)
My doctor gave me a brace at the same time he gave me the shot, but I never really wore it (he said it wasn't necessary and that I'd find it so annoying I'd never wear it -- he was right).
The most important thing for me was to stop doing the actions that aggravated it. My doctor made a big deal about how I should never pick the baby up under her arms -- it's hard to describe, but the way that it's most natural to pick a kid up, with your thumbs up in the air by her shoulders and the rest of your hand in her armpits. Doing that just puts too much pressure on the tendon. My doctor wants me to always pick a baby up with one hand under her head and one hand on her bottom, but I didn't find that very practical. What I do (even to this day with my almost five year old) is sort of grip her upper arms with my whole hand and pick her up that way -- that way it doesn't put pressure on the tendon.
I also had to stop using my thumb for things. I couldn't use it to scroll on my phone (I used my index finger instead), I couldn't push down the top of a soap dispenser with it (I would use the heel of my hand), and I even had to change the way I pulled down loose pants like yoga pants so I used my hand instead of my thumbs. Basically anything that hurt, I'd figure out another way to do that action without using my thumbs.
Post by Ashley&Scott on Jun 13, 2014 16:25:34 GMT -5
I'm right handed too but it was my left. I ignored it for quite a while, my thumb was popping & locking up when I finally went in. M was about 14 months when I was treated. I don't really think it was from him at all, but from trying to do things one handed. I'm surprised they didn't put you in a brace, if you end up needing a 2nd shot of cortisone I would request a brace. Did they say anything about surgery?
Yep, I had it after my first. It was so, so painful. I'm glad you got the cortisone shot -- that cleared it up almost immediately for me. Mine ended up coming back after maybe 4 months, so I had to get a second shot. But then it never flared up again. (I had some issues after DD2 was born, but not nearly as bad, so I never needed to see the doctor again.)
My doctor gave me a brace at the same time he gave me the shot, but I never really wore it (he said it wasn't necessary and that I'd find it so annoying I'd never wear it -- he was right).
The most important thing for me was to stop doing the actions that aggravated it. My doctor made a big deal about how I should never pick the baby up under her arms -- it's hard to describe, but the way that it's most natural to pick a kid up, with your thumbs up in the air by her shoulders and the rest of your hand in her armpits. Doing that just puts too much pressure on the tendon. My doctor wants me to always pick a baby up with one hand under her head and one hand on her bottom, but I didn't find that very practical. What I do (even to this day with my almost five year old) is sort of grip her upper arms with my whole hand and pick her up that way -- that way it doesn't put pressure on the tendon.
I also had to stop using my thumb for things. I couldn't use it to scroll on my phone (I used my index finger instead), I couldn't push down the top of a soap dispenser with it (I would use the heel of my hand), and I even had to change the way I pulled down loose pants like yoga pants so I used my hand instead of my thumbs. Basically anything that hurt, I'd figure out another way to do that action without using my thumbs.
I hope you feel better soon!
This is really helpful advice. Thanks.
Perhaps this is better than my just telling my husband to carry her all the time? LOL.
I'm right handed too but it was my left. I ignored it for quite a while, my thumb was popping & locking up when I finally went in. M was about 14 months when I was treated. I don't really think it was from him at all, but from trying to do things one handed. I'm surprised they didn't put you in a brace, if you end up needing a 2nd shot of cortisone I would request a brace. Did they say anything about surgery?
The doctor said that surgery was an option.
He laid it all out for me and said some people choose nothing (just stop doing the motion and see what happens), others get the shot, and a few just go for the surgery from the get-go.
Post by water*drop on Jun 13, 2014 16:44:44 GMT -5
Yes, in my left wrist. I am right-handed. Mine was really bad by the time I went to the doctor. I got the shot, and the doctor also put me in a brace for several weeks. It felt completely better by my followup. He gave me the same info that the PP posted about picking up DD properly and told me to immediately start wearing the brace if it flared up again. It did flare up again about 6 months later, but a week or so in the brace fixed it, so I'd recommend asking about a brace if it starts bothering you again.
Post by matildasun on Jun 13, 2014 17:03:52 GMT -5
My husband had this when he started weight lifting. It started to feel a bit better immediately after the cortisone shot, and was much better after two weeks. He said that it still hurts on occasion, but never like it did before.
Yes! The shots helped so much. At the end of my pregnancy I couldn't even write. Once J was born I struggled to pick him up. He's just about 3 months and the shots are just starting to wear off.
By the time I went to the doctor I had passed the point of pain and my thumb was 90% locked. I got the steroid shot first, but the doctor only gave me a 50% chance of it working. At my follow-up 3 weeks post shot, my thumb was still pretty locked. I could have chosen to have a second shot, but I went the surgery route at that point. It was outpatient and I chose just a local anesthetic. I had the surgery when my daughter was 4 months, she's now 17 months and I haven't had any problems since.
I had it in both wrists but did not get any shots for it. I tried braces but they really didn't help me. You'll be happy to know that the problem went away on its own I think sometime around 6-8 months. It was so damn painful I'm sorry for anyone who has to deal with that.
I got a cortisone shot for mine two weeks ago, it felt amazing the next day. Mine came on in the middle of the night, it was so strange, but I guess it can be related to swelling with pregnancy. The shit has completely taken care of it though.
ETA I meant shot, not shit. My ipad apparently knows I have a dirty mouth
I had it, but I got surgery to correct it (right hand, I'm a righty). I probably should have tried the shot first (I had a surgery-first doc, his partner that I saw after there were complications from the surgery said WTF, you should have tried a shot first). Had the surgery in Feb 2012, so about 10 months after E was born.
Was out of commission for about 5 days after (couldn't pick up E, couldn't write, couldn't type). Haven't had a problem with it since, but every once in a while I feel that I'm starting to have it in the other hand/wrist (left).
ETA: I had it for a LONG time (during pregnancy and after). I finally went to get it looked at after I would just cry from the pain of doing simple tasks.)
Huh, I've always thought I had a painful carpal tunnel, but this makes more sense. Wearing a brace overnight even just a night or two helps me a ton, but it's a PITA to pick up a baby with them on, and that's something I've had to do MOTN for going on 9 months now.