wrist hurting for a few days now

[mollykins]

My wrist has been hurting when I bend it most ways or put pressure on it, for three or four days now.

What could be wrong with it?

[saxy_jag]

Have you doing a lot of anything that includes your hand and wrist? Anything like (as already mentioned) typing, mousing, writing, drawing etc. Even just painting (as in the decorating type). If so, it could be your body's way of saying give yourself a break.

Thinking back, I had similar for quite a few months before my wrist and hand started to go numb and tingly. I was eventually diagnosed with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Rest has seen it right, but I have a number of preventative measures in place, one of which is regular breaks from my computer and wrist exercises.

[mollykins]

Nothing much that I can think of saxy.

I played badminton once last week, but that's all I can think of, but could that have done it?

I've been rowing recently, but I've been the coxswain for the last few times.

I haven't been lifting lots of things.

I never got round to bringing a glockenspeil home and there's no other instrument i've played.

I haven't been painting much (probably less than when i was at school doing art).

[saxy_jag]

Well I'm no doctor and I couldn't say. Why not contact NHS direct?

[Hopkirk]

Get a mousemat with a gel wrist rest.

[anneasquith]

what you need molly is a hobby, have you thought of maybe doing some sport ?

[saxy_jag]

Hopkirk, my physio advised against a wrist rest. There's recent research, it seems, that shows that when people have them, they used them inappropriately, wristing the wrist on them all the time as they're working (which isn't the idea, apparently). What happens then is that the already inflamed carpal tunnel gets compressed even more and worsens the problem.

I now use one of these, as recommended by my physio. It's much more comfy and much better for my wrist: http://www.aerobicmouse.com/welcome/

[saxy_jag]

All this, of course, is assuming this is Molly's problem, and until she gets some genuine professional advice then we can't be sure it is.

[mollykins]

I've been on a first aid course today and the instructor said that I probably slept on it funny and strained it. By the end of tommorow I should hopefully be a fully qualified activities first aider, with 18 more points at cadets, seeing as this is 3rd, 2nd and 1st class first aid, all at once.

[tamborine]

molly - "....it's my left, and i'm left handed.....". I guess you've strained it playing badminton or such. Bag of frozen peas will ease pain; wear an elastic wrist band for support & generally rest it.

[mollykins]

Already knowing a little first aid I tried that and it didn't really work, but like I said the first aider agreed it was probably a strain (rather than sprain) and all i can do is rest it. Anyway I won't be doing badminton for a while now as the sports centre is being compeltely changed with major refurbishments and a second floor being put in at certain places.

[supersuezy24]

Aw well you always have answerbank to keep you occupied

[woofgang]

left hand stays on the mouse? I think that's the problem right there. I used to get right wrist ache till i switched to a laptop with a sensor pad.

[mollykins]

But i'm on the laptop with a sensor pad about half of the time anyway, where my left hand does stuff like the cursor, space bar and some of the other lower buttons.