abshall

Hi,

I've been experiencing problems with my right (writing) arm for the last 2/3 years now. I used to do a lot of sport involving use of my arm including a lot of athletics (mainly discus and javelin) which involved approximately 10 hours of training a week. I also played a lot of tennis.

I've spoken to doctors, but they always seem to come back with the response that I simply have inflamed tendons - 2 years later, I have more or less given up with the medical profession!! I've been told by a friend that my symptoms seem to indicate that it might be carpel tunnel syndrome that is causing my problems, but after reading lots of posts on these groups, I'm not entirely sure.

The pain comes and goes. Some days I can barely feel anything and other days it is extremely painful. At the end of a day when I've been doing a lot of writing/typing (I'm a student) the pain is pretty horrible, but every so often, I am woken up during the night with bad pains and numbness. I don't really get a great deal of pins and needles that some people seem to experience, but I read that if you move your wrist up and down while facing the palm downwards, symptons are particularly bad. When doing this, I DO get strange pins and needles in my hand and fingers (although the sensation also causes a little numbness) - I'm not entirely sure which fingers, but the numbness only seems to affect my first 3 fingers.

My wrist is also prone to "clicking". If it gets painful, I can sometimes physically twist it until it clicks (not a very enjoyable procedure!!) which decreases the level of pain substantially. My shoulder also likes clicking, but I don't know if this is related. I have had, for the last 2 years atleast, an obvious swelling on the side of my wrist on the side of my thumb. It isn't painful to touch especially and it hard feeling. I also have a contant 'brused' sensastion on the right hand side of the palm side of my arm - extending from my hand up to almost my elbow.

The problem got to a stage that I have felt it necessary to give up both of my sporting loves of tennis and athletics. Since giving them up, things have got better, but recently they seem to have got worse again. I'm currently in the middle of very important A-Level exams and have had real trouble doing essay writing. Most of my subjects don't involve writing essays which is pretty fortunate, but a couple do and already - just a week into exams - I'm having real problems with the arm.

I'm not really sure what I'm hoping for by writing this. I guess the fact that loads of you guys have had experience with carpel tunnel sydrome, perhaps you might recognise my symptons and praps give better advice than the doctors can. Any ideas for pain relief, exercises to improve it etc would be greatly appreciated.

Many tahnks for taking the time to read this.

Abs Hall