Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Work Hazard

Who would have thought becoming a stay at home mom would result in "workman's comp". I am proof. I have recently been diagnosed with de Quervain's Tenosynovitis. My husband will tell you I'm crazy but it's verifiably true. I woke up one morning in February with a terrible pain in my wrist/thumb. I assumed it was beginning arthritis given my family history, but after three to four days I called my doctor. X-rays were clear and I remained on anti inflammatories. When that didn't work I googled "wrist ligament pain" and came up with the above diagnosis and called none other than my dad. I went and bought myself a wrist/thumb brace with the advice of my semi doctor "daddy" in hopes that combined with the anti inflammatories it would go away.
Of course, when you wear a wrist brace people are going to ask questions. So in explaining my symptons one day to a good friend she simply said, "I bet you have de Quervain's Tenosynovitis! I told her that's exactly what google said!! She strongly urged me to go to a hand specialist as did my PCP who I originally saw. So I did. He confirmed the diagnosis. It is very common in women who are mothers to young children! It is due to the repetitive lifting of the the kids!! Who would've thought? He said 90% of the female clients he sees have this condition. It is simply corrected with a steroid shot. Go right ahead, doc. I've been in pain for 6 weeks and am ready to be better. So on Friday I got the shot. I'm 90% better but during the night I still have a lot of pain. Doc says to wear the brace at night and continue the anti inflammatories; call back in two weeks. Gosh I hope this works because surgery is not on my calendar!

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