Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group wrist and thumb pain

I am having extreme pain in my wrists and thumb joints. I am having problems pouring coffee or opening a can. I take enbrel, plaquenil, methotrexate and ketoprophen. Nothing is helping and my mobility is getting worse.....any suggestions. It"s been going on for about three weeks.

for me, that pain is enthesitis (tendons mostly), thus contrast baths have helped a lot: 1-2 minutes in very hot water, 1-2 minutes in ice cold water, back and forth for ~15-20 minutes total, several times a day.

that's my main short term suggestion.

especially if like with me, this thing roams around, and will eventually be leaving your wrists and thumbs.

the LDN has improved my enthesitis tremendously. probably has helped that more than its helped anything else.

i've also found ways to minimize my hand use during those times when i need to:

•gel ink pens instead of ballpoint
•a good ergonomic keyboard
•using a mouse instead of the touchpad
•hubby doing the peeling and chopping in the kitchen as we prep meals together
•limited page turning (very hard on my wrists. a challenge when one has lots of grading)
•electric stapler, ergonomic whole punch, etc
•electric can opener, electric jar opener, etc

my hand PT gave me a bunch of these kinds of ergonomic solutions and they really do make a difference.

PT has also done ultrasound on these entheses when they've been at their worst. it helps. i even needed a cortisone shot into my dq tendon when it all first started. hoping those days are behind me. know so much more now than i did then, that helps.

Thankyou, Sue for your reply. I am going to try the hot and cold. At this point I am willing to try anything to get some relief, none of my painkillers are touching this..

I found ice packs helped a lot. I had a lot of pain at the base of my thumb for many years. The pain finally ended when it fused.

HI,
I have started to get on my Harley, only to realize that my wrists were throbbing!! Before that, 25 years a go it was my Suzuki. So it is an old chronic problem.
I even try to shift the bike without using a clutch... no, no

For some reason, nothing helps, and I am not sure the over sure causes it either.
If you get some relief, please let me know, but do not give up, but do change your habits to avoid this excruciating pain!!

I hate wrist PAIN, turning knobs, pouring coffee, or if someone justs bumps into it I want to cry. Ice kinda helps, I get strict with my diet I take out all grains, dairy , beef and nightshades. So I eat salad with cut up chicken and some honey mustard dressing for a few days to get myself feeling better. I also like the lidocaine ointment from my dr., its a prescription. It is in a little tube like neosporin and feels like vaseline but it numbs the affected area for at least an hour or so; it actually does work.
Wrist pain is no fun, I sure hope you feel better soon. Have you tried the No Starch Diet?

Ice works best on wrists and elbows with me, together with voltaren gel, and doing all those things that Sue suggested to minimise strain on it.

Could also be caused by carpal tunnel syndrome. What you describe catlady is typical for carpal tunnel.

Lon - yours definitely sounds like carpal tunnel - the juddering of the Harley will assuredly set CT off summat chronic.

The CT op does not always work - like mine did not work! Hand still swollen; not the same strength as it used to have; can still drop items unless careful; pruning in the garden can be a right pain; carrying heavy bags can also be a right pain - etc etc. Yes, and the pain goes down into the thumb.

Can ALSO be carpal tunnel PLUS arthritis. (as is mine). Lubly-jubly!

There ya go - all a flippin bore!

P.S. Lon - try the carpal tunnel wrist brace - quite helpful.

Hi

Have you tried adding Omega 3 fish oil ? I also found Zyflamend worked but I started to have nose bleeds, it decreased my platelets, due to also taking fish oil. Don't try them both, one or the other.

Janet

Fish Oil has been my pain med for twenty-five years. When I started taking them I use to hide them coming acrosss the border from the states. They were not aloud in Canada, because they FDA couldn't decide if they should keep them on the shelves, because they really did work, however they also then your blood, so have to watch that.

thanks all for your responses. I have not tried the no starch diet....I am reluctant because all the foods are what we eat, it will be hard to change but worth it if it helps. @cemc, I have voltarel but it hasn't helped. Today I tried hot water than ice cold water, it maybe helped a little.