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Pain in hands/wrists

User Profile: KariMay
KariMay October 17th, 2021

I’m not 100% sure if this is where I should post this but it does involve pain in my hands/wrists that don’t have an official diagnosis. I just want to know if anyone can relate or possibly help out in my search for a diagnosis. A few years ago I noticed after starting a new job, that my hands were stiff and a sharp pain would shoot up my palms. It was a physical job but not physical enough to cause immediate problems. I eventually developed trigger finger on both hands and had to manually open my fists every morning. I went to a doctor who sent me to a sports medicine doctor that found out my hands/wrists were so inflamed that he had to give me a shot to “loosen” it. He suspected carpel tunnel but wasn’t too convinced since I’ve never worked in a highly physical field for a long period, it affected both my hands equally, and I was only 23 at the time. A year later, I started another new job after I lost my previous one and had a working hiatus because of Covid. It was the same deal: a slightly physical job but nothing too crazy. It was just stockroom stuff. But the movements caused my hands to flare up again with the same trigger fingers and pain but also came numbness, swelling and tingling. It became so bad that I could hardly move my hands and opening water bottles even became a struggle. I eventually had to quit my job because I was in so much pain and couldn’t properly drive. I went back to the sports doctor and he was unsure what the problem was. The problem areas now were more widespread and different than before so he couldn’t give me the shot again. I did lab work and a hand/wrist x-ray which came out normal. I was sent to a genealogist to see if I had a genetic condition which they did not find. I went through hand therapy which helped a ton in getting my mobility back but didn’t solve the problem. At rest my hands are okay and only ache a little from time to time but I’ve realized doing repetitive movement (like typing) or physical activity starts to flare up my symptoms again. I’m currently not working and it’s making me really depressed. The next doctor I’m visiting is a neurologist (per recommendation from my last doctor) but I don’t really have high hopes. It’s discouraging when you don’t know what’s happening or how to help yourself. I’ve been looking through the internet to see if I can get an idea of what my diagnosis could be but I’m out of luck so far. I just hope I can solve this sooner rather than later.

3
User Profile: ROBBER
ROBBER October 17th, 2021

The symptoms you mention make me consider AS, otherwise known as ankylosing spondylitis (an autoimmune disease) so maybe try seeing a rheumatologist for your symptoms next if you're able

User Profile: vlostwithyouv
vlostwithyouv October 17th, 2021

Arthritis, gout?

User Profile: ManinblacK
ManinblacK October 18th, 2021

@KariMay I agree with the thought about a rheumatologist. Pain in my wrists and hands were some of the first symptoms of my rheumatoid arthritis.