Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (maybe?)

[Tymon]

I read about it years ago, about how it's the bane of computer users everywhere, and a bunch of other over-exaggerated bullshit like that.

Didn't read into detail about the symptoms, or onset problems that it causes, other than numbness/pain in the wrist(s)

Well, since last week, I've had this really annoying, stable sharp pain in my left wrist (my dominant hand) right below my thumb, right around here:

Spoiler: show

Only hurts if I bend my wrist backwards, or apply a very firm grip on something. I have to type from an elevated position now, and I can't shoot a basketball (way more serious, I play all the time) without a lot of pain.

Not to say the pain is severe, but it's not irrelevant and it makes me wonder if it's carpal tunnel or something else entirely.

I haven't done anything that would lead me to believe I broke my wrist or strained one of the tendons or anything but it's definitely possible.

And as far as getting it checked out, yes, if it doesn't go away and I can't get a definitive answer with no remedy yes I will go to the doctor.

Why not now? I never get sick, so I've never complained about the weird medical plan my mom put me on to get her a discount or something like that.. last year I rolled my ankle really badly and when I was getting a physical for college entry I asked them to look at it just out of curiosity. They x-rayed it twice, told me I broke my ankle and it healed already, then gave me a $500 bill a month and a half later.

So, it's pretty easy to understand why I'm not going to walk into a doctors office without a really good reason or at least without changing my insurance plan (already working on it)

Anyway, case and point, what's wrong with my wrist, can I get a splint for it or something, etc

Also it doesn't seem like ibuprofen or acetaminophen help at all for the pain

[Qalbert]

It's "case in point" and you're using it wrong.

[Tymon]

It's "case in point" and you're using it wrong.

Yes, you're right; and yes, I am.

I always mess that up without thinking about it.

I figure that I don't notice it because most people are too stupid to notice and call me on it

[Bingbong]

BG Medical: We can diagnose your grammar problems too!

[Meresgi]

Could be a cyst in your wrist as well.

[Headspace]

Have you considered Lupus?

[*Shinzon*]

I occasionally get a pain in a similar spot on my wrist. I've always just attributed it to a muscle cramp or spasm from the wrist being locked in a particular position for an extended period of time. If you can stretch it out or lift something heavy to stretch it that usually works for me to take away some of the pain and tightness.

[kawaiiuzume]

When I was in high school I had pains in both my wrists which the doctor attributed to carpal tunnel syndrome, the pain was a lot different from what you describe. It went from just under my wrists and went on for about 3ish inches. So it's probably something different than Carpal Tunnel.

[antihero]

wrist cancer

[synistar]

Tendonitis. Had this 2 years ago. My right hand where my thumb meets my wrist was about 50% bigger than my left hand. The pain radiated from my hand all the way up to my shoulder. Took about 3 months to finally get better, though 2 of thsoe months was because the doc didn't want to throw my arm in a cast until he realized it wouldn't get any better without full immobilization.

Take anti-inflamatory meds to get by. It will only deaden the pain a lil. Go see a doctor.

[Shade]

Carpal tunnel = pain under the wrist/hand, numbness/tingling if you put pressure on the palm or fingertips. Tendonitis = pain on the top of hte wrist/hand. Not being able to bend my hand back was a big thing when my tendonitis was really bad. So, agreeing with Synistar.
If you treat it early (go to the doctor / physiotherapist and do whatever they tell you) you can usually get rid of it completely. If they want you to rest it for a few weeks, do it. Working through the pain will just make it worse and less fixable.

[Tymon]

I'll go with tendonitis.

I have some steroids that I was supposed to take for a bad sprain in my ankle, if I took those and splinted my wrist do you think that would be sufficient?

If not yeah I'll go to the doctor but just trying to get out of spending the money if possible

[Shade]

Splinting is not necessarily the answer, if you are going to use the hand anyway. The goal is to pretty much not use it for x period of time, it needs REST. Icing it (15 min on, 15 min off), and heating it (same thing) can be helpful. For me, the physio people also did massage, ultrasound therapy, and uh... the thing with the electric zapping machine. Part of tendonitis is the build up of scar tissue along the tendons, and the pain is the scar tissue scraping against eachother. So there isn't much you can do about that part on your own. They gave me stretches and strengthening exercises to do after a certain point, also. There's some maintenance involved so that you don't end up at square one over and over again.

How important are your hands to you, basically. You can try icing/resting/etc. for awhile, see how it goes, but it doesn't really replace actual treatment.