Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I have a reoccuring pain in my right hand. It's only in the meaty part by my thumb. I have no tingling or wierd sensation in my fingers or hands, just pain in the metioned area. It's bad enought to wake me up at night. Its been ongoing for a few years. I went to a doctor and they said it was tendonitis?? From what? And I can't take anything for it that works. Are there any hand wraps or meds that may work? It's not consistent enough to do cortison shots or anything like that...
Hi. How annoying, eh?! You might want to check out this thread, "Carpal Tunnel": Carpal tunnel
Tendonitis is swelling of a tendon, which, in its enlarged size, is pressing on other things, and the pressing is causing the pain. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is one localized verson of "tendonitis", which can appear in the body is dozens of forms, such as "tennis elbow". My own lifelong experience is with DeQuervain's Disease, yet another form of tendonitis, in the wrist.
It seems that the world's best treatment, and cure, for tendon swelling that hasn't gone so far that it needs surgery -- is Vitamin B6, one of the inexpensive delights in life.
This is Dr. Andrew Weil's interesting discussion of B6, which provides enormous benefits for the body.
Pyridoxine, Vitamin B6, Vitamins and Supplements - Dr. Andrew Weil (http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/ART02763/vitamin-b6 - broken link)
100 mg per day of a quality brand, such as Nature Made, Twin Labs, GNC, Natrol will make your body jump up and grin! And if your thumb's problem IS tendonitis, B6 daily should end your thumb's unhappiness. It's so inexpensive you can afford 100mg daily for the rest of your life. I wish you well.
Last edited by allforcats; 04-11-2008 at 02:05 PM..
Hi. How annoying, eh?! You might want to check out this thread, "Carpal Tunnel": Carpal tunnel
Tendonitis is swelling of a tendon, which, in its enlarged size, is pressing on other things, and the pressing is causing the pain. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is one localized verson of "tendonitis", which can appear in the body is dozens of forms, such as "tennis elbow". My own lifelong experience is with DeQuervain's Disease, yet another form of tendonitis, in the wrist.
It seems that the world's best treatment, and cure, for tendon swelling that hasn't gone so far that it needs surgery -- is Vitamin B6, one of the inexpensive delights in life.
This is Dr. Andrew Weil's interesting discussion of B6, which provides enormous benefits for the body.
Pyridoxine, Vitamin B6, Vitamins and Supplements - Dr. Andrew Weil (http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/ART02763/vitamin-b6 - broken link)
100 mg per day of a quality brand, such as Nature Made, Twin Labs, GNC, Natrol will make your body jump up and grin! And if your thumb's problem IS tendonitis, B6 daily should end your thumb's unhappiness. It's so inexpensive you can afford 100mg daily for the rest of your life. I wish you well.
\
Carpal Tunnel is not a form of tendonitis.....
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is a peripheral neuropathy which means it is a nerve disorder, has nothing to do with the tendons of the hand/wrist....it is caused by pressure on the median nerve, one of the 3 main nerves to the hand and wrist. The median nerve is involved with motor and sensory function of the thumb, index finger, middle finger and half of the ring finger.
Symptoms can vary quite a bit from one individual to another in terms of how the condition presents.
The only way CTS can be definitively diagnosed is by EMG/NCV---electromyography/nerve conduction velocity.
Once symptoms become severe enough, in my experience, the only things that can offer any relief are corticosteroid injections or surgery to relieve the pressure on the nerve.
The previous poster is quite correct that the term "tendonitis" is not the term to describe the condition resulting in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. This thread is not about Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. However, one of the standard causes of CTS is the tendons in the wrist, or the covering of the tendons (the tenosynovium), swelling and putting pressure on the median nerve, one of three major nerves responsible for supplying feeling in the hand including in the thumb.
As a result, the sensations and pains associated with CTS and the many, varied conditions often collectively identified as "tendonitis" can be quite similar. I apologize for my previous reduction to generally-understood concepts in an attempt to convey the sense that a treatable condition exists for the OP.
Last edited by allforcats; 04-12-2008 at 11:46 AM..
I have a reoccuring pain in my right hand. It's only in the meaty part by my thumb. I have no tingling or wierd sensation in my fingers or hands, just pain in the metioned area. It's bad enought to wake me up at night. Its been ongoing for a few years. I went to a doctor and they said it was tendonitis?? From what? And I can't take anything for it that works. Are there any hand wraps or meds that may work? It's not consistent enough to do cortison shots or anything like that...
If the doctor you saw was not a hand specialist I would suggest you see a board certified hand surgeon. Search under ASSH for American Society for Surgery of the Hand.
Pain in the meaty part of the hand could be carpal tunnel syndrome, it could also be osteoarthritis at the base of the thumb AKA CMC arthrits or basilar joint arthritis. A very common cause of pain at the base of the thumb, particularly if you are over 45-50.
Vitamin B6 is sometimes used in the treatment of CTS and other disorders but there is only anecdotal evidence of efficacy. Probably can't hurt as long as you stay under 200mg per day. Won't likely help at all if the root cause is arthritis.
Bottom line, most primary care providers have very limited training in Orthopaedics in general and even less in disorders of the hand. See a hand specialist if you haven't already.
DeQuervains (tendonitis of the thumb) is quite possible. I hate that, due to a volleyball injury. unfortunately, it was misdiagnosed, and lasted WAY longer than it should have. i finally had surgery, but it eventually developed into carpal tunnel (more surgery, ugh!). as a pianist, it killed that career for several years. (all better now, tho!) not trying to scare ya or anything, but if you are right-handed and/or do anything work-related with that hand, you may want to check it out. in the meantime, try buying a thumb splint (you can find em online). wearing it at night will help a lot. most likely, you are sleeping on it wrong, and aggravating it.
I was diagnosed with deQuervain's tenosynovitis after adopting my second child. Apparently, from all the lifting of both kids under the arms, the positioning of the thumb (pointing straight up) causes undue strain on the tendon that travels through the top of the wrist (near the thumb.) It was absolutely horrible, though it started with intermittant pain. The pain for me was mainly in my wrist, not my thumb. I had several cortisone shots that worked for awhile, but when it returned, I ended up having surgery. The surgery was extremely successful. Wish I had done it sooner. It helps that my hand surgeon is very charming.
My hand surgeon told me that women in the 40s and 50s tend toward more tendon problems and hand problems in general. That was true for me because my carpal tunnel in my left hand got worse in my 40s (had the surgery last year) and I also developed trigger finger in my thumb. The trigger finger (another tendon problem) felt like a tendon was snapping over my knuckle on my thumb and there was deep pain at the base of my thumb. So far, one cortisone shot has stopped the problem. My friends accuse me of purposefully overusing my hands so that I can go back to my doctor, but I wouldn't wish this pain on anybody.
My suggestion is to go see a hand surgeon. Just because his title is 'hand surgeon' doesn't mean you automatically will be advised to have surgery. that's generally the last thing that should happen. Good luck!
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
.
