Outstretched hand injury 6 months ago - help beeded

I have pain in my left hand and it's a little swollen. The doctor told me it's arthritis and to put ice on it. I did once and it did feel better. I guess I should keep putting ice on it.  I've also had problems with my knees and had surgery on both. They still hurt! I've used pain cream on them. That seems to help. So, I know what it's like to be in pain! 

Wobblywrist, Yes I do know what you are talking about I recently had a fall went to a workforce clinic and they did x-rays and told me I had a Intra-Articular Distal Radius Fracture and tried to get me set up with Ortho that day but being the Friday before the 4th of July none of them were in. was referred to Ortho and seen 12 days later, He took x-rays and said no Fracture said fall caused Arthritic Episode and it didn't feel like Arthritis since I was diagnosed with OsteoArthritis last year of the thumb. Basal Joint Arthritis was restricted to not using my thumb and followed orders, of course I wish it were that simple. saw doctor again 14 days later did x-rays and said same thing this time he put me in CMC brace which allowed me to have more movement and he also gave Cortisone Injection which had it been Arthritis it would've helped but it felt like he hit something when he gave the injection things have went down hill ever since. went back on Aug 10th told him things had gotten worse instead of the pain just being in and around my thumb the whole palm of my hand feels like it's been repeatedly slammed in a door and I noticed pain was going across my wrist and up my arm and I feel like my last 3 fingers from bird to pinky fingers aren't right it's like when I straighten them out they cramp and feel like they spasm a little, seems like the only finger not affected is my pointing finger. I've had an MRI, EMG the EMG was done yesterday to check my nerves the doctor had idea that I may have Carpel Tunnel Syndrome but was negative for that. Neurologist said I did have some slight problems with the nerve that runs up the side of arm on outside at the elbow and that was causing the feeling in my fingers but he said hand was fine when it comes to the nerves said it would have to be muscles or bones not nerves. I requested a second opinion because I know I had a hairline fracture in scaphoid bone I was shown the fracture even though it was a slight fracture it was there and I went from just limiting my thumb to no use of arm at work until further notice and the doc ask me had I heard anything about the second opinion yet when I went back on Sept 6th and I finally got an email from my Workers Comp case worker yesterday telling me she heard back from the second opinion doctor and I'm scheduled to be seen in November unless they have a cancellation then they'll get me in sooner. I know exactly where your coming from. I have tried to use my arm as little as possible but I don't use it at all at work as per doctor and I can't use it much at home because I have no grip I keep some kind of brace on at all times unless I'm in the shower and that even hurts I usually wash my hair with one hand because it hurts too bad to use the other one that much but I don't want it to freeze up either as long as this has been going on and the doctor I have doesn't seem to have a clue he just knows that what he see's on x-rays isn't a fracture but I have a couple of friends who are doctors and both of them have been dealing with the bones for years and they both saw the fracture and said to make sure whoever my second opinion was knew how to read an x-ray and I think from me doing things I shouldn't have been doing in the beginning of all this something has happened along with the injection where it seemed like he hit something that's why I want the second opinion because I wanted a different doctor because I have heard horror stories about the first one I picked from a panel that I didn't know any of them. second opinion doctor had good reviews though. first doc had one and it wasn't good but like luck goes I don't have any of that lol.  Hang in there and keep pressing on because something is definetely wrong and I can't do much because it's a workers comp case I can't even get the doctor that i would prefer because it would kick my insurance out and I'd have to pay outta pocket and I sure can't afford to do that... Keep me posted and go back and get something done for yourself.

Hello.

Thank you for replying.

Eva I'm sorry to reqdmofmyor recent pain and struggling to get a firm diagnosis and treatment plan which helps. It's so frustrating isn't it!

Here in ththe UK access to specialists is limited because the funding is limited and the wait is also quite long. I have somewhat fallen between the gals in departments because although I sought emergency help I was discharged as no fracture. It now seems hard to get seen again and I have ready about wrist injuries becoming permanent disability in so many cases where treatment was delayed.

Looking on the bright side the specialist is an expert surgeon and has vast experience coming from Oxford and pioneering techniques. He ought to be experienced enough and I suspect that when I finally see an expert that he will isyantly see what I can see.

I don't like to exaggerate but I am know it is injured and I know deep down that I need intervention. I just hope there is time left to fix it without lasting damage.

If wristbinjuries can frequently become so severe I just don't understand why aside from a few experts, most doctors don't seem to be aware?

Wish you both good luck with your pain and hope that you move forward steadily.

I would definitely recommend mobilising the wrist in a controlled way. Whilst there is a fracture there you also don't want to build up further issues losing strength and further mobility. Be careful and look after yourself.

Best wishes

Morning Wobblywrist;   Actually, I think you should have the Ganglion taken care of (this we used to do with just "wracking it with a heavy book" to burst the cysct etc)....bit strange hey?   but if you have something pressing on the nerves of your wrist, this would be causing the tingling in finger/s etc, and if inflammed, would also be causing some of the others issues???......yes, seeing a good orthopod (someone who specializes in wrists etc) is the best to see, and hopefully they can drain/repair the site easily for you.....if these continue and calcify, you may end up with Carpal Tunnel Syndrom, which is Very painful and does require surgery in the long-term.........hopefully this is what you are talking about, and has been helpful?................good luck,   Bron

Thank you again everyone who has replied.

Last night I can across info on the anatomical snuffbox and how this can be very sensitive for a scaphoid fracture.

I tried it. Initially felt nothing and then found an image online of where to press. Cripes! The pain was unreal! Admittedly impressed quite deeply but this was because I really thought I had no pain there.

It then sett of my pain more generally over the area.

I'm also really noticing more issues at the base of the thumb and the first joint up from the base. There is much more mobility and it feels very weak. I struggle to perform actions like opening a bag of crisps or doing buttons. I've realised I often pick up my two year old without stretching my thumb around her. I seem to use the hand as one object.

Interestingly my ganglion is really reduced and the numbness is a lot better. The focus of the pain now is really around the base of the thumb and from that area toward the wrist. The swelling is up between what I think is my radius and thumb and out toward the ganglion on the back of the wrist in th the centre. It's sort of a triangular area.

Roll on the 7th November!

Although I am a little concerned that the date of my consultation is some 9 months after the initial injury. I'm already wondering if the thumb issue is arthritis developing.

I just can't believe they didn't splint me in a&e as a precaution. I don't remember them palpating my scaphoid but presumably they did and I just don't remember.

Hi

So I promised a reply.

Today I had my consultation. The upshot seems to be that I have been diagnosed with basal thumb arthritis. imam just 35.

My X-rays were clear although the scapholunate gap is fairly wide. As a result they are querying ligament injury and I am to have an MRI to assess the arthritis and any potential scapholunate disassociation. They were unclear on this as I suspect they do not wish to worry me unnecessarily.

They don't care about the ganglion even though I explained some of the numbness and shooting pains do not occur when the ganglion is reduced. (It flares up and down).

So I go back to waiting for another appointment after the MRI. They mentioned I will be given a corticosteroid injection which will be guided by the MRI findings.

Does any of this sound reasonable?

I'm feeling quite cross that I wasn't looked st properly in A&E and that it's taken 9 months to get here. I'm fairly sure the arthritis is caused by underlying injury and I've been 'shouting' about this since the original injury.

All I can do is watch this space and hope that there's nothing too sinister going on underneath.

Thanks for listening and I hope everyone is getting from well.

Wobblywrist