All braced up and no place to go!

I went to my PCP to discuss my elbow pain and what to do about it. He did some testing and discovered I have carpal Tunnel syndrome in both hands and tendonitis in my elbow!

He put a wrist brace on both hands and a tendonitis brace on my elbow.

He told me to wear them as much as possible and to only take them off for bathing.

He also said if it doesn't get any better he was going to do a nerve test and send me to a neurogologist surgeon to have the tendon surgery.

I feel like wonderwoman with the bracelets!

I also feel very restricted. What will my co-workers and my boss think when I come into work tomorrow, let along my first graders?

"Lucy, you've got a lot of 'splaining' to do!"

i had a long post here but hw crashed....short version:

I'd see a regular neurologist long BEFORE finding a surgeon. Lots of physical therapy and retraining in how you use your hands/wrists and elbows is available and is a lot less expensive and intrusive than surgery. Surgery would be the very very last resort.

Basic goals - don't put pressure on anything with wrists bent/twisted, don't use elbows in throwing/twisting with pressure actions either. I learned to open doors using the whole side of my arm rather than pushing with a flat hand and 90 degree wrist - visualize a baton -- then DO NOT twist or twirl it! lol

Also, lupus mimics carpal tunnel. I had both hands and couldnt close them or open anything. I couldnt even grasp a spoon for fork, let alone cut my food. Went on for about 6 months, then i was put on 1000mg of solumedrol three days in a row and it went away. It turned out to be inflammation in both wrists that was persistant. So also talk to your rhuemy about it. I was so suprised when it went awy.

Hi Joy,

I did Cortisone shots twice for hip inflammation and you are so right, the relief is very limited. Works for a week and then it's back to square one. I like Lynnwood's recommendation of physical therapy. That is where I have gotten the most relief and sense of empowerment because it gave me tools and strategies to use.